Wick Academy 1 v Keith 0

TEN MAN MAROONS PAY THE PENALTY

Keith remain pointless and goalless after their opening two fixtures, squandering a third minute penalty award, and having to play the last 32 minutes with ten men at Wick following a second yellow card for co-captain Ryan Robertson.

The Maroons could probably count themselves unfortunate they didn’t gain anything from the game, especially with a much improved display from the Huntly match.

Playing down the Harmsworth slope in the first half the visitors were awarded an early penalty, Matty Tough being impeded by home goalie Graeme Williamson. The striker though proceeded to hit a rather timid spot kick giving Williamson a fairly comfortable save.

Both sides had chances after that, and with 32 minutes played, the Maroons had the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be chalked off for offside. Dem Yunus, playing a forward role, won the ball  in a challenge with the ‘keeper, and cut the ball across to Tough who swept home from close range, only for the flag to be raised. 

Two minutes into the second period came the only goal of the game when Connor Grant, returning on loan from Fraserburgh, hit a tame pass back to Craig Reid which Gordon McNab nimbly intercepted, ran in and gave Reid no chance from 10 yards.

Tough had the chance to redeem himself with 57 minutes on the clock when he latched onto a neat James Brownie throughball, but fired straight at the goalie. A minute later the visitors were reduced to ten men when Robertson, booked earlier, received a second yellow card for an infringement on Sean Campbell. 

To their credit Keith didn’t capitulate and kept at it, nearly grabbing a leveller with four minutes remaining when substitute Joey Wilson fired an angled shot inches past the far post with the goalie  having slipped and sitting on the seat of his pants.

KEITH – Reid, Abdulkarim, Yeats, Grant, Robertson, Hutcheon, Ironside (Wilson 72), Brownie, Tough (Nawrocki 62), Yunus (McKeown 72), Andrews.  Subs unused – Coull, Irvine.

Referee – Mr D Nicolson

Saturday 30th July 2022, KO 3pm

Report by Charlie Simpson