Review Of The Year: Part Two
Nairn's first pre-season fixture of the summer saw them narrowly edged out 3-2 by a strong Ross County side at Station Park. That was followed by a 6-1 victory over junior side Inverness City before a young Aberdeen XI recorded a 1-0 success at Station Park. Fridge's men rounded off their summer preparation with a thumping 7-0 win over junior outfit Strathspey Thistle.
The Grantown club were loaned six fringe players by County while another three joined Nairn St Ninian for the season. Meanwhile, coach Bobby Beckwith joined Fridge and assistant Mike Hendry on the
County got the new season underway in the North of Scotland Cup against Lossiemouth at home. And they eased through to the quarter finals thanks to a 4-0 win. The goals were provided by Willie Barron, a first for the club for Johnathan Holland and a Shaun Kerr brace.
Despite opening the scoring through Wayne Mackintosh, Nairn were defeated in their first league match of the season when Inverurie Locos won 4-1 at Station Park. And Fridge's men were knocked out of the Challenge Cup a week later despite scoring first again. It was Stephen Skinner who headed Nairn in front but opponents Cove Rangers were 3-1 up the break thanks to two debatably-awarded penalties. Graham pulled one back for County in the second half but the Aberdeen side emerged 3-2 winners.
In the next round of the North of Scotland Cup, County were faced with a home derby against Forres Mechanics. And it was Nairn who went through to the semi finals thanks to a solitary
The first three points of the league season were picked up at Fort William on August 16 when County thumped five past Fort William at Claggan Park. Graham, Black (2), Holland and Horne's first for the club saw Fridge's men flag up a 5-0 success.
The semi final of the North of Scotland Cup followed when Rothes visited Station Park and it was Nairn who were celebrating a third final appearance in four seasons come full time. County raced into the
The Speysiders were all over the place in that semi final and must have been fearing the worst when Nairn visited MacKessack Park in the league only four days later. But they very nearly earned a point as County needed a late Graham goal to pick up a 1-0 win.
At this stage, Nairn looked like a side who could beat anyone in the league. They were solid at the back having not conceded in four games and they were taking their chances going forward, netting 12 in that same series of matches. It seemed that reaching another North of Scotland Cup final had given the squad a real lift.
Clach were the next visitors to Station Park as September got
Another fine performance followed seven days later when Keith were seen off 2-1. Despite Gregg Main being sent off early in the second half, Nairn went two in front with goals from Kerr and Jones before the visitors pulled one back late on. It set Fridge's men up perfectly for the cup final the following
Inverness CT stood between Nairn and the silverware on Sunday September 21 at Grant Street Park. County made the perfect start as they raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour as Graham and Macleod scored. The County defence were rarely threatened throughout the rest of the match as Nairn were happy to see out the win and claim the North of Scotland Cup for the second time in four seasons. It was a deserved trophy success as Fridge's side went through the whole competition without conceding a single goal and were also the tournaments top scorers with 12 strikes.
Having gone on a great run of form after winning the same trophy in 2005, it seemed to have the opposite effect on the County squad this time around. It was disappointing as the cup final seemed to be the beginning of something big. But since the win over Inverness CT, Nairn have won only one of their 10 games.
A physical Edinburgh City side knocked Nairn out of the Scottish Cup at the first round stage on September 27 at Meadowbank Stadium before Deveronvale ran out 4-1 winners over County at Princess Royal Park.
Fridge brought in midfielder Harry Rae to compensate for the loss of Holland. But before the end of the year, the former Clach man was on the transfer list having played just five minutes for the club.
Despite outplaying Lossiemouth in the first half at Grant Park on October 11, both sides went in level at the break after Skinner's opener for County had been cancelled out from the penalty spot. Nairn had created enough chances to be out of sight by this stage but it was the same old story for Fridge's men as they struggled to turn chances into goals and had to settle for a share of the spoils. After that match, Fridge announced that goalkeeper John Campbell and vice-captain Brian Macleod had signed new contracts.
A controversial defeat at Fraserburgh followed when Nairn had a seemingly good goal disallowed. In the end, the visitors were edged out 3-2 at Bellslea despite goals from Kerr and Gregg Main.
That one win since the cup final came after a great performance against Huntly at Christie Park. Nairn travelled without striker Kerr - sent off after the final whistle at Fraserburgh - but were two goals ahead through strikes from Macleod and Gary Black. The hosts pulled one back but Gregg Main's second goal in as many games settled a 3-1 win as County proved they CAN do it away from home.
But it was to prove to be another false dawn from Fridge's men as Cove Rangers ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Station Park on November 8. And that was despite goalkeeper Callum Donaldson - who has featured between the sticks since Campbell picked up an injury at Fraserburgh - saving two penalties.
Another poor result followed when Wick Academy defeated County 3-0 at Harmsworth Park. But Fridge reinforced his squad with the addition of utility man Lewis MacKinnon in what was something of a coup for the club. But the defender/forward will return to Australia in March at the latest.
MacKinnon netted on his second debut for Nairn when he opened the scoring at Buckie Thistle. And despite Kerr also getting on the score sheet, it was the home side who emerged with all three points thanks to a 3-2 win.
Defender Neil MacDonald was placed on the transfer list along with Rae, while midfielder Graeme Stewart was snapped up from Inverness City in early December.
County then came from behind to draw with Clach at Grant Street Park despite going in front through Kerr. It took an injury time header from Martin MacDonald to snatch a 2-2 draw for the visitors.
And with Saturday's home match against Buckie Thistle postponed, 2008 ended in defeat for County when they lost 2-1 to Forres at Mosset Park on December 20. After the hosts had taken the lead, Nairn levelled through a Kerr penalty but the home side grabbed a second to secure a 2-1 win.
Looking ahead to 2009, Les Fridge must be hoping for his forward players to be more efficient in front of goal. Shaun Kerr has shouldered the vast majority of the responsibility for plundering goals for County and he has more than done his bit with 19 strikes over the calendar year. But the other forward-thinking players at the club have failed to set the heather alight in front of goal. Willie Barron only managed one goal in 2008, Scott Graham scored four and Gregg Main netted just three.
The manager should be looking for more of a return from the likes of Main and Wayne Mackintosh in the middle of the park. Neither player has been able to pick up David MacRae's mantle and score regularly from midfield. If either player could notch 10-goals-a-season it would make a vast improvement to County's overall record.
An ability to grind out results would also boost the club's league standing - of the 14 games Nairn won in 2008, they never came from behind in any of them.
And making Station Park a fortress again will be high on the manager's list of priorities, as they won only half of their home games this year. If they can get back to scoring goals and being solid at the back as they were at the start of the season, the side will surely improve upon that record. In addition, finding the belief to go away to Aberdeenshire sides and come away with three points more often would also represent major progress.
But with the likes of John Campbell, Scott Graham, Gregg Main, Martin MacDonald, Brian Macleod, Gary Black, Wayne Mackintosh and Shaun Kerr at the club, Fridge has the makings of a very good squad. If he can get the best out of a strike partner for Kerr and bring in someone with a bit of guile who can make things happen from middle to front on a gluepot of a pitch at the likes of Mosset Park in December or MacKessack Park in March, as well as acquiring someone with a bit of dig and experience who can take a game by the scruff of the neck to help grind out results when the team has an off day, then the potential of the squad could start to be realised.
But including all current first team squad members, players out on loan and those too old for the youth team, Nairn have a total of 36 players on the books at Station Park. Trimming that by shipping out the deadwood would free up wage funds to pursue quality, experienced recruits who will enhance the core of quality players and help to develop the promising youngsters already at the club.
In the meantime, enjoy 2009 at Station Park and on the road following the team, who will hopefully be able to build on their trophy success in 2008.