University of Stirling 2 v Keith 1
SCOTTISH CUP BLUES FOR MAROONS
There will be no pot of Scottish Cup gold for Keith this season, following their disappointing first round exit at the hands of Lowland League outfit University of Stirling. The match was played last Sunday as the 'Varsity use Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium for their home matches.
A disappointing demise in what was Keith's 62nd Scottish Cup match, stretching back over 93 years. The Maroons couldn't quite make up for their first half malaise, despite a more spirited second half display, with a glut of missed chances proving instrumental in their loss.
'Varsity looked sharper in the opening stages with Dominic Slattery nipping in front of Greg Simpson to scoop the ball over the bar from 10 yards in the 11th minute. Jamie Lennox snatched wildly at his shot from a good position at the other end three minutes later.
Simpson was to the fore in the next few minutes as the homesters pressed forward, the goalie gathering the loose ball amidst a goalmouth melee, then diving to turn away a Rory MacEwan 12 yarder.
'Varsity got their noses in front with 19 minutes played, slack marking allowing Blair Lyons to pounce, rifling into the far corner of the net from 15 yards. Six minutes later it was 2-0 when Jamie McAllister handled inside the area, and Kieran Hall rattled the spot kick home with great aplomb.
Trying to get back into the game just before the break, Bradley Manson fired weakly wide, and also fired straight at the goalie on the stroke of half-time.
The Maroons showed more urgency after the half-time cuppa, without troubling the home reaguard. Midway through the half Ryan Keith teed up for Cammy Keith but the skipper blazed wide from 10 yards.
The visitors began to show they were the fitter outfit and with 75 minutes on the clock it was game on when Cammy blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards for his 8th goal of the season, and his 6th Scottish Cup goal for the Maroons.
Surely a leveller would come as the visitors poured forward! With six minutes remaining a hanging Keith cross was headed over the bar by the unmarked McAllister. Then McAllister was hauled down outside the 18 yard box, Keir's well struck free kick being deflected for a corner.
In the dying seconds Lennox had the cruellest of luck when his netbound shot was cleared off the line by a defender.
A very disappointing day all round, but a string of corners throughout were wasted as more often than not they ended up down the goalie's throat.
KEITH - Simpson, Hutcheon(Berton 20), Smith(Keir 62), Rae, McAllister, Manson, Macaskill, Brownie, Keith, Lennox, Spink. subs unused - Robertson, Barron, Cowie, Gray, Stewart.
Referee - Mr G Calder.
Sunday 23 September 2018, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson