Keith 2 v Rothes 3

MAROONS LOSE BY ODD GOAL IN FIVE

Following the eight goal drubbing at the hands of Banks o’ Dee, Keith showed much more application against Rothes in their midweek tussle, and had they showed a bit more nous after taking the lead, the outcome might have been different.

Manager Craig Ewen rang the changes with Luke Emmett and Kieran Mooney having served suspensions and Kieran Yeats back after a few days break, Connor Killoh, Nathan McKeown and Joey Wilson all earning starts as well.

An end to end tussle saw the Maroons break the deadlock ten minutes from the break when Mooney raced up the left wing and curled a superb effort into the top far corner of the net. Sadly, the lead only lasted four minutes, and two quick fire goals saw Rothes go in at half time with a lead. They levelled through Greg Morrison who punished defensive slackness by lashing the ball home from 10 yards, then Matheus Machado pounced to slam a low drive home from eight yards.

Six minutes into the second half, it looked all over when dangerman Morrison swivelled to hammer the ball home off a Machado cross. However, the gritty Maroons knuckled down and with 72 minutes on the clock, they got a glimmer of hope when Dem Yunus, celebrating his 50th Keith appearance, weaved into the penalty area only to be chopped down. Polish striker Przemyslaw Nawrocki, only on the pitch for two minutes, stepped up to sink the resultant spot kick, sending Sean McCarthy the wrong way.

Try as they might, the Maroons just failed to get back on level terms, and ended the night empty handed.

KEITH – Reid, Emmett, Yeats(Coull 75), Grant, Robertson, Killoh, McKeown(Tough 66), Brownie, Mooney(Nawrocki 70), Yunus, Wilson.  Subs unused – Ironside, Hutcheon, Abdulkarim, Irvine.

Referee – Mr D McFarlane

Wednesday 24th August 2022, KO 8pm

Report by Charlie Simpson