Rothes 1 Nairn 3 - Pictures and comment

The faithful made their way up to Rothes today, past the ever extending Elgin housing schemes that are ceaselessly heading up the hill too, to that frosty hollow surrounded by distilleries and wooded hills. There the County faithful outnumbered the Rothes support by at least three to one. Some of the surface looked a little white and it was to get whiter still as the sun disappeared and the cold closed in again. It was time for a fill-up of pies and tea if you wanted to survive this one. It was a different kind of occasion but the intended purpose of it was the same as last week – three points. We were to get those three points, no one was over-confident or crowing about it but we did expect a win and it was to come eventually. 

 It looked more laboured than the show against Turriff however. The Rothes youngsters were putting up a fight and the Wee County were having trouble penetrating into the Rothes box. We got there in the 11th minute though as a long ball found Robbie Duncanson, he wasted no time in giving it to Gregg Main who had an encounter of the close kind with the Rothes keeper as he put County on the scoresheet. 

Rothes came back with some forays and played up to and beyond their game in keeping the County out of taking a quick second. They were to successfully claim a penalty just before half-time and the game paused at 1-1 despite a Connor Gethins free kick coming off the post.

It the second half another Connor free kick was to be brilliantly saved by the Rothes keeper. The second goal was to come soon however as John Cameron returned a ball to the County’s top scorer for Connor to claim yet another Highland League goal.
The Rothes rhythm took a knock with a sending off. Soon Robbie got his goal too with a long shot that went low into the net. County were on top but Rothes never gave up their fighting spirit and continued to try very hard to hinder the County who were by now, if not rampant then, turning on the style for a final 15 mintues and they were to hassle the Rothes defence until the final whistle.

And so it was quickly away down the brae for the visiting fans and all thoughts on Locos coming to town next Saturday. When there are just 6 points between the top nine teams then every game is a big game. Let’s all get up to Station Park again this Saturday and get behind the team once more.