Keith 1 v Clachnacuddin 0
THE LILIES WILT AGAINST THE MAROONS
Well not only was this a super fourth successive league win for Craig’s Commandos, and a fourth clean sheet for the season, but I had a brilliant afternoon wallowing in footballing nostalgia. The icing on the cake of course was Cammy Wilson’s expertly taken winning goal to make it a 78th league win over the Lily Whites.
No fewer than 9 Clach/Caley all time greats were ensconced in our famous Sponsors Lounge. All were involved in the unforgettable 1984 Qualifying Cup Final Keith v Caley which stretched to 3 games at Borough Briggs – a 1-1 draw, a 2-2 draw, then a 2-0 Keith win! Messrs Peter Corbett, Billy Urquhart, Billy McDonald, Kevin Mann, Bob Summers, Wilson Robertson, Johnstone Bellshaw, Iain Polworth, Dave Gibson, plus Maroons legends Kenny Taylor and Ian Matheson, with another Legend Rex Hunter in their midst. Man what an afternoon, especially with Chris and Keith, all the way from Boston, Massachusetts in attendance. All that – AND….The whole match sitting in the company of Bobby Wilson Keith manager of the famous three-in-a-row League Winners. Absolutely priceless for me!
Anyway, I digress, back to the game, which was always going to be a tough one as Conor Gethins has been doing a grand job up in the Merkinch. So, it proved as there was little between the sides until three minutes from the half-time cuppa when that bit of quality that young Cammy possesses, shone through, giving Joe Malin no chance from 12 yards. Ya Beezer Cammy get in there!
The second half was played out mainly with the Maroons defending stoutly, goalie Craig Reid pulling off a couple of fine saves, and always managing to deal with anything that evaded his stalwart defenders. probably scorned about half a dozen chances, but then Keith did have the ball in the net at the other end in the 71st minute but Brody Alberts was flagged offside.
Overall, a worthy win, and perhaps appropriately against the Invernessians, considering our first ever Highland League point was earned in a 1-1 Kynoch Park draw with them back in August 1924.
The final word of the day probably goes to legendary goal machine Billy Urquhart – I’d taken up my 1984-5 season Scrapbooks to show them with various clippings, including the three Cup Final games – whereupon Billy’s parting shot on heading to the Train was “You can get rid of them any time Charlie boy, they’re obviously a work of fiction”!
KEITH – Reid, Lynch, Moroney, Barron, Spink, Cooper, Ormsby (Addison 88), McKeown, Alberts (Duncan 72), Park (R Robertson 83), C Wilson (Ironside 83). Subs unused – Craib, J Wilson, Killoh, Brownie.
Referee - Mr O Lawrence
Saturday 30th November 2024, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson