Post-Match Reaction: County Gun Down Army XI
Les Fridge wanted Nairn County to Be The Best when they took on a Blackwatch XI in a bounce game - and that is exactly what the manager got as his side fired in 12 goals while their host meekly surrendered at Fort George.
With County again out of competitive action, the match was arranged to give Fridge's men some match practice before next week's Highland League match against Fort William at Station Park.
The manager brought goalkeeper John Campbell back into the team while Gary Black also played his
It didn't Nairn long to get the scoring underway as Kerr intercepted a fourth-minute backpass and rounded the goalkeeper before seeing his shot cleared off the line. But MacKinnon was on hand to tap home the loose ball from eight yards with the 'keeper still stranded.
Edwards then saw a 25-yard volley held before Kerr flicked the ball past goalkeeper and post after being played in by Main.
Stewart's first touch let him down when he was picked out in acres of space at the back post by Kerr and then Edwards saw a powerful drive from 22 yards parried onto the crossbar.
On 24 minutes, MacKinnon spun his marker before seeing his low shot parried past the post. From the resulting corner though, Kerr was
It was three, three minutes later when Edwards played in a perfectly-weighted low cross from wide on the right for MacKinnon to stroke home at the back post.
The former Buckie man then completed his hat-trick when hard work from Macleod saw him prevent the ball going behind for a goal-kick on the left. His cross found the unmarked MacKinnon who tapped home from close range.
Nairn made it five on the stroke of half time when Edwards beat his man before placing a low shot under the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner of the net from 15 yards.
Goals weren't the only thing raining down on the exposed pitch on the Moray Firth coast as the more convential wet stuff swirled in the skies and made playing conditions difficult. But five minutes after the restart, Kerr was sent through on goal and although he looked to be offside, he was allowed to race forward and score Nairn's sixth, placing the ball under the goalkeeper.
Substitute Gregg Main drove forward on the counter attack for Nairn five minutes later and played in MacKinnon with a defence-splitting pass. He squared the ball across goal for his strike partner Kerr to slot home at the back post for number seven.
Main got in on the act himself on 59 minutes when he intercepted a pass out of defence before driving forward and lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
Another substitute, Scott Nicholl, set up the next goal when he crossed from the right for fellow sub Wayne Mackintosh to blast into the roof of the net from five yards on 66 minutes.
Kerr turned provider two minutes later when he cut the ball back from the by-line on the right for MacKinnon to put Nairn into double figures as he tapped home from a couple of yards.
Stewart then marked his first outing for the club with a goal when he cut out another wayward pass from the home defence before advancing in on goal and placing the ball under the goalkeeper.
County reached a dozen, nine minutes from the end when Black crossed from the right for Kerr to volley home his fourth of the day.
But the home side grabbed a consolation with the last kick of the game. Sub Callum Riddell was penalised for handball in the box and the penalty was blasted past replacement 'keeper Willie Ridgers.
After the match, Nairn County FC Online grabbed an exclusive chat with Les Fridge. He was satisifed to see his team back to winning ways, regardless of the opposition. He said: "We've not had a game for a few weeks so it was very good of the Blackwatch to get a team together to play us.
"The weather wasn't great but we needed the game and overall, it was a good 90 minutes for us."
Despite bagging a dozen and seeing his strikers score eight between them, Fridge insisted he wasn't bothered about the score. He declared: "It's always nice to score goals but I wasn't too interested in the result. It was more a case of boys getting 90 minutes. We tried various things with boys in different positions and it gave us a chance to have a look at a couple of things."
The manager was disappointed in the manner in which his side had been conceding goals in the Highland League and this game gave him the chance to put his defence under the microscope. He said: "We changed it (the defence) about two or three times to have a look at various things. It's hard to put your finger on what's happened because we have gone from being really solid at the start of the season to getting caught out with basic errors at the moment. But it's just something we will have to keep working on."
After arriving from Inverness City at the start of December, Graeme Stewart was finally able to pull on a Nairn County shirt for the first time. Fridge was pleased with his latest recruits efforts and added: "He's been a bit unfortunate after being on the bench twice and then having games postponed, he's not had the chance to feature. But he started today and he's been working hard in training. He'll have to wait to get his chance like everyone else."
Fridge sprung a surprise by including out-on-loan goalkeeper Willie Ridgers among his substitutes. The ex-Fort William custodian played the majority of the second half. The manager explained his appearance. "Willie's out on loan to Strathspey and their game today was called off. He phoned me this morning to say he'd like to come along with us to stay involved. Callum Donaldson was away working today but it was good to see John Campbell back today as well."
County have only won one match since claiming the North of Scotland Cup in Setember. But this month they will take on Fort William, Lossiemouth and Brora Rangers - all teams currently below Nairn in the league - meaning January could hold the key to Fridge's men getting back on track results-wise. But Fridge was refusing to take anything for granted. He said: "There is no easy games. We've beaten Keith after going down to 10 men and beaten Huntly away this season. But I don't think we should be disrespectful to the teams who are below us or round about us. We just need to take care of our own situation and do the right things. We've been playing really well but haven't been getting results so we need to turn performances into results. It's that simple."
County have only played four home league games and have 10 to play at Station Park before the end of the season. With Nairn's home form usually being solid, Fridge will be looking for his side to capitalise on their high number of home fixtures. "I don't think these will be easy games this month," he said. "But obviously we will have a few games at home now and I'd like to think we can take advantage of that.
"It's been a very up-and-down season for us. I said at the start of the season that I thought it was going to be along that lines. We've boys who are gaining experience every week and you don't become an experienced player overnight. These players are learning but they are going to make mistakes. We are trying to build a squad but it is difficult because we have had the squad decimated since the start of the season through various things. We've had boys with work commitments etc and it's difficult because it has put us back to square one where we're looking to build again."
In other news, transfer-listed defender Neil MacDonald is still a Nairn County player. The 21-year-old full-back had been linked with a move to North Caledonian League outfit Golspie Sutherland. But a hand injury has ruled the defender out of any transfer for now. Meanwhile, midfielder Harry Rae - on the transfer list as well - is also still a County player.