Post-Match Reaction: We Did Not Play Well
Les Fridge was happy to see his Nairn County side progress to the semi finals of the Highland League Cup. But the manager did not think his players performed well in their win over Deveronvale.
County ended their 'Vale hoodoo to reach the last four of the competition. It was Nairn's first win over the Banff side since early on in season 1996-97 when a Neal Sinclair penalty saw the visitors pick up an unlikely 1-0 win at Princess Royal Park. Since then, managers Jim Walker, Ronnie Sharp and now Fridge have all failed to record another win over Deveronvale until now.
Despite creating little in the first half, County took the lead when Lewis MacKinnon poked home from 12 yards for his seventh goal of the season.
And the hosts made it two through Wayne Mackintosh nine minutes from the end to secure their place in the last four. Nairn will now play Inverurie Locos away on Saturday April 4 for a place in the final.
Fridge said: "That is our fourth game in a week-and-a-half and I thought we looked quite tired. We ended up sitting in which is not ideal against a quality side like Deveronvale.
"I don't think we played that well. We defended well and we hit on the break a couple of times which we needed to do because we were under a bit of pressure. In the second half, we brought some width into the game and created a few more things but we did look tired."
He added: "It was always going to be difficult because we had a
County were pinned back for long spells in the first half, so much so that it looked as if they were playing with five at the back despite Fridge setting out a 4-4-2 formation. The boss added: "It was just the way it was working. We are not a defensive team by any manner of means and we changed it about a bit at half time. We tried to get a bit more width into the game and I think that made the difference for us."
Despite only having three shots in the game, County managed to find the back of the net twice which pleased the manager. "Both were very good finishes," he said. "The first was a great touch and finish from Lewis inside the box. That is what he does and he is very good at it.
"Shaun Kerr out wide created the second. Then it was a really good, calm finish from Wayne Mackintosh.
"We then had to defend and I thought we did look a bit tired but we're delighted to go through."
Callum Donaldson in the Nairn goal notched up another clean sheet. It was the goalkeeper's fifth in nine games. Fridge commented: "I have been saying it about a couple of our younger players for a few weeks now. They are growing in stature and confidence every week and Callum is one of them. He has had to wait long enough for his chance with John Campbell here. But that's a great position for me to be in with both of them.
"Callum today made a couple of good saves when it mattered and I'm delighted for him."
There was concern for Fridge when striker Shaun Kerr went down after a clash of heads with Vale goalkeeper Jamie Blanchard. But despite County's top scorer sporting a swollen eye as a result, the manager had no concerns over the injury. "He took a sore one in the eye," Fridge said. "But it won't affect him because he is not the best looking boy! I think he'll be fine."
And the manager's response to Lewis MacKinnon's celebrating the first goal by pulling down his shorts to reveal a pair of Superman underpants: "I'll have to say no comment!"