Strathspey Thistle 0 v Keith 2

MAROONS HIT THE TON AGAINST STRATHY JAGS

Keith hit the Ton in Grantown on Saturday, but just in case you’re worried, they weren’t caught for speeding through the town, but hit their 100th Highland League goal against hosts Strathspey Thistle on their way to their first win of 2025. Jordan Cooper notched the landmark goal, and a Joey Wilson stoppage time effort secured a first win for 3 months.

Make no mistake though, as expected, this was a tough tussle, and if truth be told, the Maroons weren’t at their best, but were able to grind out a valuable 3 points from what was the 29th League encounter between the sides. It also maintained their record of never having lost at Seafield Park, made it a 5th clean sheet of the season, and for the first time in 12 matches, Keith were able to put on five substitutes during the 90 minutes. Although the goalscorers made their mark, goalie Craig Reid earned his corn with some terrific stops.  For me, there is no other goalie in the North I would rather have, and on Saturday he was simply imperious.

It’s well documented that the Jags desperately need points on the Board, and they were at it right from the first peep of the referee’s fussle. They forced a string of early corners and trialist Dean Stewart saw his net bound header brilliantly tipped over the bar by Reid. Play settled down to a more even tempo, and as the game progressed it began to look like a goal-less draw. That was, until the 71st minute when Jordan Cooper whipped a perfect 18 yarder beyond the grasping Ewan Storrier. Ya beauty Coops! It gets me every single time that Keith score, up aff my seat like a bullet!!

Jings, that just seemed to antagonise Strathy as they set to with gusto, throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at the Maroons rearguard. Corners, throw-ins, free kicks were pinging in but Ryan Robertson and co held firm, with Craig Reid right at the heart of it, pulling off two astonishingly instinctive saves, something he’s a master at.

Then, with the egg timer showing over a minute into stoppage time, goalie Storrier joined his team-mates deep in the Keith half only to be caught out by a defensive clearance which Joey Wilson latched onto. The bold Joey strode forward and kept an incredibly cool head to clip a measured shot into the roof of the empty net. Jeezo! More bedlam, as I’m aff my derriere once again, and good old Joey is swamped by his team-mates.

There’s been a few games this season where the Maroons good play has seen them end up empty handed, so perhaps Lady Luck smiled a wee bit on them on this occasion.

KEITH – Reid, Lynch, Barron, Craib, R Robertson, Cooper (Milne 86), Duncan (Alberts 70), McKeown, Ormsby (Buchan 80), C Wilson (J Wilson 86), Ironside (Laird 70). Subs unused – Stewart, Killoh.

Referee – Mr D Alexander

Saturday 1st March 2025, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson