Two goals in a minute in the early stages of the first half ensured Nairn and Keith shared the spoils in an entertaining game, the Maroons’ first draw in nine months.
Nairn manager Ronnie Sharp said: “Both teams were even, Keith are a good side and it was an open game, although we always looked the likelier to score.
“It was disappointing to lose the goal so quickly after we scored and we should have had a stonewall penalty award near the end but the players are giving all they have just now and it was a good performance.”
Both goals came early with Nairn grabbing the lead in the 15th minute.
Jordan Macrae headed a Gregg Main cross on to the bar and when Jack Maclean’s effort from the loose ball was blocked Wayne Mackintosh pounced to ram home from close range.
Within a minute it was all square, home goalkeeper Dylan Maclean could not hold a James Brownie shot and Keith’s leading scorer Luke Barbour was on the spot to slot home his 13th of the season.
The second half provided lots of action with Nairn looking the sharper outfit and Keith goalkeeper Daniel Bell was forced to pull off a fine, diving to keep out a James MacKay drive in the 73rd minute, before both sides had penalty claims waved aside in the dying minutes.
Keith manager Allan Hale was disappointed his side failed to take the chance to move up the table and said: “We had the chance to move into fifth place with the way other results had gone, but we didn’t deserve anything.
“It was a disappointing performance, although I couldn’t fault our effort.
“We fell short, but credit to Nairn, they were the better team, certainly in the second half when they looked the more threatening team.”