PICTURES – Nairn St Ninian beat Ross and Cromarty in five-goal thriller in Highlands and Islands League
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Nairn St Ninian triumphed in a back and forth encounter against Ross and Cromarty to register a 3–2 victory in their opening match of the 2023 Highlands and Islands League season.
St Ninian could have been forgiven for believing they were underdogs going into the contest.
Ross and Cromarty were founded by former players from ICT Development, who were the 2021 league champions, and they had also been in action the week previously whereas the Nairn Saints were playing their first competitive fixture of the year.
That said, both teams looked to attack early on, with Nairn forcing saves out of the visiting keeper.
Ross and Cromarty, meanwhile, tried to focus attacks down their right wing, and it was them who claimed the opening goal.
Mary Peteranna picked out Jo Crosbie, who kept a cool head to find the net.
St Ninian would respond before half time thanks to Darcey Woodman’s strike.
After the restart they did their all to keep that momentum going, and a Ross and Cromary mistake allowed them in 10 minutes into the second half when Hailey Currie expertly finished.
The see-saw encounter would not rest there though. The visitors came back into it again, and clinical forward Simone Coles used her power to create an opportunity to shoot which she gladly took to level things up once again.
With the game in the balance, the visitors seemed to get hit by nerves, and Nairn took full advantage.
A long ball forward was not dealt with by the Ross and Cromarty defence, allowing Jen Christison in to slot home what would turn out to be the winner.
Although very early days in the league season, that opening win has Nairn sitting fourth in the table, ahead of three sides who have played a game more without tasting victory as yet this year.
One of those is the first ever Highlands and Islands League winners Clachnacuddin, who lost out 4-2 at home to reigning champions Buckie on Sunday.
At the top of the table, though, it is Sutherland who are the early pace-setters after recording their second win in as many games, 4-1 at home against Caithness.
The scheduled fixture between Orkney and Brora Rangers was postponed.
Having only just got under way, Nairn St Ninian now have the chance to continue to develop as the league takes a planned break this week, returning on April 16.
