Keith 0 v Fraserburgh 3

‘BROCH PUT KEITH’S LIGHTS OUT!

Well, Wednesday night’s Morrison Motors Aberdeenshire District Shield quarter final tie at Kynoch Park had the lot, that’s for sure.

The game between Keith and Fraserburgh was finally taking place at the 6th time of asking, being cancelled on five previous occasions due to snow, rain and frost. What else could befall us you might think? Try a power outage just after 7pm that blew fuses and sent the floodlight system flickering on and off like the Northern Lights. The local Sparkie came to the rescue, and thanks to both sets of players desperate to play, and common sense and good grace prevailing with referee Rob Mackinnon and his team of match officials, the game, which marked Keith’s 52nd outing in the  Competition stretching back to 1990,  finally got underway at 8.45pm.

Craig Ewen was hampered yet again by an abnormal string of injuries and players ineligible due to being cup-tied, plus an incredibly threadbare substitutes bench. Having said that, his Maroons rose to the task and competed throughout, ending up losing to an absolute corker of an opening goal, an unfortunate slip for the second goal, and a powerful headed third goal.

Two minutes and 40 seconds showed on the Simpson Stop Watch when Greg Buchan’s pass was latched onto by ex-Maroon Aidan Sopel, who promptly sent a 30 yarder crashing into the roof of the net well beyond the despairing Craig Reid. Jings, a blaster and a half and no mistake!

Instead of capitulating, the homesters girded their loins and Brody Alberts saw his 9th minute effort cleared off the line by Kieran Simpson, with Jordan Cooper hitting a shot just wide of target.  After the half-time cuppa, Keith took the game to the ‘Broch and Jordan Lynch was denied by goalie Joe Barbour following a defensive mix-up.

Almost right away at the other end a Sopel pass saw Reid slip on his way out to cut out the danger and Logan Watt capitalised by nipping in to slot home just after the hour mark. ‘Broch’s semi-final passage was sealed seven minutes later when Watt rose to powerfully head home a Joshua Hawkins left wing cross.

Young Finlay Murray, a regular in Keith’s Aberdeenshire League side, got a run out for the final 10 minutes for his first taste of first team action, and certainly did nothing wrong during his time on the Park.

KEITH – Reid, Moroney, Lynch, Craib, R Robertson, Cooper, Duncan (Murray 82), McKeown (Killoh 88), Alberts, Ormsby, Ironside (Barron 72). Sub unused – Macleod.

Referee – Mr R Mackinnon

Wednesday 5th February 2025, KO 8.45pm
Report by Charlie Simpson