Post Match Reaction: Second Goal Was A Killer - Fridge
County's campaign in the first ever SFA Challenge Cup came to an end on Saturday when they were defeated in extra time by reigning Highland League champions Keith at Kynoch Park.
The visitors made a slow start to the match and found themselves one behind inside the first quarter of an hour but when they got the ball down and knocked it about they caused the home side problems and eventually equalised with just over 20 minutes left for play. Despite a strong finish to the 90 minutes, Nairn couldn't muster a winner and were overran by the hosts in extra time as the Maroons
After the match, County boss Les Fridge said: "We came here and we had a go. We weather the storm for the first ten minutes or so and they got a penalty and we went one down. But I thought after that we came back into the game and thoroughly deserved our equaliser.
"Over the 90 minutes, we finished the game very strongly and their goalkeeper has had far more saves to make than our's."
He added: "We then went into extra time and the second goal was a killer. It was a mistake by us because we twice had the chance to clear our lines and didn't and we got punished. From then on, we were chasing the game and lost a penalty again for the third.
"Overall though, I can't fault the boys. Their attitude was great and over 90 minutes I thought we were by far the better team and played the better football."
County came close to winning the match late on and produced their fair
The result represented somewhat of a turnaround for Fridge's men who were soundly beaten by the Maroons on the final day of last season as they claimed the Highland League championship. Fridge said: "We really had nothing to play for in that game at the end of the season. Today we were playing for a semi final place and we are a footballing side who likes to get the ball down and knock it about and I think for long spells we have outplayed the league champions."
The manager had to withdraw Brian Macleod and Stephen Skinner during the 90 minutes, both because of injury. He said: "We were forced into two changes in extra time which didn't help us. It maybe unsettled our balance a bit but these are things that happen in football and we just had to deal with it."
County's league match away at Inverurie Locos, which was due to take place on Saturday but was postponed because of both side's Challenge Cup commitments, has now been rescheduled for Saturday September 8. Nairn were due to travel to Keith on league duty that day but because of the Maroons' involvement in the semi finals of the Challenge Cup Nairn were left with a free date.
Also, the draw for the first round of the Scottish Cup takes place at 2 pm on Thursday. County are one of 35 clubs entering the competition at this stage and could draw anyone from the Highland League (excluding champions Keith and runners up Inverurie), East of Scotland League (excluding champions Annan Athletic), South of Scotland League (excluding champions Threave Rovers) or one of the three junior sides - Linlithgow Rose, Pollock and Culter - who are entering the competition for the first time. The ties will take place on Saturday September 29. Nairn's participation in the cup will be their first since season 1986-87 when they were knocked out by Dundee at Station Park in the third round after famously defeating Meadowbank Thistle away in a replay in the previous round. We will have all the reaction to the draw from Station Park when it is made on Thursday.