| Nine-man Nairn turn the tables on Cove |
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Nine-man Nairn County advanced to the quarter finals of the Fosters Highland League Cup at the expense of odds-on favourites Cove Rangers at Station Park as they turned last weekend's 5-1 league defeat to the Toonsers on its head. County punters brave enough to back their favourites at odds as long as 7/1 will be laughing all the way back to the bookies when they collect their winnings after Nairn battled back from a goal down at half time to win the tie in the final minute despite having two players sent off. Cove started the tie in the same manner that they finished last week's league encounter - on the attack. After just two minutes, a Jordan Heads header from a Barry Stephen corner flew just over the crossbar before Stephen released Clark Bain and his teasing cross was missed by everybody as it rolled through the safety. Kevin Webster was restored to the Cove starting line up and good play from the winger gave him the space to deliver a telling cross but the ball was headed clear by Nairn defender Martin MacDonald. County responded at the other end when Steven Mackay's raking cross from the left was just nicked off the head of attacker Craig Campbell by a Cove defender. The visitors broke the deadlock on eight minutes though when a ball into the box from the right by Neil Cruickshank was controlled by recent signing Callum Watson. With his back to goal, the centre forward spun and sent his shot through a ruck of players and into the corner of the net to mark his first Cove start with a goal. Shaun Kerr was then fouled on the edge of the Cove box as Nairn looked to respond but Mackay's free kick was feeble and wayward. Robbie Duncanson then did well to shield the ball on 25 minutes before playing in Brian Macleod for the home side but his effort went wide of the target. Just two minutes later, a Dale Gillespie corner was met by the unmarked Kerr but he headed over the crossbar from just four yards out when he really should have drawn County level. Cove had a good claim for a penalty on the half-hour mark when MacDonald appeared to bring down Webster inside the penalty area but the Toonsers' appeals were waved away by referee Michael McNab. Moments later, the Nairn defence was standing in a claim for offside as Cove striker Robbie Henderson advance forward. The whistle never came but thankfully for the hosts, Henderson's effort spun up off the legs of goalkeeper Donaldson and over the bar. Cove were now in full charge and looked quicker and sharper in their play. Webster seemed to be at the heart of every move and the visitors almost doubled their advantage on 44 minutes when a long ball out of defence found Henderson. However, his first time effort was blocked by Nairn defender MacDonald with Donaldson in no man's land. Half time: Cove Rangers 1 Nairn County 0 The second half was only two minutes old when Nairn fans had their hearts in their mouths. A poor Donaldson clearance fell to Webster and his tempting cross was glanced just wide of the target by the head of Watson. Nairn were dealt a blow on 48 minutes when club captain David Hind signalled to the bench that he could go no further. He was replaced by Glenn Main. Webster again supplied a telling cross into the Nairn which the home defence must have though was going safe and wide. However, Henderson hadn't read the script as he ghosted in at the post only to see Donaldson get down well to block his goal-bound effort. Against the run of play, Nairn suddenly found themselves level when a free kick from Robbie Duncanson seemed to slip under the diving Lee Windrum and into the Cove net. The certainly brought the game to life and played raged from end-to-end. Calum Watson saw his well-struck shot held by Donaldson on the hour mark and then a Webster free kick from the right flew across the six-yard box with no takers. At the other end, Campbell outmuscled Murray McCulloch on the right wing but his perfect centre was cleared just in a nick of time by Clark Bain as Kerr was waiting to pounce. Another great run by Nairn's midweek scorer Campbell took him past three Cove players before he sent a rasping shot goalwards which stung the palms of Windrum and fell for a corner on 74 minutes. County really should have gone in front on 76 minutes. Good build up play led to Mackay sending in a perfect cross which was missed by the Cove defence and goalkeeper. It looked easier for Campbell to score but the usually deadly striker saw his effort go past the post with the goal at his mercy. This seemed to spur Cove back into action. Good work by the mainly anonymous Jamie Buchan teed up Calum Watson but the Cove goal scorer sent his great shot zipping over the Nairn crossbar. It was Cove's turn to miss a sitter on 80 minutes when Danny Milne headed straight at Donaldson from a Stephen free kick when he really should have restored the visitors' lead. The final 10 minutes plus the five minutes of stoppage time really turned the game on its head. Nairn midfielder Wayne Mackintosh was yellow carded for a late tackle on Bain and just two minutes later, he received his second yellow for what looked like an elbow on Watson as the pair jumped for a high ball - a harsh decision to say the least. The home fans must have started to think it wasn't going to be their day but substitute Gregg Main gave them hope when he wriggled clear of his marker to send a shot just wide of the post. The aforementioned fans were ecstatic in the final minute of the 90 though when Duncanson stepped inside his man and was taken down just outside the six-yard box. Referee McNab had no option but to point to award a penalty which Steven Mackay calmly placed beyond Windrum to put Nairn into the quarter finals. However, there was still further drama left in this when in five minutes into injury time, Gregg Main was involved in a scuffle after a late challenge. The Nairn midfielder was shown the red card but even with nine men, the stubborn County back line resisted Cove's final attempts to salvage their Cup dreams to advance to an away date at Keith in the last eight. Full time: Nairn County 2 Cove Rangers 1 Reporter: Kenny Macleod |
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