Ross County
3
At this time of year, clubs can look to start afresh as they build up to the start of the new campaign but for Nairn in this match it was more a case of trying to pick up where they left off after an impressive victory at Huntly in their final game of last season. And with only one new signing so far, that was shown in the team selection as Fridge opted to make only one change in personnel from the side who clocked up that 3-0 success at Christie Park. New signing Billy Horne came in to replace forward Scott Graham who was unavailable due to a holiday. It meant that John Campbell retained the gloves and had Martin MacDonald, Stephen Skinner, Horne and Gary Black playing in front of him while Wayne Mackintosh, Gregg Main, Duncan Jones and Brian Macleod took up the midfield berths with Willie Barron playing just off lone striker Shaun Kerr.
It was the visitors who made the more positive start to the game and the County faithful must have feared the worst when the full-time visitors opened the scoring with only seven minutes gone. A miscommunication between Martin MacDonald and new boy Horne allowed the ball to drop Martin Scott who had read the situation well leaving the former Livingston midfielder with a simple finish.
It was Scott who was at the heart of things for Derek Adams' side nine minutes later when he raced in on goal but the brave efforts of Campbell were just enough to prevent the men from Dingwall from doubling their advantage.
And the home side were level in the 20th minute as Willie Barron's lightning run through the middle paid the highest dividends. It was Duncan Jones who was the creative influence behind the move when he split the visiting defence with a perfectly weighted throughball. Barron had the pace to get on the end of it as he closed in on goal and the Nairn captain also had the composure to coolly slide the ball past the visitors' goalkeeper Matthew Curtis from just inside the penalty box.
Jones almost turned executioner for the hosts eight minutes later as he went close to giving Fridge's side the lead. After Gregg Main was fouled within shooting distance on the edge of the box, the former Aberdeen man stepped up to take the resulting free kick but his effort flashed just off target.
Minutes later Nairn were back on the attack as their equalising goal seemed to have given them a taste for more. Horne's long free kick forward from defence was controlled by Jones who sent the ball across goal to the back post area where Barron was arriving but the County forward miscued with his attempted volley from a tight angle letting the visitors off the hook.
Nairn did manage to surprise their more high profile visitors by edging in front after half an hour. After a Ross County attack broke down, Wayne Mackintosh led the charge upfield as Nairn countered although his run was brought to an end by Ross County's Dennis Darnley. But his pass back to goalkeeper Curtis was short and allowed Shaun Kerr to nip in before the goalkeeper was able to get the ball before the Nairn striker rolled the ball into the empty net to get his deserved goal for a tireless shift up front against his former club.
The visitors were desperate to get back into things and almost drew level on the stroke of half time when former Don Scott Morrison saw his curling free kick from 24 yards parried behind for a corner by Campbell. Alex Keddie managed to get his head on the end of the resulting flag kick but somehow he sent the ball over the crossbar from almost on the goal line. (H-T 2-1).
After pushing Barron further forward to join Kerr as an out-and-out forward in a two-man attack, the home side's lead did not last long in the second half as The Staggies drew level minutes after the restart. Sean Higgins managed to get on the end of a low cross and steer a shot towards goal but Campbell was on hand to make the block. Unfortunately for the home side, the loose ball fell at Scott's feet and he was able to take a touch before firing high into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Jones was again County's best attacking outlet as he let fly with a shot from 22 yards that flew past the top corner by a matter of inches as the hosts threatened to re-establish their lead.
The visitors were lucky not to be reduced to ten men on the hour mark when goalkeeper Curtis appeared to use his hands outside of the penalty area. Campbell's long punt up the park was misjudged by Keddie and Barron attempted to flick the ball past the goalkeeper, who had advanced outside of his penalty area. Curtis stretched out an arm to divert the ball away and it went unpunished by referee Jason Hasson.
The visitors started to push harder and harder for a winner in the last half an hour as their full time fitness advantage started to pay off. And they came close to snatching the lead when Darnley's long ball forward from right back was controlled by Higgins who managed to go round the advancing Campbell. The Ross County striker drilled in a low cross to Daniel Moore but he was denied a goal by an excellent goal line block by the well-positioned Neil MacDonald.
Campbell this time won the race for a through ball as he sprinted from his goal line to deny Moore before quickly setting Nairn off on a counter attack. Barron raced to the by-line before cutting the ball back to substitute Jonathan Holland but the Malta internationalist fired his first time shot over the bar.
But disaster struck for the home side in the dying minutes, just when it looked as if they may hold out for a notable draw. After Campbell had once again kept out the visitors by blocking Higgins' shot with his feet, the goalkeeper was beaten when Adam Strachan fed Moore who cut in from the left and side-footed into the net to secure a win that was harsh on the hard-working hosts. (F-T 2-3).
Goals: 2
Shots on target: 6
Shots off target: 5
Corners won: 4
Offsides against: 1
Fouls conceded: 8
Woodwork hit: 1
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
Goals scored: 3
Shots on target: 10
Shots off target: 9
Corners won: 6
Offsides against: 2
Fouls conceded: 6
Woodwork hit: 1
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
1)John Campbell: 7
21)Billy Horne: 6
[8)Jonathan Holland 62]: 2
18)Stephen Skinner: 7
22)Gregg Main: 5
[2)Neil MacDonald 55]: 3
5)Martin MacDonald: 7
6)Wayne Mackintosh: 7
7)Willie Barron: 7
[25)Ross Mackenzie 80]: 1
12)Duncan Jones: 6
[17)Steven Edwards 70]: 2
9)Shaun Kerr: 7
10)Gary Black: 7
11)Brian Macleod: 7
Subs Unused:
14)Andrea Coletto
16)Darren Jarvie
20)Callum Donaldson (GK)
1)Matthew Curtis: 6
[16)Tony Bullock 77]: 2
2)Dennis Darnley: 6
3)Scott Morrison: 7
4)Andy Dowie: 7
5)Alex Keddie: 7
[18)Rick Gianotta 78]: 1
6)Paul Lawson: 4
[14)Adam Strachan 46]: 5
7)Martin Scott: 8
8)David Winters: 2
[15)Michael Gardyne 27]: 1
[19)Sean Higgins 46]: 5
9)Craig Gunn: 7
10)Daniel Moore: 7
11)Steven Craig: 4
[17)Dyron Daal 46]: 2
[12)Mark McCulloch 63]: 3