Keith 5 v Strathspey Thistle 1

MAROONS HIT NAP HAND FOR LANDMARK WIN

After two near misses against Inverurie Locos and Wick Academy, Keith finally clocked up their 1200th Highland League win, stretching back to 1924, by putting Strathspey Thistle to the sword in swashbuckling fashion.

A minute’s silence pre match in respect of Willie Notman, a former Keith FC Secretary and Treasurer, and Dave Pirie, a member of the Highland League Cup winning side of 1973, set the scene for the Maroons’ nap hand.

Craig Ewen’s side took command from the start and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 20th minute, in form James Brownie powering home off a corner kick, scoring for the third successive match. The only blip in another-wise comfortable afternoon saw the visitors level matters ten minutes later. Debut goalie Balin Demus, on loan from Cove Rangers, kept out a Kris Duncan shot, but the loose ball fell kindly to Craig MacKenzie who rifled home from eight yards.

Six minutes from half-time, the Maroons regained the lead in spectacular style when a Kieran Mooney right wing cross was acrobatically hammered home by Scott Gray, with his parents watching from the Stand.

Given the recent couple of results, the score-line was perhaps a little too close for comfort, so when the third goal came along just after the hour mark, there was a wee bit of relief  in the ranks, Gray pouncing again to slam home his 4th goal of the season.

The Maroons didn’t let up one bit and two goals in the final seven minutes was just reward for a sterling team performance. With 83 minutes played, Dem Yunus, a stand out all afternoon in the middle of the park, strode forward only to see his initial drive crash back off the crossbar, but he latched onto the loose ball and single handedly weaved into the danger area before calmly stroking the ball home. Then, three minutes later, that man Brownie made the most of a ruck of players to scramble the ball home for his 5th goal in three outings.

No weak links at all with each player more than doing their bit, with the substitutes adding that extra bite upon their introduction.

KEITH – Demus, Thomas, Yeats, Abdulkarim, Robertson, Yunus, Mooney, Brownie, Tough (McKeown 84), Gray (Ironside 75), Selfridge (Hutcheon 86).

Referee – Mr G Soutar

Saturday 15th January 2022, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson