Post-Match Reaction: Hunger Was Lacking
Nairn County manager Les Fridge believes his side lacked hunger when they took on Inverurie Locos in the semi final of the Highland League Cup at Harlaw Park.
The visitors fell behind the Craig Ross's header in the first half and were left with a mountain to climb not long into the second half when goals from Neil Gauld and Jamie McKinnon put the home side on easy street.
But Nairn hit back when Glenn Main netted his sixth goal of the season to give the visitors some hope
That hope was extinguished later on in the half though as the Locos added a further two goals with Wayne Mackintosh's red card sandwiched in between. Firstly, Danny Milne netted from the penalty spot following an apparent foul by Stephen Skinner to put the tie beyond the visitors. Mackintosh then walked four minutes from time for a second yellow card before McKinnon's second of the game in the final minute rounded off the scoring.
It was Nairn's third defeat at this stage of the competition with Fridge's stewardship. And the manager felt his side lacked that bit of extra desire required to reach the elusive final. He said: "We were not up for it as much as I would have expected. It's plain and simple - they (Locos) wanted it more on the day and they deserve it.
"I can mump and moan about a couple of soft decisions that went against us. We had a couple of penalty claims that I thought were quite strong but they one that was given against us nobody claimed for and they were as surprised as we were (that it was awarded).
"That's just the way it is and there is no point in using that as an excuse. We were beat on the day by the team that wanted it more."
Fridge had to do without forward Lewis MacKinnon who failed a pre-match fitness test. The manager added: "He picked up a knock and he is still struggling with it if the truth be known. There was no point in putting him on and then having to take him back off again after maybe 10 minutes.
"We were contemplating putting him on late on but when Wayne Mackintosh got sent off the game was dead."
County only have league duty to focus on from now until the end of the season. The manager will start to look to next season as well as he looks to enhance his squad and try to keep a hold of out-of-contract stars Lewis MacKinnon - strongly linked with a move to Buckie Thistle - and David Hind. Fridge stated: "We would obviously like to try to add a couple of players. We would like to keep David Hind and Lewis MacKinnon. We will have to wait and see whether or not we will manage that. But we would like to strengthen and add a couple of players."
Fridge's side have five games left - all at home, starting with Brora Rangers on Wednesday night - as they look to get as high up the Highland League table as possible. "We have five home games and we have to try and get as many points as we can and try to finish on a high. It's as simple as that."