Post Match Reaction: County Prepare For Keith Challenge
A 1-0 win over Rothes at Station Park on Saturday ensured that Nairn County picked up a maximum six points from their opening two fixtures of this season's Highland League. But Les Fridge's men were made to work all the way for the victory and only notched the decisive goal six minutes from time through a Brian Macleod penalty. They are now gearing up to face Keith this Saturday in the Quarter finals of the Challenge Cup.
After Saturday's match, boss Les Fridge spoke to the website. He said: "The game on Wednesday night (at Ross County) took alot out of us.
"After the sending off in that match, we went back to three boys in the middle of the park - Wayne Mackintosh, Steven Edwards and Willie Barron - and I have had to take all three off today because they were absolutely shattered. I think in the first half that showed because we were second to things and we looked lethargic.
"We came into it more in the second half and I thought we had four or five good chances. Jimmy had some good saves and we had one knocked off the line so it was just a case of when it was going to come.
The win also represented the club's second clean sheet in a row against Highland League opponents following the 1-0 Challenge Cup win over Forres Mechanics the Saturday before. Fridge said: "It was another clean sheet and you have to bear in mind, this was only our second league game of the season. We have played three cup games, but we can't ask for more than six points out of six from our first two league games."
Fridge and his squad now turn their attentions to this Saturday's match at Keith. He said: "We're the underdogs going there which is fine. We'll prepare correctly and go there and give it our best. It would be nice to get to another semi final and even a final so we will give it our all."
The match will be Nairn's sixth match of the season, although they have played only two league games leading to concerns about building up a run of consistency in the league. Fridge said: "There is possibly an element of that. We have won four out of our five games - if that was league points I would be delighted. These games in the cups are set though, and we have got to play them so there's no point in mumping and moaning about it. But we have played two league games and got six points out of six so we can't ask for anymore."