December 23rd 2024
ON Legends Day at Station Park, Fraserburgh are the visitors for what is the final Saturday home match of the 2017/18 Scottish Highland League season. County’s 1975/76 championship-winning squad will attend the match as guests of the club and will be introduced to the crowd on the park at half-time, having clinched the league title with a playoff victory over the Broch almost 42 years ago. Both clubs have enjoyed high points this year with the Broch earning a once-in-a-lifetime home Scottish Cup tie against Rangers, reaching the final of the Highland League (Morganti) Cup and pushing newly-crowned league champions Cove Rangers all the way in the title race. Despite that, Fraserburgh are still not assured of their top four finish and qualification for next season’s Irn-Bru Challenge Cup. Only goal difference keeps them in fourth spot above Forres Mechanics although the Bellslea side has four remaining league fixtures to the Can Cans’ three. Home side Nairn will be looking to bow out from Station Park duty on a high this season having already eclipsed last season’s points by eight. Only six points sit between Ronnie Sharp’s side in 12th spot and seventh-placed Buckie Thistle going into the home stretch of what has been a long season with the hosts eager to improve on last year’s 13th spot by as many places as possible over their remaining four outings. If you cannot make it to Station Park to cheer on the team, you can follow updates from the match on the club’s official social media channels by logging on to facebook.com/nairncountyfc or following @NairnCounty on Twitter. There will be team lines available before kick-off, coverage of all the action as it happens, a report on the final whistle and reaction from the Nairn camp later in the evening. You also follow the club on Instagram @nairncountyfc for all the latest goings ons behind the scenes at the club. A preview of the match is below: Date: Saturday April 14th 2018 Competition: Scottish Highland Football League Kick-off: 1500 Opponents: Fraserburgh Manager: Mark Cowie Venue: Station Park, Nairn Previous meeting: Nairn County 3 Fraserburgh 4 March 10th 2018 Last time out: Keith 2 Nairn County 2; Fraserburgh 0 Cove Rangers 1 League position: Nairn County 12th Fraserburgh 4th Form guides: Nairn County LLLWLD Fraserburgh WWLLLL Team news: Adam Naismith is pushing for a return to the Nairn County squad for this visit of Fraserburgh having missed the midweek draw at Keith and last weekend’s away fixture at Rothes through injury. Callum Ednie is available again having been unavailable due to work commitments on Wednesday night. Ewen Urquhart is unavailable for the rest of the season due to holidays and Gregg Main continues his recovery from a serious knee injury. Craig Munro and Matty Macleod are out on loan at Inverness City. One to watch: Paul Campbell. The big centre forward caused Nairn no end of problems when these two clubs met in the quarter finals of the Highland League (Morganti) Cup last month. He scored early on to give the Broch the lead as they edged into the last four of the competition by four goals to three before eventually going on to make the final. His hold-up play and his ability with his back to goal give Fraserburgh a great outlet as he can fend off defenders to take the pressure of his defence before bringing others into play and is then able to make a run for the box himself to use his weight to get on the end of deliveries from wide areas. Match officials: Referee Filippo Mazzoni, Assistants Daniel Donohoe and Clyde Buchan. Weather forecast: Light cloud 13 degrees 7 mph wind. Admission prices: Adults £8 Concessions £5 (two children under the age of 14 are admitted for free if they are accompanied by a paying adult). Graeme Macleod
