Rothes 0 v Keith 1
MAROONS END NINE YEAR SPEYSIDE DROUGHT
Nathan McKeown’s sweetly struck 10 yarder eight minutes into the second half, ended up being the winning goal, not only signalling a first win of the season, but squashing a nine year MacKessack Park drought, July 2015 being the last time the Mighty Maroons came back over the Boat o’ Brig with all three points.
It also marked the end of an eight game losing sequence stretching back to April, so no wonder those of us of a Maroon persuasion had grins as wide as the River Spey when the referee blew his peeper to signal the end of the game.
Of course, although only one goal separated the teams, Craig’s Commandos also had two goals chalked off, much to the disappointment of Callum Robertson and Jordan Cooper, and 18 year old Ronan Craib hit the bar with a header.
In what was the 157th Highland League encounter between the teams, going back to 1938, when the Speysiders entered the League as Rothes Victoria, it was mostly end to end play with neither goalie called desperately into action. Then, in the 20th minute there was a collision between home goalie Sean McCarthy and his centre half Scott Mutch, and with play apparently carrying on, young Robertson gleefully rifled a low shot into the empty net, only for the goal to be chalked off, ACH!
Keith probably had the better chances after that with livewire McKeown firing a shot straight at the goalie in the 33rd minute. A minute later the wee buzzbomb burst clear to shoot, only for the loose ball to be skied over the bar by Mikey Taylor. Five minutes later, the bold Mikey saw his 15 yard snapshot fly inches over the bar.
Goal-less at half time and with it all to play for, the Maroons visibly upped the tempo after the half-time cuppa and within two minutes Jordan Cooper unleashed a cracking shot from out wide left, into the far corner of the old onion bag. I was up off my seat in the Stand like a bullet, but me, and every other Maroon in the crowd, had their celebrations curtailed when the flag went up for offside.
Ah – but seven minutes later our joy was not to be thwarted when super Liam Duncan play ended with the ball flying into the box and wee Nathan kept a cool head to leave the Tangerines’ custodian helpless – YAHOO, WE’VE GOT OOR NOSES IN FRONT!
Credit to Rothes though, they weren’t making it easy for Keith and midway through the half Craig Reid had to look lively to tip over a curling Jake Thomson corner. Of course when there’s only one goal in it, you’re on the edge of your seat and your heart misses a beat when the ball flies past your goalmouth. So, with 15 minutes remaining we thought we were going to create a bit more breathing space, but young Ronan’s powerful header crashed back off the crossbar – Jeezo!
Then in the dying minutes, the Maroons were reduced to ten men when substitute Jake Stewart was stretchered off with a leg injury. However, skipper Craig Gill, who had already been here, there and everywhere, found the energy to produce a lung bursting run from his own half, carrying the ball forward and spotting the goalie off his line, tried to lob him, only for the custodian to stretch and grasp the ball – what a beezer of a goal that would have been!
The first three points of the season on the board, putting the misery of the midweek reverse at the hands of Banks o’ Dee to bed, and league win 110 over the Tangerine Terrors. All made for a happy Saturday night for Maroons diehards everywhere.
KEITH – Reid, Callum Robertson, Lynch (Wilson 81), Smith (Milne 64), Craib, Gill, Ormsby, McKeown (Tough 75), Cooper, Taylor (Stewart 73), Duncan (Killoh 75). Sub unused – Macleod.
Referee – Mr J Kennedy
Saturday 10th August 2024, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson