Wick Academy0–1Nairn County

County gaffer Ronnie Sharp made several changes to his side for the trip to Wick for this Highland League encounter. Mark Holmes missed out through injury while Paul McDonald was dropped from the 16 man squad competely to miss his first game of the season. Gary Farquhar also missed out through being dropped from the bench.

Youngster Robbie Duncanson was recalled straight into the starting XI as was Garry Ewing. Scott Kellacher made his first appearence on the bench, to the shock of the travelling support, since fracturing his leg at the start of the campaign.

Nairn had the first chance of the match when Steven Edwards found enough space 20 yards out to fire a low shot in but it went past the keeper's right hand post.

Then on the half hour mark Robbie Duncanson screwed a shot across goal that trickled just past the far post for a goal kick.

Wick then looked to open the scoring but Martin Gunn's low shot from the edge of the box was a tame one to the relief of Michael Rae.

Steven Edwards then collected the ball from a cleared Nairn corner and curled in an effort from 22 yards that the home keeper did well to palm around the post on 38 minutes.

Then five minutes from the interval it was Edwards again carving the opening for himself but he could only hit over from 20 yards out.

Gavin Henderson then had a low shot from the edge of the box smoothered by Rae just on the half time whistle.

Nairn then had their best chance of the match so far 10 minutes into the second half when Duncanson did well out on the right to find enough space to send a cross in that was met by the head of Brooks but he could only send his effort over the crossbar.

A minute later and bustling Wick midfielder Martin Gunn made a thrusting run through the County defence but his shot was well saved by Michael Rae.

Then on 67 minutes the home support thought that their side had opened the scoring. A quick free kick was sent over from the left wing and was met by Steven Reid but his looping header dropped on the outside of Rae's left hand post as opposed to the inside.

Poor defending from the home side gifted Robbie Duncanson with a chance on the edge of the box but he fired his shot over the crossbar.

Nairn manager Ronnie Sharp then threw on striker Scott Kellacher for only his second appearence of the season in place of Robbie Duncanson in the hope of snatching the three points on 77 minutes.

Just as it was beginning to look as if both sides were going to have to settle for a point County opened the scoring. Skipper Dave Macdonald sent a high free kick into the box that the hosts failed to clear leaving the ball to break for Brian Macleod for him to drill under the despairing Thomson in the Wick goal to open his account for the season. The Nairn side then showed their re-found togetherness when all of them but goalkeeper Michael Rae joined in on congratulating Macleod on his goal.

The game then went through a dirty spell that saw the referee book three players in the dying minutes as Wick's frustration started to come out.

The Scorries then had a good chance to snatch a point at the death when Graeme Reid was through on goal but he snatched at his effort hitting it straight at Rae leaving him with an easy save.

In a game where a win was key, County will be pleased to get their third victory of the season that puts them into doubled figures for points aswell as into the top half of the table.