Buckie Thistle are only three points behinds pacesetters Fraserburgh in the Breedon Highland League table after a thrilling 90 minutes of all-out action at a chilly Station Park.
Jags led after only 15 seconds through Marcus Goodall and they doubled their lead with an Andy MacAskill strike within 40 seconds of the restart.
Three goals were scored within a hectic five-minute period at the start of the second half.
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart said: “That earliest of goals somehow managed to put us off our game as after that I thought we were shocking and County were definitely the better side in that first half.
“In the second half we again scored within a minute and we made it 3-0 two minutes later.
“We should have then killed the game but we let Nairn back into it two minutes later, and I wasn’t happy at all with that.”
Buckie caught County cold straight from the kick-off when, with only 15 seconds on the clock, Goodall curled home from 25 yards around Dylan Maclean and into the bottom corner of the net.
Two minutes later Jags almost doubled their advantage when Andy Macaskill’s powerful 20-yard free kick was brilliantly parried to safety by home keeper Maclean.
Five minutes later MacAskill spotted Maclean off his line and his superb 45-yard free kick clattered back off the crossbar with the home keeper beaten.
Within 40 seconds of the restart, Buckie doubled their advantage when MacAskill turned in a Scott Adams cross at the back post.
Two minutes later it was 3-0 for the Jags, Goodall’s deep cross from the left picked out Adams and he thumped the ball past Maclean from six yards.
County threw themselves a lifeline two minutes later when Greig waltzed through the Buckie defence and beat Kevin Main with a well-placed drive for his first goal for his new club.
But with 13 minutes to go Buckie ended any hopes of a County comeback when substitute Sam Urquhart hammered the ball past Maclean from 12 yards to finally put the game to bed.
With two minutes to go Buckie were reduced to 10-men when substitute Lewis Mackinnon was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Two minutes into stoppage-time MacAskill rattled the woodwork again, this time a stunning 25 yard strike rebounding off the upright.
County manager Ronnie Sharp said: “Buckie caught us cold at the start of both halves and that isn’t just disappointing, it is dreadful defending.
“We lost two goals in the first three minutes of the second half. I thought we competed really well in the first half but it’s not acceptable to lose goals so early in either half.
“We’re never going to compete with the top teams if we do that, and every game has been the same this season against the top six sides.”
Turriff United 1-3 Keith
Keith made it three league wins in a row for the first time in over five years but were pushed all the way by Turriff United.
Maroons manager Craig Ewen said “To be honest Turriff deserved at least a draw, and the funny thing is we probably scored too early.
“They had two or three chances in the first half, and when they scored after half-time, it was game on.
“We were fortunate they hit the bar with five minutes to go, then right at the end we broke away and scored with a great finish by Kieran Mooney.
“I was pleased we showed a bit of fight and character as conditions were difficult as was the pitch, for both teams.
“Turriff are fighting for their lives so we are just happy to get the three points.”
Keith had a whirlwind start scoring through James Brownie inside three minutes, his 6th goal of the season, then less than two minutes later striker Matty Tough slammed home his third goal since stepping up from the junior ranks.
— Turriff United Football Club (@TurriffUnitedFC) February 5, 2022
Twelve minutes into the second half Turriff centre forward Aaron Reid capitalised in a crowded penalty area to pull his team back into the game.
The hosts hit the post and then the bar with five minutes left before Kieran Mooney broke clear in the dying seconds to blast home his first goal for Keith and make sure of the win.
Turriff manager Dean Donaldson said: “There are no easy games where we are, and although a draw would maybe have been fair you don’t deserve anything if you lose two goals in the first five minutes.
“We have a good, young group but one or two of them still need a bit of time to become Highland League players.”
