Keith 0 v Clydebank 3
MAROONS BUST BY BANKIES
Picture the scene if you will…. An autumnal Saturday afternoon, the sun is shining on the Field of Dreams, there’s a bumper crowd being suitably entertained by Strathisla Pipe Band, and the smell of the pies, sausage rolls , teas, coffees and bovril emanating from the Pie Shop.
What better scenario could you have to set up a Keith Scottish Gas Mens Scottish Cup 2nd Round win against a team they’d never, ever played before in their 114 year history? Well the hitherto unbeaten West of Scotland Premier Division League Leaders Clydebank forgot to read the script as they scored three second half goals to dump the Maroons out of the national tournament.
A strong, swirling wind spoiled the game in the first half, although Craig’s Commandos facing it head on, adapted pretty well. Chances were at a premium early on, with the nearest being a Joey Wilson corner headed downwards by Ryan Park and screwing inches past the post in the 14th minute.
Going in at half-time goal-less was surely a boost for the Maroons, and expectations were reasonable that if they were quicker on the trigger, they might have more than a fighting chance. However, within six minutes of the Pipe Band stepping off the field, the homesters found themselves trailing to as soft a goal as you could see. A Lee Gallacher came swinging in from the right hand side and the unmarked Oisin McHugh jumped unmarked to nod home at the back post.
That put Bankies visibly in the ascendancy, and on the hour mark, Murray Addison was on the ball with a timely tackle to thwart Gallacher on the edge of the box. Another goal was only delayed by four minutes sadly, when Matt Niven was given space to rifle home a low 15 yarder. Although there was still half an hour to play, the feeling was that wrapped up Keith’s exit.
Despite battling gamely, little impression was made on the visiting rearguard, and over three minutes into stoppage time a rather softish looking penalty was awarded. Keir Samson appeared to to “skite”(slip for the unititiated), on his backside under a challenge from Ryan Spink, the referee pointing immediately to the spot. Up stepped Nicky Little to give Craig Reid no chance with the resultant award.
That well and truly completed Keith’s exit in what was my 50thKeith Scottish Cup game stretching back to 1976. In truth this was always going to be a tough ask, but in Cup games you just never know. It just wasn’t to be, so it’s back to the bread and butter of the League next Saturday – onwards and upwards!
KEITH – Reid, Addison (Tough 84), Lynch, Barron, Spink, Cooper (Craig 84), Ormsby, Brownie, Wilson (Duncan 67), Park (Alberts 73), Ironside (McKeown 67). Subs unused – C Robertson, Macleod.
Referee – Mr Lewis Hogarth
Official Attendance - 313
Saturday 26th October 2024, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson