Post-Match Reaction: We Are Lacking In The Final Third
Nairn County suffered their second successive league defeat when Huntly took all three points at Station Park thanks to second half strikes from Stuart Soane and Scott Garrett. It leaves County's chances of finishing as the top north FA side in the Highland league table hanging by the thread. Manager Les Fridge will be desperate for his side to finish with a flourish in their last two games against Forres Mechanics and Buckie Thistle, both at home.
Fridge felt this defeat mirrored last week's loss to Wick as his side controlled proceedings but could not
After a tame, goalless first half, Huntly opened the scoring when Soane fizzed home a free kick from 25 yards. And any hope County had of salvaging a point were extinguished when substitute Garrett fired past Callum Donaldson to seal the three points for Dave McGinlay's men.
After the match, Fridge stated: "I felt we weren't under that much pressure. They (Huntly) were resigned to long range efforts and did not cause us a lot of problems. I think they only had about three shots on target and scored with two of them. I said at half time that the only problems we were getting were from set pieces because they are a big, strong side. It was mainly from any corners or free kicks around the edge but apart from that I thought we were quite comfortable. We probably had control of about 80 percent of the game in general. They only came into it after the goals because they got a bit of a lift.
"The first goal was from a free kick and the boy hit a great strike.
"We are playing very well, knocking the ball about but we are lacking in the last third. It was probably a carbon copy of last week in a game that I felt we did more than enough to win or take something out of. Today, we have given away a sloppy free kick and then with the second goal, we have again shot ourselves in the foot."
He added: "Our final cross, ball or delivery in the final third of the park as of last week has just not been good enough. We are getting into good positions, we are dominating a lot of the play and we are controlling games for long spells. But we need to capitalise and take goals from when we have so much play.
"Today was very similar to last week in that our final pass in the opposition's last third is wanting at the moment."
Callum Donaldson's display between the posts was one of the main reasons County were able to hang onto Huntly's coat tails for so long after going behind. The manager added: "They (Huntly) got a wee lift with the goals, especially when they went 2-0 up. They then put on big Mo (Michael Morrison) and started going long to try and kill the game. But Callum had a couple of good saves. He has been in for a few games now and is doing fine."