Post-Match Reaction: Nairn's Bad Day At The Office
It was not the outcome or performance Nairn County manager Les Fridge had envisaged from his side in this game after seeing his team put Huntly to the sword only last week.
It was County's first home outing in almost two months when they beat Keith 2-1 at Station Park. But that result was not to be repeated as Highland League champions Cove Rangers turned on the style to record a comfortable 4-0 success. And it could have been worse for the home side had young goalkeeper Callum Donaldson not continued to enhance his reputation by repelling two penalty kicks.
The visitors took the lead when Martin Johnston's acrobatical effort flew into the top corner of the net past the despairing dive of Donaldson. It could have been worse for the hosts but Donaldson kept out Jamie Watt's penalty after Gary Black had fouled the Cove striker in the penalty box. And just when it looked as if Nairn would get in to regroup at half time only a goal behind, the visitors struck again when Eric Watson was on hand to put John Sheran's men two goals to the good.
Despite Nairn making more of a fist of it after the restart, it was Cove who netted the third goal of the game to end the game as a contest. Martin Johnston was left unmarked to head home a Murray McCulloch corner and moments later, he had a great chance to seal his hat trick when Cove were awarded a second penalty and Black was subsequently sent off. But Donaldson again excelled to
The visitors were not to be denied a fourth goal though and Jerry O'Driscoll volleyed home with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute.
County manager Les Fridge put the result down to a bad day at the office for his side. He said: "We really didn't get going at all until the second half and by that time, they (Cove) were a couple of goals ahead. But we did push on more after the break and it is fair to say that the score flattered Cove a wee bit in the end."
He added: "Don't get me wrong, it was a bad day at the office and the better team won but we had one or two chances when the score was 1-0. We didn't take them and if we did then we would have found ourselves back in the game."
County will look to pick themselves back up when they travel to Harmsworth Park to take on Wick Academy in a game that has the making of being a tasty mid-table encounter. The Scorries notorious playing surface is a real leveller and ensures that no team is ever given an easy ride in the far north.