Keith 2 v Rothes 1
THE TALE O’ TWA JORDANS!
The Tale o’ Twa Jordans would be a great name for a best selling novel don’t you think? Maybe not, but anyway it was Keith’s two Jordans, Lynch and Cooper that got the vital goals on Saturday to extend the Maroons’ unbeaten league streak to four games, comprising of three wins and a draw.
Craig’s Commandos maybe weren’t at their best, but they went toe to toe with Rothes, who completely belied their bottom of the table status. How the men from over the Boat o’ Brig have a winless run of 38 games is beyond me, and sooner rather than later they are bound to get that elusive victory they yearn for.
Kynoch Park was nestling in the autumnal sun for the 159th league clash between the sides, stretching back to January 1939, and the scene was set with the Maroons having no fewer than 8 Match Mascots, courtesy of KDSD(Keith & District Sports Development).
Keith had a tough game at Inverurie in the midweek, when they overcame Locos to get into the Aberdeenshire District Shield Semi-Finals, and in the opening 45 minutes they looked a mite heavy legged. Yet, there were several chances, indeed at both ends. Aberdeen loanee Tristan Stephen was a whisker away with a low shot, whilst at the other end Craig Reid had to look lively to beat away Ross Logan’s well struck 15 yarder.
Rothes were giving as good as they got, but neither side could quite get that vital finish to find the back of the net. Was this going to be a goal-less draw? Well within four minutes of the second half getting underway, that thought was dispelled when Jordan Lynch hammered the ball into the roof of the net from out on the left side of the penalty area. Get in there Lynchie! Up aff our seats in the time honoured fashion, with perhaps a sigh of relief at the same time.
Keith seemed to be in the ascendancy after that with Zak To firing a 25 yard free kick inches past, then Jack Searle striking the bar with a drive, goalie Stewart Black brilliantly denying Stephen as he tried to convert the loose ball. Still, the score-line remained the same until the 69th minute when indecision in the heart of the home rearguard saw substitute Ruari Duncan pounce to sweep home from 6 yards.
It was jubilation though for those of us of a Maroon persuasion with 79 minutes on the old egg timer. Goalie Black came rushing out of his charge to make a headed clearance only for Cooper to quickly latch onto the loose ball, make a few strides up the right wing, and ever so expertly curl an absolute corker into the roof of the empty onion bag. Coops you diamond! Up aff oor bums again at the sheer audacity and precision of it.
Game over? Far from it, and with barely a couple of minutes remaining, there was an incredible stramash inside the home six yard area, and I still don’t know how the ball was kept out of the net – but it was – and another valuable three points for the Maroons giving them their 112th league victory over the Speysiders, moving up into 13th place in the league table at the same time.
KEITH – Reid, Addison, Lynch (R Robertson 88), Barron, Spink, To, Ormsby (Paterson 74), McKeown (Craib 88), Cooper, Searle, Stephen (C Robertson 74). Subs unused – Bird Gill, Duncan, Smith.
Referee – D Alexander
Saturday 15th November 2025, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson