Keith 3 v Deveronvale 1

MAROONS COME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT ‘VALE 

For my sins I was born in Banff, and spent five years at Banff Academy, but been a Maroon all my life. Back in the day, come a Friday when we were due to play the ‘Vale, all the Banffers and Macduffers used to wind me up. I couldn’t wait for the Monday, so I could gloat because ‘Vale wins against us during that period were like hens teeth. Oh, how I wish I was back at school!

Mind you, this was no stroll in the park, or indeed a classic, as Craig’s Commandos came from behind to make it a 75th league win in 157 meetings stretching back to November 1938 against the Princess Royal outfit.

The scene was set for a super afternoon though, with barely a breath of wind, sun shining on an autumnal Saturday and a buzzing Sponsors Lounge that included Keith all time greats Darren “Captain Marvel” Still and Stuart Walker – 799 appearances, 178 goals and 19 Winners medals between them.Wow!!

Yet, us Maroons had glum faces after only nine minutes when Craig Reid parried an Alexsander Dlugosz drive into the path of Keane Matheson who had the easy peasy task of slamming home from eight yards. Jeezo boys!

Anyway, James Brownie and co didn’t panic and began to take control of proceedings. The equaliser, when it came, highlighted Brody Alberts’ nifty footwork that ended with him ever so neatly clipping the ball home from 6 yards.  Ya beezer Brody!

That gave a decided lift to the homesters and they showed much more oomph and drive without perhaps the end product. A few seconds after the referee blew his peeper for the start of the second half, the Maroons in the sun bathed crowd were howling for a penalty when Harry Noble appeared to upend Liam Duncan, but no award was given. A goal was only delayed by a couple of minutes when the aforementioned Liam ever so coolly slotted a low shot home from 12 yards. Get in there Liam, he just loves to score!

Instead of pressing home the advantage, Keith let the Banff outfit push forward, but dogged defending and true grit kept them at bay. A one goal advantage is always a nailbiting time for fans, and as the end of 90 minutes was almost upon us Craig Reid pulled off a terrific diving save to turn Jamie McLellan’s fierce drive round the post for a fruitless corner.

Then, three minutes into over time a well worked left wing move saw the ball fly over to the right wing and deadly Nathan McKeown raced through to crash the ball past the helpless Ethan Hopkinson for his 4th goal of the season, to seal an important win and spark great scenes of jubilation amongst those of us a Maroon persuasion – this is what it’s all about, you just can’t replicate that feeling the instant you see the ball crash into the old onion bag – Ya Beauty Nathan!!

Seconds later the referee blew his peeper for time up, signalling back to back wins for the Maroons striving to get further away from the league basement, pushing them up to 13th spot in the Table.

KEITH – Reid, Addison (C Robertson 46), Lynch, Barron, Spink, Cooper (Ironside 89), Ormsby, Brownie, Alberts (Tough 70), Park (Milne 81), Duncan (McKeown 70). Subs unused -Wilson, Craib, Moroney, Killoh.

Referee – R McKinnon

Saturday 2nd November 2024, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson