July 15th 2024
DISAPPOINTED Nairn County boss Ronnie Sharp was frustrated with his team's showing at both ends of the park as they lost out by three goals to nil at Brora Rangers. Although the manager was happy with how his side defended over the piece and with the number of chances they created, a lack of concentration at crucial moments and an inability to find the net after positive build-up player cost the visitors dearly. Colin Williamson stooped to meet a Gavin Morrison corner kick with a diving header from just six yards out as Nairn switched off on 10 minutes but a superb save at the other end from Brora goalkeeper, Daniel Hoban kept the home side in front at the break as he kept out Jordan MacRae's free kick. After the restart, Gary Kerr saw a header disallowed by a tight offside call before a quick Brora corner kick caught Nairn cold with Steven Mackay heading in Martin Maclean's delivery. But Nairn kept pushing and Hoban saved one-on-one from both Kerr and MacRae either side of Jack Maclean's close range effort being deflected just past the post before Adam Naismith smacked the crossbar. But Brora rounded off the scoring in the final minute with Andrew Greig rolling the ball home after Nairn number one Stephen Foster had dropped Maclean's header back. Sharp said: "We made three major mistakes and it cost us three goals. For the first one, we did not pick up at the corner and the boy (Williamson) ran off the back. Then, for the second one, it was a short corner that we did not go out to and the third one was a mistake from the goalkeeper." "But I am very disappointed with the scoreline because of the number of chances we created. We need to do better at both ends. We have to score from our chances – we had the ball in the net once but had it ruled off side – and we cannot give goals away like that. I am very disappointed at the defending at set pieces because we just switched off." He added: "Bar the first 20 minutes when we gave them a bit too much respect, I thought we played well for the rest of the game. The difference between them and us is that when they get a chance, they take it and we do not." "Their goalkeeper had a magnificent save from a Jordan MacRae which might have made a difference if we were able to go in at 1-1. Going on chances in the second half, I thought we created more than they did." The home bench were frustrated to see referee Billy Baxter pull play back for a Nairn free kick just as Dylan Mackenzie had beaten last defender John Pickles to a forward pass and was about to advance in on the goalkeeper. Sharp said: "I can understand which the referee wants to give the free kick and even though we felt it denied us a good chance had play continued, it does not excuse the way we finished when we had other chances and it does not excuse the way we defended." "In between that, the football we played was good and we put them under pressure. We created umpteen chances but we never took them. From our point of view, we would say that was down to poor finishing but from the goalkeeper's point of view, it is good goalkeeping. We need to sharpen up in these areas because we have dropped off scoring goals with just one in our last three games." Graeme Macleod
