Lossiemouth 2 v Keith 0
NO JOY FOR MAROONS AT THE SEASIDE
Whilst Scots all over the world were celebrating the birthdate of National Bard, Robert Burns, there was no celebration for Keith and their fans as hosts Lossiemouth completed the League Double over the Maroons in the 147th Highland League clash between the sides. In truth, Craig Ewen’s men dictated play for the bulk of this encounter, but the inability to hit the back of the old onion bag came back to bite them in the bum, with the Coasters hitting the target twice in the second half.
To quote another famous Scot – Oor Wullie “Jings, Crivvens and Help ma Boab” as Keith contrived to fail to convert even one of the double figures of chances they created, making the end result rather frustrating for those of us of a Maroon persuasion.
Although the Gaffer was able to utilise Formartine loanees Grant Moroney and Brody Alberts once again, he was still without the services of Craig Gill, James Brownie, Ryan Spink, Murray Addison, Jake Stewart, Joey Wilson and Callum Robertson. As a result, striker Zane Laird has been brought in on loan from Inverurie Locos.
In what marked Jordan Lynch’s 50th competitive Maroons appearance, his side looked full of intent in the first half, with a penalty claim for Horace Ormsby being upended after only 6 minutes being waved aside. A minute later an Alberts 20 yard free kick was well held by Stuart Knight, the custodian also diving to clutch a low Cammy Wilson shot. Alberts was again denied by Knight in the 17th minute. Some really smart play from Keith but with no reward.
We had 36 minutes on the clock before Lossie threatened, with Lewis McAndrew’s looping header being cleared off the line. A couple of minutes later at the other end, Cammy Wilson went on a surging run up the right wing, but with no real support in the danger area, elected to have a go himself, but his parting shot flew just wide of target. Then, four minutes from the half-time cuppa, Craig Reid was called into action, going full stretch to keep out Connor Macaulay’s well struck 25 yarder.
Keith remained in the ascendancy in the early part of the second half, and three minutes in, an Alberts looping header was tipped over the bar by Knight. Then, out of the blue with 58 minutes played, failure to deal with a far side throw-in saw Shaun Cameron pounce to rifle a low 12 yarder through Reid’s legs. Jeezo! that was a tough one to take!
Although the Maroons regrouped and tried to get back into the game, Lossie defended stoutly. It was well and truly tatties ower the side two minutes from the end when Matthew Nicol capitalised by letting fly, his 15 yarder squirming home at Reid’s right hand post. That stretched Keith’s no win sequence at Grant Park to almost six years.
KEITH – Reid, Lynch, Moroney (Laird 72), Barron, R Robertson, Cooper, Ormsby (Milne 84), McKeown, Alberts, C Wilson, Ironside (Duncan 65). Subs unused – Craib, Stuart, Killoh.
Referee – Mr D Munro
Saturday 25 January 2025, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson