Post Match Reaction: County Click into Gear
Nairn County began their competitive season last night with a 3-1 victory over local rivals Forres Mechanics in the group stages of the North of Scotland Cup.
Manager Les Fridge had constantly and stoutly defended his side's rigorous pre-season friendly matches and the benefits of the three games against Scottish League sides started to show in this cup match. Although the side conceded 19 goals and only managed to net three in the five matches, which included two against local junior opposition, Fridge always maintained that the main objective was for his players to reach a peak fitness in time for the start of the competitive season.
Fridge pushed Duncan Jones into a more advanced role in the middle of midfield and the moved paid dividends on the half hour mark when the former Aberdeen youth team captain chipped in with the opening goal. Fridge said: "Duncan has got a lot in his locker and he can play in various positions. He was able to get on the ball a lot more during the game."
Summer signing Shaun Kerr added the othre two goals, his first strikes in a Nairn jersey. Fridge said: "Shaun Kerr got a couple of great goals. He's a goalscorer and I think you saw that with his two finishes - his finishing was superb and I think he'll do very well.
"The thing about us over the last couple of years is that we have been scoring
The club's latest addition Glenn Main made his first competitive appearance since returning to the club earlier this week from Nairn St Ninian and made an instant impact weighing in with an assist. Fridge said: "He did very well. He's a big strong boy and he came on to help shore things up in the middle of the park. Steven Edwards has been ill the last couple of days and had to come off but Glenn went on and did a great job in there for us."
The manager confessed to knowing little about opponents on Saturday Fort William, who are now under new management. Forward Iain Brooks, who missed last night's match, may be back in the travelling pool and Scott Graham could also return from injury to appear against his former club. Fridge said: "It's never an easy place to go. They are an unknown commodity at the moment and we don't know what we're going to get, it's as simple as that. I don't really know anything about them because there has been big changes there and they have lost a lot of players. But as long as we approach it in the same manner that we did today hopefully it will take care of itself."