Post-Match Reaction: We Created The Better Chances
Nairn County were left to rue their missed chances when they took on Fraserburgh at Station Park as the visitors went away with all three points despite the home side creating enough chances to take something from the game.
Manager Les Fridge felt his side looked sluggish after their recent exploits which has seen them win five games in a row. But the boss was not making any excuses and felt his troops created the best chances of the game.
After watching his side play their sixth game this month, the manager spoke exclusively to Nairn County FC Online and felt the busy schedule was starting to take its toll. "I think there was an element of that," he said. "There were periods of the game where we looked a wee bit sluggish but that is not an excuse because it has to be done.
"It's been working for us although I did think we looked tired in the last two games. But it was just of those things today.
"In the Inverurie and Deveronvale games we took our chances. Today we probably had the three best chances of the game in the
He added: We changed things about in the second half and went to three up front. I thought that gave us a wee bit of urgency because we started to look more like ourselves and at 1-0 we always had a chance. But the mistake for the second goal just killed the game."
County had several chances to find the net throughout the game. The home side hit the woodwork twice and were also kept out by some inspired goalkeeping by Fraserburgh Andrew Dickinson. Fridge added: "Gregg (Main) came on and hit a great free kick which hit the post and it was then scrambled away. It was just one of those things. In recent games we've been taking our chances and winning games. We didn't take them today and without a doubt it was points dropped."
Before the break, Shaun Kerr passed up two gilt-edged opportunities when he was twice foiled by Dickinson. "Shaun missed Wednesday night because he got a bad knock last Saturday. And losing Lewis MacKinnon early on in the first half was a bit of a blow to us as well. He took a bad knock on his ankle and we will just have to monitor it this week and see how he is."
Fraserburgh took the lead just after the hour mark through a Robert Morrice thunderbolt. Fridge commented: "It was a great strike but we were on the attack had the ball in their box. It was cleared with a hoof up the park and we were caught out a wee bit. But give the boy his due; it was a very good finish."
Next week Fridge takes his side to Inverurie for a Highland League Cup semi final tie. The hosts will be keen to avenge Nairn's win there on Wednesday night when County dealt the Locos' title hopes a massive blow. The manager said: "I think it will be a totally different game (from Wednesday). It's a massive game for our players and a great game for the club to be involved in. We'll go there and give it our best shot.
"We could have lost on Wednesday and won in the cup, we could have lost on Wednesday and won in the cup. You can only take each game as it comes. The league game was on Wednesday, we won that and we now have to look forward to the semi final."