Sharp takes huge positives from Nairn County defeat to Washington Huskies
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
RONNIE Sharp will shuffle his side for tonight’s pre-season friendly away to New Elgin after an exhausting work-out from USA college giants Washington Huskies.
The Nairn County manager was still buzzing after the experience of facing the best side he has seen at Station Park since returning as manager in summer 2016.
While the Wee County went down 6-0, there were big positives for Sharp to take as four of last season’s long-term injured – Scott Davidson, Liam Shewan, Seamus McConaghy and Fraser Dingwall – gained valuable minutes on the park.
The Huskies, managed by Jamie Clark, son of Aberdeen goalkeeping legend Bobby, are rated as the second best college side in the whole of the USA.
“It was a really enjoyable game to be involved in against a top quality team,” Sharp said.
“Speaking to their manager Jamie Clark, they put five of their players to the MLS last season. That’s a hell of a standard, given that Gareth Bale has gone to play in it – absolute top quality.
“We were 1–0 down at half-time and, in the second half, they kept up the same levels of skill and intensity they played with in the first half, and we tired.
“But it was more about fitness. They had the majority of the ball and were so athletic and good on the ball.
“It is probably the best team we’ve played in pre-season since I’ve been back at Nairn. Jamie and his coaching staff were fantastic to chat to, about football generally and the college system, and they had players from all over the world, not just the USA.
“It was a great experience.”
The four lads returning from injury will be part of tonight’s squad, but Sharp will take care not to push them too hard, too soon. There is another friendly scheduled for Saturday, with Nairn hosting Highland League neighbours Forres Mechanics.
“We got good minutes in them all, most of the game,” he said. “We were desperately needing to get those minutes into some of them.
“We couldn’t play all of the boys but we have another friendly tomorrow against New Elgin and boys not involved will start the game there.
“It is all about fitness and trying to get the team to gel. It kind of feels like we have a lot of new signings, given the lads who were injured most of last year. With Covid as well, we didn’t have much of a pre-season last year – it was all disrupted.
“We’ll monitor them carefully during the friendlies. A lot of them have been working with the physio Andy Murray to get fit before pre-season. We’ll continue to liaise with him so as not to overload anyone.”
