Post-Match Reaction: Nairn In Seven Heaven
A blistering display from the strike duo of Shaun Kerr and makeshift forward Martin MacDonald ensured that Nairn County rounded off their preparations for the Highland League season with a win at Strathspey Thistle's Seafield Park for the second year in succession.
Indeed, this is the third time that boss Les Fridge has taken his side to Grantown in the build up to a new season and all three have resulted in a County victory. But this year's success was the most resounding of the lot as the team racked up a 7-0 victory to gulf the narrow 2-1 win of 12 months ago.
County lined up with John Campbell in goals and a back four of Gary Black, Billy Horne, Stephen Skinner and Neil MacDonald while Wayne Mackintosh and Gregg Main teamed up in the middle of the park. Duncan Jones continued on the right hand side of midfield with Brian Macleod on the left leaving Kerr and MacDonald the responsibility of finding the goals in attack.
After passing up several opportunities in the first half, the visitors took only a 2-0 lead in with them at the break but it was after the restart that things really began to fall into place. Fridge had been somewhat critical of his side's finishing after the 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen XI on Tuesday evening but whatever work they had done in training since then paid off with dividends in the second half as both MacDonald and Kerr staked a claim for the match ball by grabbing hat trick while ex-
Les Fridge gave his reaction to Nairn's biggest win of the summer exclusively to Nairn County FC Online. He said: "In the first half we missed a lot of chances but things came together in the second half and it is always nice to score so many goals at any level. We managed to get five after the break and some of them were really good goals but I'm not too concerned about the result though. It was a good, worthwhile exercise for us and I'm pleased with the outcome."
The manager revealed he was forced by circumstances to hand MacDonald the task of partnering Kerr in attack with several of his first choice forwards all ruled out. Although originally signed as a striker, the former Brora man has starred at centre back for the club but he did manage to chip in with four goals when he was moved forward last season. Fridge said: "We had Willie Barron, Scott Graham and Chris Finnigan all unavailable today because of work so it gave us a chance to take a look at Martin up front. We all know he can play there and although it was a forced change, I thought he did very well, as did Shaun Kerr."
The action gets underway for real next Saturday with that first round cup tie against Lossiemouth and the manager was very much looking forward to it. When asked if his side were now ready to go, he said: "I suppose we will have to wait until next week to find out for definite. But we have worked very hard since coming back in for pre-season and we have had four very good games against different types of opposition. We have also played two full-scale games at training among our own squad so we have prepared as best we can. We'll know for sure next week if we're ready."
Fridge also revealed he is yet to finalise his first choice team for that impending cup tie as he still has one or two options to consider. He said: "The team for the first game is not finalised yet. The players have gone out there and really given me something to think about which can only be a good thing."
Nairn County - John Campbell, Neil MacDonald, Gary Black, Billy Horne, Stephen Skinner, Wayne Mackintosh, Duncan Jones, Gregg Main, Shaun Kerr, Martin MacDonald, Brian Macleod. Substitutes (all used) - Johnathan Holland, Andrea Coletto, Darren Jarvie, Callum Riddell, Paul Macleod, Callum Donaldson (GK).