Keith 0 v Clyde 2

BRAVE MAROONS OUSTED BY BULLY WEE

Keith’s Scottish Cup journey may have come to a halt on Tuesday night but their conquerors,  Scottish LeagueFirst Division side Clyde, knew they had been in a game by the time the referee blew for full time.

The Maroons battled bravely throughout, and given that they hadn’t played a competitive game since Boxing Day, their fitness was quite incredible, allied to no little skill.

Perhaps if Lady Luck had been a bit more amenable, then who knows what the outcome might have been. As it turned out, two first half goals put paid to the Kynoch Parkers Cup ambitions.  The opening goal showed that ex Scotland international David Goodwillie is still a cut above in his division, whilst the second goal gave scorer Scott Rumsby the benefit of the doubt in a clash with Keith goalie Greg Simpson.

In these games you really need to convert any goalscoring chances you are presented with and Scott Gray and Ryan Robertson both should have probably found the back of the net.

It was fairly even until the 20th minute when Goodwillie turned inside Robertson before slamming into the far corner.  Then, the Maroons suffered a blow with 31 minutes gone, Michael Selfridge having to limp off, being replaced by Scott Gray.

Within two minutes, Clyde put themselves in the driving seat, when Simpson appeared to be fouled inside the six yard box, but Rumsby’s conversion stood.

Keith came out battling in the second half and within three minutes they had the perfect chance thanks to fine wing play from Demi Yunus, but his low cross was fired wide by Gray.  Lady Luck then looked the other way when Clyde’s Kevin Nicoll was yellow carded for a studs up challenge on Marc Young – some officials might have flashed a red.

With the Maroons trying to get back into the game they had a couple of penalty claims waved aside when Cammy Keith and Scott Gray were sent tumbling inside the penalty area in separate incidents.  Then, with three minutes remaining Ryan Robertson failed to slot home after a super Liam Duncan pass came his way.

Keith may have been beaten, but they certainly remained unbowed, giving more than just a good account of themselves, and on another day, well, it might have been a different story.

KEITH – Simpson, Young, Smith, Yunus, Spink, Robertson, Brownie, Strachan, Keith(Watt 70), Selfridge(Gray 31), Duncan.  Subs unused – Macaskill, Stewart, Thomson, Hutcheon, Yeats, Porteous, Dey.

Referee – Mr S Kirkland

Tuesday 23 March 2021, KO 7.45pm
Report by Charlie Simpson