Wick Academy 2 v Keith 2

MAROONS DENIED BY LAST GASP ROCKET

In what was the 50th league clash between the sides, Keith appeared to be heading for their first league win at Harmsworth Park in over eight years, when two late goals, one of them almost five minutes into stoppage time denied them the three points.

The game turned on it's head in the 74th minute when a mad stramash in the centre circle lasted almost four minutes with the end product being a red card being flashed at a player from each side, the big debate being a case of alleged mistaken identity. The Maroons' Macaulay Rae, who had been immense in the visiting rearguard, protested his innocence, but to no avail, and as a result the visitors had to change their formation.

With a fierce wind at their backs playing down the Harmsworth slope, in their penultimate game of the season, Keith raced into a two goal lead in the opening five minutes. With two minutes on the clock, Michael Selfridge headed home his 8th goal of the season, then three minutes later Craig Macaskill rifled home a low free kick for his 4th goal of the season.

Both Marc Young and Macaskill again, went close later on in the half as they sought to give themselves a good second half advantage.

The expected Wick onslaught in the second period didn't materialise although Greg Simpson pulled off a block save to deny Davie Allan on the hour mark. Then came the melee that changed the course of the game. Once the dust had finally settled Keith's Rae and Wick's Allan were sent for an early bath.

Within a minute of the eventual restart Wick grabbed a lifeline through Marc Macgregor, despite a desperate attempt by Jamie McAllister in his 50th Maroons appearance to keep the ball out of the net.

You could almost write the script after that, for with nearly five minutes of the added time played, Macgregor unleashed an unstoppable wind assisted thunderbolt that crashed into the net off the bar.

There was barely enough time for the restart when the referee blew his peeper to signal a share of the spoils.

KEITH - Simpson, Young, Smith, McAllister, Rae, Robertson, Macaskill, Gray, Keith, Porteous (Lennox 76), Selfridge.  Subs unused - Hutcheon, Donaldson, Dey.

Referee - Mr D Munro

Saturday 13th April 2019, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson