Deveronvale 4 v Keith 3

MAROONS LOSE TWO GOAL LEAD AT BANFF 

Keith fans travelling back up the A95 from Banff last Saturday must have been shaking their heads as to how their side let a two goal lead slip, then ship an incredible four goals in a haywire 19 minute spell against Deveronvale. 

This was a game the Maroons had in the palm of their hands with only 21 minutes played, but then contrived to let their hosts alarmingly take control and in the end the Princess Royal outfit deserved a rare win over their opponents.

Craig Ewen had Kyle Irvine wearing the goalie’s jersey in place of the unavailable Craig Reid, and also in the starting line up was an old face in the shape of Rhys Thomas, back on loan from Cove Rangers.

The Maroons, looking to make it three successive league wins soon took control and two goals in six minutes seemed to put them well in the driving seat.  With 15 minutes gone a brilliant through ball was latched onto by Keiran Mooney, and he raced in from  the right wing to fire a low angled drive into the far corner of the net.

Six minutes later, co-skipper James Brownie cut the ball into a crowded penalty area, and comeback man Tom Andrews rammed the ball home from close range for his first ever Keith goal. At this stage, there was only going to be one winner – wasn’t there?

Three minutes later ‘Vale triggered off a madcap 19 minutes which gleaned them four goals and put them firmly on course for an unlikely win. The Maroons failed to defend a corner and Ben Allan eventually got the ball over the line. Then, on the half hour mark more slack defending from a free kick saw Dane Ballard force the ball home at the back post.

Out of the blue with 36 minutes on the clock, Horace Ormsby sent a shot cum-cross flying into the top corner from out on the left side of the penalty area. Three goals in 12 minutes saw them take the lead, and even worse for the visitors two minutes from half-time when Matty Jamieson made the most of a goalmouth melee to scramble the ball into the net.

Five minutes after the break Keith got a glimmer of hope when Brownie rifled home his first goal in seven months, but his team didn’t kick on from that, indeed ‘Vale looked the likelier to score, hitting the post late on. 

A disappointing day for those of a Maroon persuasion especially when it all looked so certain of a super win when leading 2-0.

KEITH – Irvine, Grant, Emmett, Abdulkarim, Robertson, Thomas (Coull 85), Killoh (Nawrocki 72), Brownie, Mooney, Yunus, Andrews (Wilson 64).  Subs unused – Ironside, Tough, McKeown, Hutcheon.

Referee – Mr S Donohoe

Saturday 1st October 2022, KO 3pm

Report by Charlie Simpson