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Nairn St Ninian pull off epic comeback to earn draw against Sutherland


By Andrew Henderson

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Nairn St Ninian mounted a thrilling comeback to salvage a point against Sutherland in the Highlands and Islands League in a 3–3 draw.

Nairn's Emma McCarthy slips a tackle from Sutherland's Erin Johnstone. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Nairn's Emma McCarthy slips a tackle from Sutherland's Erin Johnstone. Picture: Callum Mackay.

The Saints have shown significant improvements this year, but it was still expected to be tough for them against the League Cup finalists.

Nairn striker Jen Christison gets a shot off. Picture: Callum Mackay
Nairn striker Jen Christison gets a shot off. Picture: Callum Mackay

It certainly threatened to be a long afternoon for St Ninian in the first half, as they conceded three goals to give themselves an uphill battle to climb.

Trisha Macrae’s cross was turned into Nairn’s own goal by a defender, before Megan Mackay put daylight between the sides by making it 2–0, with the Sutherland player finishing off a well-worked team move.

Nairn's Rebecca Horgan comes away with the ball. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Nairn's Rebecca Horgan comes away with the ball. Picture: Callum Mackay.

That would have been a tough enough task, but it was 3–0 going into half time after a second own goal, this time coming from Rachael Sutherland’s corner kick.

Nairn's Emma McCarthy on the ball...Picture: Callum Mackay..
Nairn's Emma McCarthy on the ball...Picture: Callum Mackay..

Nairn would have felt that the score was harsh on them given that there had been two own goals, but they still needed inspiration at the start of the second half to spark a turnaround.

A moment of magic did come, thankfully for St Ninian, from trialist Aoife Horgan.

Sutherland's Erin Johnstone with a surging run. Picture: Callum Mackay
Sutherland's Erin Johnstone with a surging run. Picture: Callum Mackay

She found the net from a little under 30 yards out to pull one goal back, and from there the home side ramped up the pressure as they tried to claw back the deficit further.

Sutherland's Rachael Sutherland clears the danger. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Sutherland's Rachael Sutherland clears the danger. Picture: Callum Mackay.

Their second goal came from an unlikely source, as regular goalkeeper Lisa Mason took Nairn to within one goal of their opponents.

Mason had been playing outfield after suffering a broken finger, which kept her out of goal for the match.

Nairn's Emma McCarthy on the ball. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Nairn's Emma McCarthy on the ball. Picture: Callum Mackay.

At 3–2 behind, St Ninian were well and truly back in the match and could sense points were there to be won.

Horgan again found the net, this time directly from a free kick that flew into the left-hand side of the goal, but although both teams tried to find a winner in the final 15 minutes their efforts were in vain, with the spoils shared at full time.

The draw gave Buckie the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, and they took that opportunity with both hands against struggling Brora Rangers.

Nairn striker Jen Christison gets a shot off. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Nairn striker Jen Christison gets a shot off. Picture: Callum Mackay.

Buckie won 9–0 at Dudgeon Park extending their advantage in the league to five points.

Generally speaking, Highlands and Islands League teams are beginning to wind down their fixture lists before the summer break in July.

St Ninian have two games left to play before the recess, starting with a home match against Caithness this Sunday, kicking off at noon.


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