Keith 0 v Strathspey Thistle 2

TEN MAN MAROONS LOSE AT HOME

A disappointing display and result for the Maroons in what was their last outing before their Scottish Cup tie against University of Stirling. The Kynoch Park outfit had to play most of the second half with ten men after Jamie McAllister saw red for a last man challenge.

Dean Donaldson was minus six of his first team squad, but there was no excuse as his side was outbattled by Strathspey for their first win of the season, two late goals taking the points back to Grantown.

Both goalies were to the fore in the first half, with Greg Simpson denying James Fraser after only 8 minutes. Eight minutes later, both Cammy Keith and Wayne Barron just missed out in front of goal.

Ten minutes from half-time Strathspey goalie Michael MacCallum dived  to clutch a Jamie Lennox 15 yarder, then denied Cammy Keith with a fine block.

Four minutes into the second half, the visiting custodian pulled off a fine save, stretching to tip away a cute Lennox lob. Three minutes later McAllister saw red with his last man challenge on Scott Lisle.

This forced a change in personnel for the homesters, and substitute Max Berton twice went close with curling efforts. At the other end Simpson pulled off a fine double save, and also pushed away a Scott Lisle drive.

With 79 minutes played Ryan Robertson produced a great block on the line, with the loose ball appearing to hit a visiting body and out for a goal kick. However, a corner kick was awarded and from the ensuing effort, Ricky Lee scrambled the ball over the line to break the deadlock.

With five minutes remaining Trialist ought to have levelled but he failed to convert at the back post. A couple of minutes later Simpson came to the rescue defying Scott Lisle, but he was helpless to keep out the same player's powerful shot into injury time.

Make no mistake, the men from Grantown deserved their first win of the season, they had given both Cove and Formartine hard fought matches recently, and they are not the chopping blocks of recent seasons.

KEITH - Simpson, Hutcheon, Robertson, Rae, McAllister, Smith, Macaskill (Berton 55), Lennox (Cowie 61), Keith, Keir, Barron(Trialist 55).  Sub unused - Stewart.

Referee - Mr F Mazzoni

Saturday 15 September 2018, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson