Buckie Thistle's Cohen Ramsay backs former club Nairn County to play spoiler role in Jags' favour as Highland League title race goes to wire
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Cohen Ramsay is backing former club Nairn County to make it exceptionally tough for title challengers Brechin City tomorrow night.
The only problem for Buckie Thistle’s defensive capture is that his own team will need to navigate victory against the Wee County just three days later.
Ramsay loved his five seasons at Nairn after being cast out of Ross County’s youth set-up in 2017. He credits his time under Ronnie Sharp for honing his ability and turning him into a top Highland League player.
Back in April though, the lure of joining a title challenging team proved too much for the then 22-year-old, now 23, and he committed to the Jags on a deal through to summer 2025.
It was a sore one for Nairn to take, with Tom MacLennan making the same switch at the same time, but Ramsay is now revelling in a cut-throat title contest with Brechin.
Knowing the quality within the Nairn dressing room, the Inverness-based defender is convinced they can potentially have a big say in the title outcome.
“It is really tight for us at the top, and it is exciting and enjoyable, albeit with a lot of pressure,” Ramsay said.
“I know a lot of the boys at Nairn and know them well enough to know that they will be looking at it as a chance to influence the title race, having just run Brora close as well at the weekend.
“It is a very tough seven days for the Nairn lads, playing those two teams and ourselves away from home.
“But I know well just what a good side they are, with good characters who will want to show what they can do against the so-called top sides in the league.
“Unfortunately, they will want to beat us just as much as they will want to beat Brechin!
“I know Steven Mackay, their new manager, but I haven’t played against Nairn since he took charge.
“I might drop one or two of the lads a text this week, asking them to do the business against Brechin, but they’ll be just as desperate to get one over us.”
Ramsay admits he owes Nairn a debt of gratitude, but will set that to one side on Saturday.
“It is a club I have a lot of affection for, given my past there under Ronnie Sharp,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for any more from Nairn than they gave me to be honest – I was playing week in, week out.
“They were my first proper Highland League club and I stayed for five years. They didn’t put a foot wrong with me and they always look after the players anyway.
“All the boys were brilliant, as were the people around the club, so it helped me progress and I have a lot of time for them, but we need the win.
“They are going for a top six finish and will, first and foremost, be thinking about the chance to put more points on the board. They are five points off the top six with a game in hand, so the stakes are high for them.
“Hopefully that is extra motivation for them to make it very difficult for Brechin on Wednesday night.”
