Aberdeen Friendly: County Ready To Host Dons
Nairn County will step up their preparations for the forthcoming Highland League season when they take on Premier League opposition in the form of an Aberdeen XI at Station Park this Tuesday evening. With Jimmy Calderwood taking his side to Dundee's Dens Park on the same evening, it is likely to be the cream of the Dons' up and coming youngsters who make the trip along the A96 to face County.
It is the first time Nairn have played the Pittodrie men since before manager Les Fridge took over the
Fridge's men were scheduled to take on Inverness City in their latest pre-season friendly yesterday but the game was called off late on Friday because of a ruling which prevents junior clubs from taking part in any sort of fixture until next week. But the manager was able to fix up a training game against an Inverness and Ross-shire amateur select side which was played in three 30-minute periods with rolling subs at the Riverside - County's pre-season training base. It gave Fridge the chance to give all of his squad a run out apart from the unavailable John Campbell, Martin MacDonald and Ross Mackenzie and Glenn Main, who is struggling with a minor injury.
After the first 30 minutes, Nairn were 2-1 in front as Steven Edwards netted a rare goal before the returning Scott Graham added a second in his first appearance of the summer after being away on holiday.
The second 30-minute period yielded another County goal. This time it was Andrea Coletto who was on the score sheet as the Italian put his side 3-1 in front with his first goal for the club.
And the hosts' victory was completed in the final 30 minutes as a further three goals sealed a 6-1 success. Substitute Gary Black grabbed Nairn's fourth of the afternoon before fellow sub Shaun Kerr got in the act to give home side a 5-1 advantage. Brian Macleod rounded off the scoring late on the end a satisfying afternoon for Fridge's side.
The manager said: "We created a lot of chances and managed to score the six goals so overall I am pleased. It was only a training game but it was important for the boys who were not involved last Tuesday night against Ross County to get their eye in and game a game from the start."
Speaking about the lack of major changes in personnel to his squad so far this summer, Fridge added: "We are always willing to bring players in to the club but we are not just going to go out and sign people just for the sake of it. We have a decent squad and we are looking to continue where we left of last season. It's well known now that we do have a young team and with that comes inconsistencies. But we are looking to push on and develop as much as possible."
Nairn County - Callum Donaldson, Neil MacDonald, Billy Horne, Stephen Skinner, Darren Jarvie, Wayne Mackintosh, Steven Edwards, Andrea Coletto, Scott Graham, Chris Finnigan, Brian Macleod,
Subs (all used) - Willie Barron, Jonathan Holland, Shaun Kerr, Duncan Jones, Gary Black, Gregg Main, Marc MacDonald, Willie Ridgers (GK).