Formartine United striker Conor Gethins hopes teammate Wayne Mackintosh will take some of the flak away from him when United visit Nairn County today.
Gethins made the switch from Nairn to Formartine in 2016 while Mackintosh followed suit last summer after a 13-year association with his hometown club
As much as Mackintosh might get stick from the Nairn supporters today, Gethins believes it was the right move and is full of praise for his team-mate’s performances.
Gethins said: “With Wayne being the local boy it might take a wee bit of the heat away from me.
“After the long time he spent there, it will be strange for him going back but I’m sure he’ll want to put in a great performance.
“I said to him when he came here that if he played to the best of his ability, he would play every week and I’m sure our manager Paul Lawson would agree with me that he’s one of the first three or four names on the team sheet.”
The former Ross County and Peterhead striker has been impressed by the work done by Ronnie Sharp at Nairn, including getting the best out of young striker Jordan MacRae.
Gethins added: “They’ve lost Wayne and then Gregg Main to injury but they’ve got young players with enthusiasm, who give 100%. They’ve got a lot of pace in the side which in this league will take you far.
“I rate Jordan really highly. He’s got a bright future in the game, in or out of the Highland League. Staying at Nairn was the best for him, so he can play every week. His time will come.”
An entertaining contest lies in store at Mosset Park as Forres Mechanics welcome Highland League champions Buckie Thistle. Charlie Rowley’s side are two points ahead of Buckie in fifth spot.
Clach were beaten 2-1 in midweek by Fraserburgh and Iain Polworth’s side head to Turriff United this afternoon. A win for Ally Munro’s Strathspey Thistle at home to Deveronvale will see them climb above Keith into third-bottom.
