Keith 0 v Nairn County 2
MAROONS LOSE OUT IN OPENING DAY HEAT
The eagerly anticipated start to the 2021-22 Highland League season last Saturday saw Keith’s young team wilt under the blazing Kynoch Park sun, two second half goals giving visitors Nairn County all three points.
Such was the heat, for both teams I hasten to add, that the referee sensibly decided on two water breaks, midway through each half.
There is often a very fine line in any sport between a win or a defeat, and this was possibly the case with new Polish striker Przemyslaw Nawrocki, already nicknamed ‘Shamack’, by his team-mates and co-managers, producing a great solo piece of play, only to see the end product hit the foot of the far post. Then with the game poised at 1-0 for the wee County, the same player scorned a levelling opportunity, for which the Maroons were made to pay.
The first half was probably quite even with both goalies bringing off smart saves. Then with four minutes remaining of the first period, Nawrocki showed some nifty footwork to weave his way into the left handed side of the penalty area only to see his low curling shot hit the foot of the far post. In the ensuing melee Liam Duncan pounced on the loose ball, but the goalie dived to save his effort on the line.
The second half really continued in the same vein, until Nairn’s veteran hot shot Conor Gethins, on his return debut from Formartine, cleverly teed the ball up for Liam Shewan to rifle home a low 18 yarder.
The Maroons were a bit on the back foot for a spell and they had an escape when a melee in the six yard box ended with young Connor Grant hoofing clear from right on the goal-line. Then came the moment when the homesters squandered the perfect opportunity to get back on level terms. Demilade Yunus cut in from the right wing, and cut the ball across the face of the goal, but Nawrocki didn’t hit his shot strong enough and the goalie palmed it out for a fruitless corner.
Four minutes later that missed chance came back to haunt them when substitute Seamus McConaghy cut in from the right and sent a curling 18 yarder into the roof of the net.
As in the game against Fraserburgh the previous Sunday, some fine individual displays, showing some good movement and passing, but running out of steam a bit in the latter stages.
KEITH – Reid, Hutcheon (McCredie 76), Emmett, Yunus, R Robertson, Grant, Duncan, Andrews, Nawrocki, Selfridge (Yeats 53). Subs unused – Stewart, J Robertson, Irvine.
Referee – Mr Joel Kennedy
Saturday 24th July 2021, KO 3pm
Report byCharlie Simpson