July 15th 2024
A STARRING role from Cohen Ramsay was praised by Nairn County manager, Ronnie Sharp after the young midfielder struck twice to down Clachnacuddin at Station Park. The former Ross County youngster headed Nairn in front five minutes in and although Ross MacKillop grabbed an equaliser for the Lilywhites before the break, Dylan Mackenzie’s strike just after the turnaround re-established the home side’s advantage. And Ramsay made the points safe midway through the second half with his second of the game as he fired home an Adam Porritt feed. “Cohen set up our other goal as well as scoring twice,” Sharp pointed out. “He had a really good season last season but he has just been a bit slow in getting going this season, as a lot of them have been with injuries and boys playing out of position because we have been a bit short on numbers. Hopefully, this will kick us on a bit.” The first goal saw Ramsay meet a Dylan Mackenzie cross with a header that flew past Clach goalkeeper, Steven Martin, before he returned the favour with a delivery that Mackenzie netted for his goal in the second half. Sharp said: “Dylan did really well to beat the man out wide on the right and put a good ball in for the first goal. Then, Cohen got ahead of his man to apply the finish and that is the sort of thing we have been working on at training." “In the second half, the second goal was almost identical but it was the other way around and coming down the opposite side. Kenny McKenzie did well to get forward and play in Cohen and he crossed for Dylan to score. Kenny and Cohen played together on the left last year for us and we are just hoping that they and everyone else can now kick on from this. “The third goal was similar as well with Adam Porritt spotting the cutback and finding Cohen, who put it in with his weaker foot.” He added: “I thought we were the better team and coped with their strength and physicality. I thought we played the better football and the goals showed that because they were three really good goals. We got the ball wide and then into the box and the deliveries were followed up by good finishes. They were good moves, so I am delighted they came off and got us the win." The only major disappointment for the hosts was the manner of the goal they conceded, with MacKillop allowed two stabs at Paul Smith’s floated set piece delivery. Sharp explained: “We did not setup quick enough and we had too many men in the wall, so we were caught short at the back post. It is something we have to get clued up on because that is what did us for that goal because we were a bit too slow." “We started with one goalkeeper and ended with the other through injury and that is not easy to cope with but I thought we defended well overall and stood up to everything they threw at us.” A foot injury ended Dylan Maclean’s involvement at the break with replacement James Kendall also now struggling for Wednesday’s North of Scotland Cup tie against Forres Mechanics. Sharp said: “I thought both goalies did well and it has been a battle between the two of them. “James has picked up a wee injury now as well, so both of them are doubts for Wednesday night’s game against Forres but hopefully one of them will be fine.” That meeting with the Can Cans in midweek will be the second clash between the two sides in a week-and-a-half with the Mechanics easing to a 4-1 league victory last season. “Forres were far too good for us last week,” Sharp conceded. “We have players back now and that is a game under their belts. One or two were away last weekend and three or four were injured, so hopefully we will be stronger against them this time around." “We made mistakes last week but it is very hard because we had a lot of boys playing who had not had much game time. Maybe I was a bit unfair on them but hopefully we can do better this time around.” Graeme Macleod
