Within seconds of the re-start
Shaun Kerr almost broke through the Academy defence but Alan Sinclair was alert
to the danger and snuffed him out.
2 minutes later and Manson had a
good shot on target that keeper Campbell
scooped around his post for a corner.
With 51 minutes played Macadie
showed some determined wing play before cutting infield evading about 3 tackles
before sliding a cross through the middle of the Nairn defence for Gunn, but it
was just out his reach and he could only get a toe to the ball to shoot wide.
A minute later Martin MacDonald
wriggled his way past the Academy defence in the middle of the box, turned and
shot but More denied him with a great diving save. Nairn should have done
better with the resulting corner but Kerr sent a free-header over the top of
the Academy cross-bar.
The game was starting to get
stretched by this stage with both side looking for a goal, and More again denied
Nairn the opener when he made another fine save low down to his left hand post
from a Steve Edwards shot.
Nairn did get the ball in the net
a minute later but it didn't count as at least two players were flagged
off-side.
Weir continued to look the most
likely to score for Academy and he got his head to a crossed ball with just
over an hour played but it flashed straight into keeper Campbells hands.
It was then Campbells turn to keep the scoring down as he
made a fine block when Macadie cut in from the right and went one-on-one with
him. Campbell
stayed big as Macadie ran in on him and got a foot to his shot.
Back up the other end and Moore was again called into action when Kerr was released
from midfield with a through ball from Main
but More was on hand for another fine stop.
Nairn keeper Campbell was taken off having picked up an
injury and was replaced by Willie Ridgers.
With 79 minutes gone Martin
MacDonald was in on goal yet again, and by this stage he must have been sick of
the sight of James More as More added to his string of fine saves to once again
deny Nairn the lead.
The winning goal came with a
minute of normal time left. A Stewart Ross long ball was flicked out to the
right for Gunn to run onto and Gunn hit a shot from all of 30 yards that
substitute keeper Ridgers dived to save and palmed it wide. The ball was pumped
back in and in a frantic exchange of ping-pong in the Nairn box Brian McLeod
handled the ball whilst clearing off his line. Referee Hasson awarded a spot
-kick and flashed the red card at the Nairn defender. In the midst of the
mayhem Weir stepped up as cool a cucumber and slotted the PK past Ridgers right
hand for his 8th league goal of the season.
1 – 0
Referee Hasson played out a
nervous 4 minutes of extra time, but the Scorries held on to take all 3 points.
This win moves Academy a point above Forres who got beat by Buckie today, and
to within a point of Clach.
Full time 1 – 0
Sponsors Man of the match James More
Pictured receiving his award from Sandy Fraser & son Euan on behalf of the match sponsor Sandy Fraser Plumbing Ltd
