Nairn County FC in 2007
This year was always going to be a difficult one for Nairn County. After all, things never seem to be easy at Station Park. And manager Les Fridge had a testing time ahead when he toasted the bells almost 12 months ago. He had been in the hotseat for two-and-a-half years and in the early days had been keen to point out he was in the process of stamping his own identity on the team. By now, he had brought in the players he wanted and moved on those he felt were surplus to requirements so there could be no excuses for not displaying a consistantly high level of performance. His time at the helm had so far yielded one trophy and another cup final but fluctuating league displays had been costly. The time to deliver on league duty had arrived.
Brora Rangers were first footers to Station Park on January 13 and it was a game Nairn went into on the back of a defeat having been beaten 2-1 at Cove Rangers in their final match of 2006. But the potential banana skin was overcome in the best possible way thanks to a 6-2 romp with goals coming from David MacRae (3), Iain Brooks (2) and a first of the season for Brian Macleod.
Next up was Clachnacuddin at home in what is always a tasty derby clash. County took the lead through the talismanic MacRae only for the visitors to draw level. But come 4.45 pm, the Cowshed had a new hero when young striker Jason Robertson popped up with his first goal for the club just when it looked as if Clach were going to escape from Station Park with a welcome point. His low shot in the dying minutes squirmed under the body of former Nairn goalkeeper Jim Calder, who played for Clach as a trialist, to hand the home side a 2-1 win and ensure they finished January with two wins out of two.
January also saw the first departure from the club when Tony Low, whose contract was due to expire in the summer, was transferred to Second Division club Peterhead for an undisclosed fee.
David MacRae: Scored Nairn's  first goal of 2007 but later left
The first defeat of the year came in the away match at Fraserburgh when the Broch squeezed past County by three goals to two thanks to a late penalty. Michael Sanderson had given Nairn the lead early on only for the home side to race into a 3-1 lead. But Robertson equalised for County late on before Martin Sanderson conceded the fateful penalty.
A disappointing 3-0 loss away at Huntly followed to make it two defeats in a row but the side bounced back in their next outing to dump Wick Academy 3-1. Brooks and MacRae provided the first two goals before then-captain John MacAskill put the finishing touches to a well-worked move for number three.
The Highland League Cup was on the agenda as the year moved into March and a first round derby clash with Forres Mechanics at Station Park. The visitors opened the scoring against an under-par County before Duncan Jones levelled with a deflected free kick after the break. After the game moved into extra time, Forres went in front before man-of-the-moment Robertson equalised in the second 15-minute spell. Forres thought they had won it when they took the lead for the third time in the afternoon soon after but County had another ideas as Martin Sanderson forced a penalty shoot-out by netting with virtually the last kick of the game. Nairn prevailed from 12 yards to move into the quarter finals.
Title-chasing Buckie Thistle visited Nairn seven days later and looked a stick-on for three points when they took an early lead and County had both Steven Edwards and Iain Brooks sent off. That was until Robertson was fouled in the box. MacRae netted the resulting penalty and County's resilience saw them cling on for a share of the spoils.
The Highland League Cup quarter final served up a tricky away trip to Inverurie Locos and again Nairn would need extra time
Jason Robertson: Clach winner set him up for run of goals early in 2007
before progressing. The hosts took an early lead but Michael Sanderson equalised for never-say-die County at the death before an extra-time penalty from Willie Barron secured a 2-1 win.
Club legend Morris MacMillan made a shock return to the club on a short-term contract until the end of the season and arrived just in time to take his place in the team for the away match at Rothes in the league. After a goal-less opening 45, half time substitute Robertson broke the deadlock before Brooks added a second to wrap up a 2-0 victory.
Lossiemouth were the visitors to Station Park on the last day of March and Gregg Main's first goal for the club put County in front. MacRae made it two before half time before adding a second to secure a 3-0 win.
A trip to Fort William loomed on the first Saturday in April and the league's bottom club were brushed aside thanks to a 3-0 win with the goals coming from Jones, MacRae and a second in as many games for Main.
It set Nairn up perfectly for the Highland League Cup semi final at Buckie seven days later but unfortnately for County, it was the Jags who progressed to the final. The hosts took a first half lead but Martin MacDonald equalised for Nairn. But Buckie went in front again from the penalty spot before wrapping things up with a dubious late goal.
Inverurie Locos were the visitors to Station Park in the next league game and despite still being able to grab a top six finish, their appeared to be a flat atmosphere in the County camp. The Locos went away with all three points thanks to a 2-1 win and were already two goals to the good when MacRae netted to half the deficit in the second half.
County rounded off the season away at Keith, who had to win to clinch the
Gregg Main: Scored two goals towards the end of the season
championship. The Maroons grabbed all three points and the title thanks to a 3-0 victory ending Nairn hopes of a sixth place league position. They were pipped by Cove Rangers, who drew at Inverurie to also scupper the Locos' title bid.
"Progress" has been the buzz word at Station Park over the past few years and although manager Fridge is happy to point the increasing number of points gained, goals scored and wins recorded during his time in charge as well as the decrease in the number of goals conceded and games lost, the team had so far failed to push on up the league table in terms of final position. But the history books will read that the club achieved seventh place in the Highland League table of season 2006-07, their highest position since Fridge took over and they were also in with a chance of claiming sixth spot up until the final day. The progress was now making real strides.
A summer of wheeling and dealing followed for the manager as Michael Sanderson, Steven Sanderson and Morris MacMillan all left with the best wishes of the club under freedom of contract. Two other out of contract stars were to leave as well despite efforts to persuade them to sign again. David MacRae opted to call time on his three-year stint at Station Park where he had been top goalscorer in every season. He ended up at Buckie Thistle when his trial at Second Division Ross County fell through while striker Darren Shallicker decided to try his luck in Division Three with Elgin City.
Add in the fact that Iain Brooks and John MacAskill never played again in 2007 due to unavailability and Jason Robertson was to be offshore more often than not, it left Fridge with a sizeable hole in his squad to fill. And fill it he did by bringing in no fewer than 10 new faces between the end of season 2006-07 and Christmas. Pacy forward Chris Finnigan was first through the door when he arrived from Elgin City. He was closely followed by striker Shaun Kerr from Golspie Sutherland and former Fort William duo midfielder Angus Lawrie and forward Scott Graham. Young goalkeeper John Calder was snapped up after being released by Inverness CT and former County youth Glenn Main made a shock return to Station Park after three outstanding seasons with the town's junior club, Nairn St Ninian. Former Inverness CT youth and Clach defender Darren Jarvie was signed from Edinburgh University and defender Stephen Skinner joined on a six-month loan deal from Ross County on the verge of the new season starting. It was an arrangement that was to become permanant after Christmas.
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