NAIRN COUNTY
2
Both sides went in at the interval level but much like last week's win against Forres, Nairn went up through the gears after the restart and secured the win thanks to deadly Kerr's quick fire double at the start of the second half. The former Ross County youngster now has 11 goals for the season.
Manager Les Fridge started with Kerr up front at the expense of Chris Finnigan, who dropped to the bench. Darren Jarvie also returned to the starting line up on the left hand side of midfield in place of Glenn Main.
The opening stages of the match saw both sides battle for a grasp of control with neither able to make create any true openings. The closest the crowd got to witnessing a goal was through set pieces into the penalty area that were dangerous at both ends but could produce no end result.
Steven Edwards was first to go close with a serious effort at goal but his 25-yard curling shot was palmed away by home goalkeeper Darren McConnachie.
With 18 minutes on the clock, Lossiemouth defender Steven Dixon found himself in a great position unmarked on the edge of the area. The time it took him to get the ball out of his feet gave the Nairn defence sufficient time to recover and the home skipper was crowded out and could only poke a tame effort straight at Campbell.
The County shotstopper then had to look lively to keep his side level. Steven Rattray knocked the ball down to young forward Jamie McKay and the former Fort William livewire tested the goalkeeper with a stinging volley that Campbell parried and gathered at the second attempt. McKay was booked for sliding into the goalkeeper in the joust for the loose ball, while Neil MacDonald was also carded for his physical defence of his keeper.
Edwards again came close to giving County the lead, this time on the half-hour mark but was denied by a superb save by McConnachie. The Nairn midfielder unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards that was destined for the top corner until the Lossie goalkeeper flew across his goal and tipped the ball onto the junction between the post and crossbar.
Nairn started to turn the screw as the half drew to a close and it was the hosts who were the happier to hear the referee blow for the interval. County could have taken the lead just before the 45-minute mark when Willie Barron met Duncan Jones' corner with a glancing header that was hacked clear fromt he goal-line by George Russell before Shaun Kerr saw his effort saved by McConnachie. (H-T 0-0).
The first goal was always going to be crucial in this match and it was no surprise that it went Nairn's way when it arrived considering the visitors pressure towards the end of the first half. After 50 minutes, Jones played a through ball into the path of Kerr who beat McConnachie in the race to it after the goalkeeper had come sprinting off his line. This left Nairn's summer signing with a gaping goal in front of him and he made no mistake as he rolled the ball into the unguarded net.
Five minutes later Nairn all but killed the game as a contest when Kerr grabbed his second of the day. It all started in the County box when defender Martin Sanderson went down with a knock after being caught late by the boot of Rattray. With both sides seemingly prepared to stop for the ball to be played out so that Sanderson could get treatment, Edwards' quick thinking presented an opening for the visitors. Kerr had raced off down the right and Edwards picked him out with a precision pass. The striker then went round McConnachie but could not score from the tight angle he had left himself. He then cut back inside and rammed the ball home just as the goalkeeper was about the recover back to his goal line.
The two-goal deficit saw the Lossie players adopt a 'nothing to lose' attitude as they threw men forward but the Nairn defence withstood everything that was thrown at them. Indeed, the visitors could have added to their tally in the final minutes when some great counter attacking football created chances for subs Gregg Main and Chris Finnigan but both failed to find the target. (F-T 2-0).
Goals: 2
Shots on target: 4
Shots off target: 5
Corners won: 7
Offsides against: 5
Fouls conceded: 7
Woodwork hit: 1
Yellow cards: 3
Red cards: 0
Goals: 0
Shots on target: 2
Shots off target: 3
Corners won: 6
Offsides against: 1
Fouls conceded: 9
Woodwork hit: 0
Yellow cards: 4
Red cards: 0
1)John Campbell: 7
2)Neil MacDonald: 6 y 25
[22)Gregg Main 65]: 3
18)Stephen Skinner: 7
24)Martin Sanderson: 7
5)Martin MacDonald: 7
6)Wayne Mackintosh: 7
[15)Scott Graham 80]: 2
7)Willie Barron: 7
12)Duncan Jones: 7
9)Shaun Kerr: 8 y 72
[13)Chris Finnigan 87]: 1
17)Steven Edwards: 8 y 70
16)Darren Jarvie: 7
Subs Unused:
19)Glenn Main
30)Willie Ridgers (GK)
1)Darren McConnachie: 7
2)George Russell: 7 y 34
3)Gary Youngson: 6
4)Steven Dixon: 6
5)Kevin Stuart: 6
6)Graham WIlson: 6
7)Steven Rattray: 6
[12)Kyle Stewart 81]: 1
8)Mark Wood: 7 y 21
9)David Blackhall: 6
10)Craig Morrison: 5 y 45
[16)Shaun McIntosh 67]: 2
11)Jamie McKay: 7 y 25
[15)Duncan Lamont 89]: 1
Subs Unused:
14)Mudi Ewere
17)Craig Masterton (GK)