Nairn County manager Steven Mackay is relishing the chance to keep his side’s recent run going in Tuesday’s derby match against Clachnacuddin.
County have not lost in their last six league fixtures, but have faced disruption to their recent schedule due to the weather.
Nairn’s only game to go ahead since a victory over Forres Mechanics on November 26 was the 1-1 December 10 draw at home to Formartine United.
They will be boosted for the Station Park encounter with Clach by the return of Conor Gethins from suspension, while fellow forward Scott Davidson is also back in contention after being sidelined through injury.
Boss Mackay, who took the Wee County helm at the start of October and has them up to 10th in the table, is eager to keep up his side’s points haul over the coming weeks.
He said: “It has been a bit stop-start for us over the last four weeks or so.
“We have not really managed to get much of a rhythm after the win over Forres Mechanics on November 26. We always want to keep that momentum building and get into a run of games.
“With the way the weather has panned out, we haven’t really managed to do that.
“The response from the boys has been excellent, both in terms of their application in buying into what we are doing, but equally on the pitch in terms of performances and results.
“We are on a little bit of a run, which we will be looking to maintain over the next couple of games, albeit Clach will have something to say about that I’m sure.
“I really enjoyed the Clach games when I was at Nairn (as a player) and it’s been a long time since I’ve been involved in one, so I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Lilywhites returning to action
Clach have faced an even longer lay-off, having not played since a 4-2 defeat to Brora Rangers on November 26.
Lilywhites boss Jordan MacDonald hopes his 16th-placed side can rise to the derby occasion.
He added: “Nairn are full of confidence at the moment. They’re fit as well and they’ll look to come after us.
“They’ve had some good results, but we’ve got nothing to be afraid of.
“People know the way I play and I’m not going to change that, but we need to match Nairn’s work-rate and desire all over the park.
“We’re looking to forward to it. We’re desperate to get back to playing because there’s only so much you can do in training.
“It’s a derby game so it shouldn’t take us any time to get into it – we should be right up for it.”
Scorries aiming to end Brora hoodoo
Wick Academy boss Gary Manson is eager to end a 10-year wait to record a league win over Brora Rangers when the two sides meet at Harmworth Park on Tuesday.
Manson said: “More often than not whoever has the better players wins the games.
“Over the last 10 years or so, Brora have been very well-resourced and have had good teams.
“It’s not just us that have a bad record against them. It’s the same for a lot of teams.
“But things will turn in one of these games – we’ve been close recently with last-minute goals denying us a win.
“We haven’t been getting blown away 6-0 or 7-0. The games in the last couple of years have been very competitive.
“If we could manage to get a win that would give the fans something to cheer.”
Brora boss Craig Campbell, whose third-placed side are seven points behind leaders Brechin City, expects to be put to the test in Caithness against a Wick team sitting 13th.
He said: “It is always a tough test against Wick, albeit we’ve had a good record against them in recent times which we’d like to continue.
“A derby over the festive period is always a tricky tie.
“Every game is important, especially over this period when you can get some strange results.
“It’s vitally important we focus on ourselves and take care of each game as it comes and try to stay on the tails of Brechin and Buckie as long as possible and, as the season progresses, you could have some big games going forward.”
Jags out for revenge at Rothes
Elsewhere today, eighth-placed Rothes host bottom side Strathspey Thistle at Mackessack Park.
The first festive fixture between the two sides was brought forward to December 2, when Ross Jack’s men triumphed 7-0 at Seafield Park.
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