December 23rd 2024
NAIRN County’s second home match in as many weeks sees them welcome Turriff United to Station Park this weekend. And they will be looking to anything like a similar sort of outcome to the visit of Huntly seven days previously, where Ronnie Sharp’s men clocked up a comprehensive 5-1 win. It was probably County’s best all-round showing of the season as they knocked in five goals and restricted their visitors to almost nothing in the final third of the park, although the Black and Golds were able to capitalise on a moment of slackness just after Nairn went 3-0 up to pull a goal. But the hosts kicked-on again to wrap up what was their biggest league win of the campaign so far. Huntly were a side defeated by County’s weekend opponents, Turriff United on the opening day of the season and with manager Kris Hunter well underway with his rebuilding job at The Haughs, he will take his team to Station Park looking to earn all three points with United most likely to be a far harder nut for the home side to crack this time around. Turriff were soundly beaten in midweek as they went out of the semi-finals of the Aberdeenshire Cup to Banks O’Deewith the Junior Super League cracks eventually running out comfortable 7-0 winners at The Haughs. But the dismissal of the home side’s goalkeeper puts an uneven slant on the scoreline and United will be fired up to come to Station Park and prove that was a freak result by immediately bouncing back to take all three points and retain their place in the top half of the Highland League table. If you cannot make it to Station Park for Saturday’s match, you can follow all the action through the Nairn County social media channels. To do so, logon to facebook.com/nairncountyfc or follow @NairnCounty on Twitter with team line-ups available before kick-off, updates of all the talking points from the match as they happen, a report on the final whistle and reaction from the Nairn camp later in the evening. A preview of the match is: Date: Saturday September 15th 2018 Competition: Scottish Highland Football League Kick-off: 1500 Opponents: Turriff United Manager: Kris Hunter Venue: Station Park, Nairn Previous meeting: Nairn County 3 Turriff United 0 April 18th 2018 Last time out: Nairn County 5 Huntly 1; Turriff United 0 Banks O’Dee 7 League position: Nairn County 14th Turriff United 8th Form guides: Nairn County WLLDLW Turriff United WDLLWL Team news: Club captain Gregg Main is touch-and-go to be fit for the visit of Turriff United to Station Park – the skipper has been signed off work all week with the injuries he incurred having been struck on the face from behind by an opponent during last Saturday’s 5-1 win over Huntly.Adam Naismith is available again to boost Ronnie Sharp’s options but Ewen Urquhart drops out of the squad as he is on holiday. Danny Highet is also unavailable as he has work commitments while goalkeeper Dylan Maclean is still sidelined having strained ligaments in his foot in the win over Clachnacuddin last month. Tom Maclennan and Craig Munro remain on the injury list with Fraser Dingwall and Glenn Main doubts with knocks to the heel and ankle respectively. But new signing Gussie Dey comes into contention to make his full debut having impressed enough as a trialist to be signed this week. One to watch: Liam Strachan. A young midfielder who us thought highly of at The Haughs with manager Kris Hunter believing he is not far away from being among the best players in his position throughout the Highland League. He looks to get on the ball and make the visitors tick at Station Park in this match with a wide range of passing, which will look to drag the County defence about to create openings and goal-scoring opportunities for his team mates. Nairn’s best hope of shutting out their opponents might be to stop that at source and Strachan is undoubtedly one of the principle creative forces in Hunter’s squad, so keeping him quiet will likely go a long way to earning the hosts something from the match. Match officials: Referee Darren Munro, Assistants Gavin Dearie and Darren Westmacott. Weather forecast: Sunny intervals 14 degrees 12 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
