Keith 0 v Brora Rangers 4

MAROONS DUMPED BY BRORA

Keith fans could have no complaints about this defeat following the close shave they had the previous week against Formartine.  Brora came whizzing out of the blocks and three goals inside the opening 25 minutes had the game done and dusted.

You could argue that the Maroons had several key players missing through injury and suspension, but the harsh reality was that they were outgunned by the best side seen at Kynoch Park so far this season.

On a wet, dreich afternoon the homesters were trailing inside two minutes, the unmarked Craig Campbell whipping home from 12 yards as Brora set out their stall from the first peep of the referee's whistle.

The scoreline was doubled in the 17th minute when a goal mouth melee ended with Brora player manager Steven Mackay heading home.  Brora were looking slick at this point as they poured forward and Campbell, again unmarked, swept a shot inches over the bar, whilst Martin McLean did likewise.

With 25 minutes on the clock the game was over as a contest when the Maroons again failed to clear their lines and a Gavin Morrison deflection flew into the corner of the net. Another Morrison low drive screwed inches past the foot of the post as Brora continued to dictate. The best the homesters could muster was a Macaulay Rae header over the bar off a corner.

The Maroons looked to have more purpose after the break, and in the 54th minute Cammy Keith was twice denied in quick succession by visiting goalie Joe Malin.

However, Brora still looked the likelier to score and only a super one handed save by Greg Simpson kept out Morrison's net bound drive.  He then looked lively pulling off a fine diving save to keep out a James Ross 20 yarder.

With five minutes remaining substitute Paul Brindle dispossessed Stewart Hutcheon, and raced in from the left wing to crash a rising drive into the roof the net.

A disappointing afternoon all round, consigning Dean Donaldson's troops to a sixth successive home league defeat.

KEITH - Simpson, Hutcheon, Spink, Rae, Robertson, Brownie, Macaskill, Keir(Trialist 69), Keith(Barron 62), Selfridge, Berton(Manson 66).  subs unused - Smith, Young, Stewart.

Referee - Mr D McFarland

Saturday 13th October 2018, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson