Brechin City 1 v Keith 1
MAROONS TRIM THE HEDGEMEN!
I must admit I headed for Glebe Park on Wednesday night with a certain amount of trepidation, not just because Keith had only played three games so far in 2025, but they were tackling title contenders Brechin City in their own back yard.
Well, Craig’s Commandos did themselves proud with a scintillating display of grit, fitness and application, allied to no little skill by the way, to trim the “Hedgemen”, coming back up the road with a well deserved point in the Kit Bag.
Essentially a super team performance, special kudos though to 18 year old Brody Alberts, who made an instant impact, scoring his 5th goal of the season less than five minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The match also provided a hat-trick of firsts for the Maroons – their first draw of the season: their first ever Highland League point against City: and the first time that Jamie McCunnie had ever refereed a competitive Keith match.
Gaffer Craig still had the usual injured absentees, and with Grant Moroney’s loan ended by Formartine, we had the return of Josh Buchan on loan from Inverurie Locos back at the Club. A welcome addition it has to be said.
Anyway, if we thought that the lack of game time would make the Maroons a little ring rusty, somebody must have sprayed some WD40 in the Dressing Room pre-match, as they defended, tackled, ran, and passed with gusto.
There really was nothing between the sides until the 26th minute when home custodian Lenny Wilson pulled off a terrific point blank save to deny Liam Duncan. Then, less that two minutes later, the deadlock was broken at the other end when Ewen Loudon pounced to rifle a low 15 yarder into the bottom corner. Jings, it’s often a fine line, isn’t it!
Would the Maroons’ lack of game time begin to tell after the break? Well, Craig Reid pulled off a superb diving save to keep out a Dayle Robertson header with 59 minutes on the clock, as Brechin tried to put the game to bed. Ah, but Craigie’s boys weren’t for capitulating, and they silenced the beating drum in the Main Stand with 70 minutes gone. A brilliant right wing pass from Horace “H” Ormsby was latched onto by young Alberts, and he wasted no time in unleashing an unstoppable 15 yarder beyond the helpless Wilson. Ya beezer Brody!
Brechin’s gast was severely flabbered at the leveller, as they then became frustrated at Keith’s determination and fighting spirit. Try as they might, City could mske no headway as the Maroons stood firm and were worthy recipients of a share of the spoil
KEITH – Reid, Lynch, Buchan, Craib, R Robertson, Cooper (J Wilson 85), Duncan (Laird 78), McKeown, Ormsby, C Wilson, Ironside (Alberts 65). Subs unused – Barron, Milne, Stewart, Killoh, Macleod.
Referee – Mr Jamie McCunnie
Wednesday 19th February 2025, KO 8pm
Report by Charlie Simpson