Positives for Rothes in defeat
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A battling home defeat gave Rothes co-boss Paul Lamberton plenty positives to take.
The Speysiders lost 3-0 to Nairn County in their first match since forming a new committee in response to recent financial woes.
The new era in the club’s history was kicked off with another Highland League loss on the park, but a performance which encouraged Lamberton.
Keen to see his team respond to the previous weekend’s horrific 12-2 loss at Clach, the manager said he saw big improvements against Nairn.
“I said to the guys today ‘let’s give ourselves a chance’. We needed a foothold in the game and we did that,” he said.
“Nairn were the better team in the first half without really opening us up too much.
“We were pretty positive in the changing room at half time and said to the players to go and have a go. And I thought we were the better team in the second half and just maybe ran out of wind in the last 15 minutes.”
After conceding six goals at corner kicks alone at Clach a week earlier, Rothes did the same when Sean Webb nodded Nairn in front after ten minutes.
However, the Speysiders stayed solid and kept the scoreline at 1-0 until the closing 20 minutes.
Before Conor Gethins struck Nairn’s two decisive goals, Rothes created some decent openings but were unable to take any of them.
Ryan Keir forced a superb save out of Nairn keeper Callum Antell, sub Matty Bobrowski blazed over from good position and Craig MacMillan’s touch let him down after he latched on to a good Nathan Smith pass.
Rothes’ next challenge will be to stem the flow of goals being scored by big spending Formartine United, who made Lossiemouth their latest victims.
The Pitmedden outfit travelled to Grant Park and recorded a thumping 8-2 success, having netted eight times at Deveronvale the week before.
A Kevin Flett penalty halved Formartine’s early two-goal lead but the visitors cruised 6-1 in front before Ross Archibald scored his first Coasters’ goal since returning to the club from Forres.
Buckie Thistle made it two wins in a row, beating Clach 3-2 with Iain MacRae their unlikely goal hero.
The defender put Jags ahead and when Lewis Mackinnon made it 2-0, a home win looked a certainty.
Clach had other ideas, clawing back two goals before MacRae scored again late in the match to give his team victory.
Forres Mechanics also had a good away win, beating Strathspey Thistle 2-0.
Lee Fraser notched his seventh of the season before the break and Gordon Finlayson’s first goal in Forres colours sealed the win.
Keith went down 2-1 at home to Fraserburgh, with Matty McDonald’s second half goal proving to be a mere consolation for the Maroons.
Champions Brora Rangers, who only lost one league game in the past two title-winning seasons, tasted defeat for the first time this term when Cove Rangers beat them 3-0.
Highland League results
Buckie Thistle 3 Clach 2
Cove Rangers 3 Brora Rangers 0
Fort William 2 Deveronvale 1
Huntly 2 Inverurie Locos 1
Keith 1 Fraserburgh 2
Lossiemouth 2 Formartine United 8
Rothes 0 Nairn County 3
Strathspey Thistle 0 Forres Mechanics 2
Turriff United 2 Wick Academy 1
