| Big Ryan leaves Nairn feeling Green |
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Gordon Winton ended a long wait for his first away win against Nairn County as substitute Ryan Green popped up with a late winner to sink the 10-man home side at Station Park. You have to go way back to the start of the 2005-06 season for the Can Cans' last win on Nairn's turf. In fact, they have failed to take a single point away at their near neighbours with County stringing together eight consecutive home wins over Forres in all competitions over the last four-and-a-half years. That all changed today though as Winton's men got back to winning ways in a game that hinged on two crucial incidents in the second half - Craig Campbell's foolish red card and Shaun Kerr's gilt-edged late miss that would have won the game for Nairn. It was the visitors who threatened first when they were awarded a free kick in a central position just outside the box. Nathan Sharp stepped up to take and his low effort was parried by Nairn shot stopper Callum Donaldson before Martin Sanderson covered round to clear the rebound from the goal line. Forres were forced into a changed after quarter of an hour of play as Gary Youngson was forced off injured. The early news on the full back is that he has twisted his knee. Tony Low was restored to the Nairn starting line up and he took the ball square in the face from a Forres free kick on the halfway line. It allowed him to collect possession and embark on an enterprising run down the left though but as he looked to feed Craig Campbell, the delivery was blocked by a Cans defender. Forres were back on the attack on 24 minutes when Kyle Scott back-heeled the ball to Scotty Moore. The midfielder advanced into the box from the left side but his low cross was bravely gathered by Donaldson, who scooped the ball up despite a number of Mechanics attackers piling into him. The woodwork kept the scores level two minutes later when Gregg Main smashed a 30-yard effort goalwards despite Kerr and Campbell looking for a pass into the box and the midfielder's effort came back off the crossbar. In time added on at the end of the first half, Dale Gillespie played in Campbell down the left but his shot deflected off Graeme Grant and rolled harmlessly wide of goal. Half time: Nairn County 0 Forres Mechanics 0 A minute after the break, some great link up play between Campbell and Kerr saw the former Elgin City attack delicately place the ball into the path of strike partner but Nairn's number 9 blasted wide. The home side then passed up another good chance to get their noses in front when Main rain clean through on goal but with just the goalkeeper to beat, the midfielder could only shoot straight at the returning Stuart Knight. The momentum swung the way of Forres on 64 minutes as they took a huge lift from Campbell's dismissal. The Nairn forward had been caught offside a number of time and when the linesman again raised his flag, the Nairn player let his frustrations get the better of him but his verbal volley was heard by referee Steven George, who sent the former Ross County youth off in what was just his second game after returning from a suspension that stretched out for almost three months. Just the add to the home side's problems, Forres opened the scoring two minutes later. A Simon Allan throw in from the left found Ricky Wardrop and from 25 yards out, he smashed a low and powerful drive that flew into the goal despite Donaldson getting a touch to the ball. The Can Cans looked to consolidate their position of ascendancy on 76 minutes when substitute Ryan Green found Scott's run into the box with a pass from the left side but the former Culter attacker's drive was caught by Donaldson. County put their numerical disadvantage behind them to draw level six minutes from time with a sensational piece of individual brilliance from Steven Mackay. The home side won a free kick barely a yard outside the box and midfielder stepped up to curl the ball into the top corner of the net leaving Knight with absolutely no chance. Nairn had an unbelievable chance to win the game late on when Kerr was clean through on goal with what seemed like an eternity to pick his spot. For some reason though, the striker tried to square a pass to Mackay instead of pulling the trigger himself and a Forres defender was able to race back and intercept. Then just 30 seconds later, the ball was in the net at the other end as Forres swept up the park and won the game. Ryan Green was picked out on the eddge of the box and he advanced in on goal before showing a cool head to fire a drive into the bottom left hand corner and end over four-and-a-half years of Mechanics hurt. Full time: Nairn County 1 Forres Mechanics 2 Reporter: Adam Hamilton |
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