Keith 1 v Banks O’Dee 2
MAROONS LOSE OUT IN GUT WRENCHING FINALE
Keith fans trooped out of Kynoch Park on Wednesday night shaking their heads in disbelief, went to their beds, and got up the following morning hoping it had all been a bad dream. Sadly the reality of it all was, that after going toe to toe with one of the season’s likely title challengers Banks O’Dee, and leading by a single goal, it all went sour with two minutes remaining of normal time when Dee equalised. You could hear the groans from those of a Maroon persuasion – jings, that was bad enough, but then it really went all skeewiff. 90th minute on the clock and a deemed hand ball inside the penalty area saw a spot kick awarded. Craig Reid, not for the first time, performed heroics to brilliantly save Michael Philipson’s well struck effort. We were up off our seats in the Grandstand – ya beezer!
Ah, but more drama unfolded five minutes into stoppage time when a second spot kick was awarded. No…. Craig couldn’t save another penalty coming so quickly after the first one.. Could he?? Well, this time Mark Gilmour tried his luck and Craig was imperious with another ridiculously terrific save – ya beauty!!, but then seconds later, the entire Keith camp was deflated when the loose ball was scrambled over the line by Lachie MacLeod. Despite a total of nine minutes 27 seconds added on at the end of the normal 90 minutes, the damage was done and the dejected Maroons trooped off at the end, still searching for their first win of the season.
The Maroons were without no fewer than seven regular first teamers in their starting line up, and 18 year old Ronan Craib was handed his full first team debut, over two years after his only substitute appearance.
It was end to end in the early stages with Reid racing off his line to thwart MacLeod in the first minute. Five minutes gone and Mikey Taylor appeared to be pushed over inside the penalty area, but play was waved on. A couple of minutes later, the big striker squandered a chance to score when Dee goalie kicked the ball straight to him, but he contrived to screw the ball past the far post.
Reid then pulled off two fine saves before a surging Nathan McKeown run at the other end saw the wee striker’s parting drive fly inches over the bar. With 32 minutes on the clock the Maroons were appealing for a spot kick when the ball appeared to be handled inside box. Four minutes later Keith suffered a blow when Grant Moroney, fast becoming a key figure at the heart of the defence, was forced to limp off.
The second half continued in the same vein with the Maroons making life difficult for Dee and with 70 minutes on the old egg timer, Horace Ormsby, another newbie making an impact, whipped over a super cross and buzzbomb McKeon pounced to steer the ball into the bottom corner from 8 yards – 1-0, GET IN!
Six minutes later Dee would have really been rocked but Taylor, right in front of goals, headed tamely into Hoban’s arms. No inkling whatsoever at this stage mind you, at the drama that was about to unfold.
At the end of the night, every manjack wearing Maroon trooped off empty handed having given one of the main title challengers the fright of their lives – and in particular, spare a thought for Craig Reid – two magnificent penalty saves, taking his spot kick stops to an incredible 13 in three years.
KEITH – Reid, Craib, Lynch, Smith, Moroney (Duncan 38) (Stewart 86), Gill, Ormsby (Wilson 90), Killoh, Cooper, Taylor, McKeown (Tough 86). Subs unused – Callum Robertson, Macleod.
Referee – S Donohoe
Wednesday 7th August 2024, KO 8pm
Report by Charlie Simpson