Boost for in-form Nairn
Nairn's Steven Mackay and Craig Campbell celebrate after Mackay scored the winning goal against Clach.
HIGH-flying Nairn County signed up three of their top players on new contracts this week.
Keeper Callum Donaldson, who was a stand-out in the weekend’s 3-2 Highland League win against Clach, has signed a two-year deal to add to the 18 months he already had remaining.
And two-year contracts signed this week keep defender Martin MacDonald and midfielder John Cameron were a further boost to Nairn boss Les Fridge.
The main concern for Fridge this week, though, is that they go from Saturday’s pulsating derby victory against Clach into a trick game at Formartine with as many as five players missing.
Nairn will be without Glenn Main and Dale Gillespie, who were both sent off in last weekend’s thrilling 3-2 clash and both players will sit it out this weekend.
Work commitments will see Scott Barlow and Shaun Kerr not travel east, while injury rules out skipper David Hind.
Manager Les Fridge said: “Formartine will be dangerous opponents for us. You just need to look at the money they have spent to see they are capable, although maybe one or two are just finding their feet at this level. I was delighted by our result last week, mainly through our work-rate and attitude, which was first-class. We went 1-0 thanks to a superb goal from Robbie Duncanson, but were not playing too well if truth be told.
“We then lost two bad goals from our point of view (Martin MacDonald own goal and a strike from John MacAskill) and then lost Glenn Main when we conceded a penalty. Callum Donaldson, who was outstanding for us, saved the penalty and that was the turning point. That gave us the jolt, the kick up the backside.
“We scored our second goal through Craig Campbell and got the winner in the second half from Steven Mackay. Overall, I thought we were worthy winners. Even after Dale Gillespie was sent off for a second booking in the second half, we looked a real threat on the break and could have scored, although Callum Donaldson was terrific. As well as the penalty save, he also won the match for us with a stoppage time save.”
Clach boss Iain Polworth, meanwhile, will be without injured trio Gordon Morrison, Sam Urquhart and Michael Finnes for the home league clash with Rothes on Saturday.
The Lilywhites are just one place ahead of their visitors, but 13 points better off than them.
Polworth warned: “We’re right down there with Rothes and we need to show them the same respect as we showed Nairn last week. I thought overall we deserved to win at Nairn. Their goalkeeper Callum Donaldson was absolutely outstanding. I’m sure it was another cracking game for the neutrals to watch. We just need to kill teams off, and hopefully we’ll see that against Rothes.
“There were plenty of positives to take from the game. The result was obviously disappointing, but we played a lot of good football, created a number of good chances and we can build from that.”