Post-Match Reaction: Fridge Happy With A Point
County boss Les Fridge was pleased with his side's resolve as they battled their way to a deserved share of the spoils at Keith.
A battling defensive shift saw Nairn pick up a point from their trip to Kynoch Park as the home side struggled to find a way through the dogged County back line, marshalled by the impressive Stephen Indeed it was the visitors who took an early lead when prolific scorer Shaun Kerr netted in under two minutes. But Keith forced their way back into the reckoning and after creating several chances,
Five minutes later, the hosts were in front when Stuart Walker was tripped by Hind in the box. Despite the Nairn appeals, referee Roddy Cobb awarded the penalty which was converted by Harris.
But County were back on level terms five minutes before the interval when a neat passing move was finished off by Kerr after the former Ross County man was played in by Brian Macleod.
Despite both team's probing for a third goal after the restart, the defences were well and truly on top as both sets of forwards were restricted to long range efforts and half chances.
After the final whistle, Nairn County FC Online spoke exclusively to Nairn County manager Les Fridge. The boss was pleased with his team's performance overall as he said: "In the first half, I thought we played some great football and scored two good goals. The movement, deliveries and finishes were brilliant and I could not have asked for anymore.
"It was a wee bit sloppy the two goals that we lost though. We were caught by the cutback from the by-line for the first and the penalty was
He added: "In the second half it was more a bit of a battle and we were under a lot of pressure at times. But we stood up and defended well. To come away with a point from here - which is a difficult place to come - and take four points out of six from them (Keith) this season means that we are quite happy."
Despite Keith's sustained pressure particularly in the second half, County stood up to the threat and kept their hosts at bay after the interval. "I thought the two centre halves (Martin MacDonald and David Hind) stood up to the game really well today," Fridge added. "We were under pressure and Keith are a good team who won the league two years ago. This is a difficult place to come.
"We managed to play football in the first half but we were under a lot more pressure in the second. But we stood up to it and we'll take the point."
After Kerr's early strike, County struggled to put Keith stand-in goalkeeper Barry Marwick under any real pressure as the hosts took a firm hold over proceedings. The boss added: "I think that was always going to happen and we just caught them cold (with the first goal). It was a great ball in and a good finish and we found ourselves 1-0 up. They were always going to come back into the game but I thought we finished the first half quite strongly. The movement, the passing and the wee one-two before the second goal were all brilliant. You won't see better football than that.
"But we were under pressure in the second half and we managed to stand up to it."
The game marked Lewis MacKinnon's last appearance for the club as the former Buckie, Forres and Inverness CT man prepares to return to Australia. "I would like to say I special thank you to Lewis," said Fridge. "I think he has been excellent for us. It's a bit unfortunate because he is just finding his fitness now but over the last few games he has been brilliant for us. He is great at holding the ball up and he links the play well for us so he will be missed.
"But it gives someone else an opportunity. Glenn (Main) went up front towards the end today and I thought he did really well. In fact, I thought he did really well wide right as well. But it will give someone else a chance."
Top scorer Kerr hobbled off in the second half and will be an injury doubt ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Cove Rangers. Fridge commented: "He (Kerr) had a wee knock on his ankle but it was a precautionary measure taking him off as well and we are hoping he will be alright for Tuesday."
Looking ahead to that game, the manager was under no illusions to the size of the task facing his side. He said: "We are away from home against one of the bigger teams so it's going to be hard. They (Cove) are the reigning champions but we went there last year and got a point after 3-3 draw which was a great game. So we will be looking to go through there and hopefully take something on Tuesday."
Making such a long journey for a midweek match is hardly ideal for Fridge and he revealed: "I will have a lot of players out. They will be missing because of work commitments because we have boys who work in different areas around the north. We are going there with a depleted squad and there is no point in trying to hide that. But we will go through there and get on with it because it will give boys a chance to stake a place in the team."