Player Interview: 'Eddy The Cat' Saves Nairn
Saturday's Highland League win over Brora Rangers was one of the most thrilling games Station Park has witnessed in years as County clung on to do the double this season over the Cattachs.
Three red cards - all for Nairn players - and seven goals ensured that the paying fans got value for money. County started the game in style and raced into and early two-goal lead. When the lacklustre visitors finally conjured up an opportunity in front of goal, some slack Nairn defending allowed them back into the game as they halved the deficit. But when Gary Black's cracker put the home side 3-1 up
It all started when Nairn goalkeeper John Campbell was sent off for hauling down Sam Mackay during a rare Brora foray into the County box. This left Nairn one man down and with no goalkeeper to fill the breach, Steven Edwards stepped up to the plate. Nairn's hopes of taking what had looked like a comfortable three points were now under serious threat, especially when they were reduced to nine men only three minutes later when Black was dismissed for a moment of madness. But the performance of Edwards in goals defied belief as he kept the visitors at bay. Although he failed to keep out Mackay's penalty immediately after Campbell's red card and made a shaky start, he grew in confidence as the match progressed, plucking high balls out of the air and clearing his lines when the visitors threatened to break up the park. He was only beaten by his own man Martin MacDonald in the second half and made one sensational save to keep out a point-blank Mackay
It is not unusual for Edwards to be the player everyone is talking about after a game in which Nairn players receive red cards - but only this time it was all for all the right reasons. Twice in the past has the defender-cum-midfielder been sent off three times in a single game and he even missed the North of Scotland Cup final success in 2005. But since his last triple sending off, the ex-Elgin City man seems to have turned things around and has only been sent off once since that incident against Deveronvale two seasons ago. That was against Buckie Thistle in the 1-1 draw at Station Park last season and so far this season he has collected eight yellow cards in 23 appearances.
After collecting the man of the match award for his 50-minute goalkeeping cameo, Edwards spoke exclusively to Nairn County FC Online. He said: "Whoever was first to the goalie's shirt after John got sent off was always more than likely to get the 20 quid bonus for being the man of the match if we won. So I downed tools and was first there."
The save from Mackay's volley probably ensured that Nairn took all three points as it was at a crucial time of the match and the feeling inside the ground immediately after the save was that it was not going to be Brora's day. Edwards said: "The boy went to hit it and the way he lined up, he could only hit it straight at me to be honest. It was a cross between the forearm and the forehead that kept it out. We were all happy with that and it was late on so it was good to keep all the boys happy."
The utility man was pleased to get another three points which takes County's tally for the season up to 30. The side now looks forward to taking on title challengers Cove Rangers on April 5 in their next outing where Edwards will probably be deployed in a more familiar role. He said: "Everyone stuck in today and did well. It was important after Wednesday (against Deveronvale) because it was a poor result and a poor performance more than anything. But we're all glad to take these three points on board and step on to the game a week on Saturday. Hopefully we can finish the season on a high and start again next year."