Post Match Reaction: Team Spirit Was 'Unbelievable'
Nairn County emerged victorious from a thrilling encounter with Brora Rangers at Station Park as they home side held on for all three points despite being down to only eight players come full time.
The hosts broke the deadlock with 23 minutes on the clock when Shaun Kerr was fouled in the box and Brian Macleod did the rest from 12 yards. Kerr got in on the scoring act himself when he diverted a wayward Steven Edwards shot into the net from six yards before the visitors halved the deficit through Michael Mackenzie. Gary Black re-established Nairn's two-goal lead though when he cracked home
Against the odds it was Nairn who grabbed the next goal of the game when Shaun Kerr slotted home his second of the game to put the home side 4-2 in front before Brora pulled one back through a Martin MacDonald own goal. Chris Finnigan then became the next Nairn player sent off but Les Fridge's side held on for all three points.
The manager spoke to Nairn County FC Online after the full time whistle. He said: "Today was the first game in a long time that we haven't had a sub goalkeeper because Willie Ridgers is away at a wedding. But I actually thought Gary Black was behind John Campbell for the sending off but I suppose that's irrelevant now. So we were two men down for the whole of the second half.
He added: "I didn't see Gary Black's one but he hit out at a player and we can't condone that. It's a sending off and it's put us in a lot of bother. We re-grouped at half time and basically went two banks of four with Finnigan and Barron in the wider areas to get at them and have a wee go. We were just allowing them (Brora) to have possession and looking to hit them on the break and we did that when Shaun Kerr went through and scored a great goal - that gave us a bit off leeway.
"Then one of the few occasions we were under a bit of pressure in the second half and they were inside our box, Martin MacDonald was a bit unlucky when he knocked in an own goal and that made it an edgy last 10-15 minutes."
The first half red cards seemed to re-galvanise Fridge's side and all of the players raced up the park to join Shaun Kerr in celebration when he netted the third goal, including stand-in goalkeeper Edwards and subs Andrea Coletto and Marc MacDonald.
Fridge said: "The team spirit of the players was unbelievable. You saw them all together when Shaun scored and it was unbelievable. I cannot praise them enough.
"Then Chris Finnigan got sent off for what I thought could have been just a bookable offence but I wasn't that close to it and it was a bad challenge. So we have had three men sent off and the only one I could probably honestly say was a sending off was Gary Black if he hit out. But that's football and we dug in and had to battle.
"Steven Edwards went in goals and was excellent and thoroughly deserved the man of the match award. It's a tremendous three points and probably exactly what we needed to give us that wee edge again just until the end of the season then we'll see what happens."
Striker Kerr came back into the starting line up after several weeks of kicking his heels on the bench and he repaid the manager's faith with a two-goal salvo.
Fridge said: "Shaun was given an opportunity today. Scott Graham and Chris Finnigan have been doing OK. Their work rate is exceptional but we've not been scoring goals. Shaun has got that in him though and he showed that today."
The manager will now have to do without the three suspended players when his side travels to Cove Rangers on April 5 in their next league match.
He said: "We won't have our problems to seek with the suspensions and injuries that we have. We've got no game this Saturday coming so I'm hoping to get a few of the injured boys back because a lot of them are out."
Defender Darren Jarvie returned to the squad after missing several games through university commitments and was an unused substitute during the game.
Fridge said: "He (Jarvie) only came back up the road last night so he's not done any training with us. He's posted back up here now though so we'll get him back and Stephen Skinner was here today. He's just started a new job so once he's settled in that we'll get him back involved as well. We should get a few boys back in the next couple of weeks."