Keith 0 v Wick Academy 1

MAROONS TRIMMED BY WICK!

Well, the old adage, “end of season fare” certainly applied to the 59th Highland League tussle between Keith and Wick Academy at Kynoch Park on Saturday. This game was a drab affair and had goal-less written all over it until an unfortunate Rodrigo Vitols error let Kyle Henderson capitalise with nine minutes remaining.

The result aside though, I had a marvellous time in the presence of members of arguably our greatest ever side of 1979-81, the three league championships in a row guys. The scene was set with the specially made three in a row Flag flying high in the breeze, and legendary manager Bobby Wilson, players Bobby Gray, Ian “Cup-tie” McKay, Mike Winton, John Curran, Raymond “Ace” O’Hara, Graeme Tallis, and Rexy Hunter, from a few years earlier, all in attendance.  What a mouthwatering line-up – 1,783  appearances, 302 goals and an eye-opening 45 Winners Medals between them – Wow!!

Anyway, returning to 2025, and the Maroons had 18 year old Vitols on loan from Aberdeen in place of Craig Reid, sadly out for the remainder of the season, and Ryan Robertson absent, serving the second of his two match ban. On the plus side we had the welcome return of Ryan Spink after a nine match absence due to injury.

Chances were at a premium throughout with Wick goalie Lewis Gallacher saving a Nathan McKeown at one end, and young Vitols pulling off a fine save to deny Henderson at the other end. Then, with 26 minutes on the clock, Keith’s injury jinx struck again when Liam Duncan was forced to limp off – jeezo, here we go again!

Goal-less at half time, Maroons fans thought their favourites were set to break the deadlock barely half a minute into the second half, only for Gallacher to brilliantly tip Cammy Wilson’s net bound lob round the post – Ach!

Then, with the egg-timer beginning to run out with nine minutes remaining, and a sensible draw looking ever so likely, Vitols came rushing out of his charge, lost the ball on the edge of box, and Henderson said “thanks very much” before running in on target to gleefully slam it into the empty onion bag. Man what a sinking feeling for those of us of a Maroon persuasion! That was that, as they say, though post match it didn’t stop the priceless, ceaseless banter and reminiscing by the earlier mentioned all-time Greats.

KEITH – Vitols, Lynch, Spink, Barron, Craib, Cooper, Ormsby (Stewart 73), McKeown, Duncan (Alberts 26), C Wilson, Ironside. Subs unused – Laird, Milne, Killoh, J Wildon, Macleod.

Referee – Mr E Pow

Saturday 22nd March 2025, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson