Post Match Reaction: Manager Disappointed With Defeat
Nairn County returned to action after six weeks of sitting idle for their first match of 2008 but it was not to be a happy start to the New Year for Les Fridge's side. Wick Academy claimed all three points at the death when they converted an injury time penalty which was enough for them to win the match 1-0. Both teams struggled to cope with the heavy underfoot conditions at Harmsworth Park but it was Nairn who were looking the more likely side as the match wore on. But the ball just would not run for the visitors in front of goal while home goalkeeper James More was also in fine form to deny County on
Manager Les Fridge was disappointed not to take at least a share of the points. After the match, he said: "I thought there was a foul on Martin Sanderson just before they were awarded the penalty, but that's just the way it goes. We hit the bar twice in the game, had a goal chalked off for offside and their goalkeeper got the man of the match award. I think that says it all.
"To have the lay off that we have had then come all the way up here where the pitch was heavy with water lying all over certain parts of it and still play the way that we did, where we did more than enough to take something out of the game, is pleasing."
He added: "The longer the game went on at 0-0, we would have taken a point after having such a long lay off and everything that happened. We lost John Campbell but I thought Willie Ridgers came in and acquitted himself very well but that's football."
The manager felt that the enforced winter break had affected his side's performance.
He said: "I thought that in general we were just that wee half a yard off it.
Fridge set out the Nairn stall to attack from the off by propelling Martin MacDonald from his usual centre half position to the centre forward's berth alongside Willie Barron and Shaun Kerr up front.
Fridge said: "They were the home team but they started the game with only one man up front. So we adjusted our set up and went very attacking as we always look to do. Martin did well up front and produced a couple of good saves from the goalie with shots on target and had goal disallowed but it is disappointing to come away with nothing."
County return to home action for the first time since November 17 next week when they take on champions Keith in the Highland League.
Fridge said: "We have got to play these games and we just have to get on with it. Coming up here for our first game in six weeks in difficult and the conditions didn't help but that's just the way it is. It's not sour grapes - we lost 1-0 with a late penalty and it just hasn't been our day today."