Post Match Reaction: Hard Fought Win In Derby Cup Clash
A hard fought derby match with Forres Mechanics at Station Park ended in Nairn County's progression to the semi finals of the North of Scotland Cup. The home side edged out their local rivals by a single goal to set up a semi final clash with Rothes at home on Tuesday August 26.
Maltese international Johnathan Holland struck the decisive goal after half an hour and Nairn held firm to advance to the next round. County's solid midfield and back four proved too much for the Mechanics to break down as goalkeeper John Campbell was rarely tested in the Nairn goal.
After the match, County manager Les Fridge said: "It was a hard fought win. At the end of the day, we knew it was going to be a tough game. I thought we looked quite good and in fairness to their goalie, he had three or four good saves to stop us extending our lead. We knew they would come at us in the second half and have a bit of a go so we had to defend well at times."
He added: "Overall it was a good win and on another day, we could have had got a couple more goals. It was a tremendous save by their goalkeeper in the first half from Shaun Kerr's header - he really kept them in the game."
The manager has a knack of picking up victories in this competition, having won the cup in 2005 and reached three other semi finals. He said: "That is four semi finals in the last five years so it has been quite a good cup for me."