Nairn County 5 Selkirk 1

SELKIRK slid out of the Scottish Cup after a second-half collapse against Nairn County.

Jack Hay had fired the Souters in front but it was the home team who went on to dominate the second half with four goals.

Selkirk manager Steve Forrest said: "It was always a worry that the players would tire after such a long journey.

"Losing the two quick goals in the second half lost us the game."

After some early Nairn pressure, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 17 minutes. Murray Christie’s in-swinging corner from the

right was headed clear by Andrew Skinner at the front post but the loose ball dropped perfectly for Hay to arrow a half-volley from 20 yards into the bottom right corner of the net.

But County were back on level terms 11 minutes later.

Michael Morrison flicked the ball with the outside of his left boot at the halfway line through to Conor Gethins on the right. The striker

drove in on goal and just when it appeared as he was about to pull the trigger, he rolled the ball to his left for the on-rushing Alan Pollock to crash into the net from six yards out at the far post.

Nairn pushed for another with some late pressure before half time but the Selkirk defence held firm.

The visitors had the first chance of the second half when a cross from the right was laid off by Frazer Neave to Garry O’Connor but the former Scotland striker’s side-footed effort was high and wide.

A minute later, goal-scorer Hay drove in from the right and screwed a low effort back across Antell’s goal which trickled just past the right-hand upright.

But two goals in as many minutes swung the tie in County’s favour.

Glenn Main drove forward and won a free kick on the edge of the box. Gethins stepped up to send a low effort round the ball and into the

bottom right hand corner. Then, just a minute later, Alan Pollock coming in from the left, took a touch to take the ball past a defender and shift

it on to his left before he directed a pinpoint low effort across Newman.

A fantastic free kick from Jon McInally 22 yards out on the left edge of the penalty area dipped over the wall before bouncing off the crossbar with Antell beaten.

But County wrapped up the win 13 minutes from time with Sam Urquhart knocking home a rebound.

The substitute added his second of the game with three minutes to go.

Selkirk – J Newman, J Pyper, C McDiarmid (S Ritchie 77), J Hartley, M Christie, F Neave, K Reynolds (P Addison 61), R Gray, J McInally,G O’Connor (M Collin 84) & J Hay.