Forres Mechanics 4 v Keith 1
CAN CANS CANE KEITH!
It’s been a long, hard season for Keith, with the lengthy injury list now taking its toll, as yet again the Maroons were without 10 players as they struggled to make any impact at Mosset Park. One plus factor was that youngsters Connor Stuart and Finlay Murray got some more minutes at the tail end of the game, with young custodian Charlie Gray, though not getting any game time, gaining the experience of being on a first team bench.
Keith’s first ever Highland League win saw them defeat Forres 5-3 at Kynoch Park on 22nd November 1924, thanks to four goals from Tom Cowie and a single from Jock McBean. Interestingly, the first clash between the sides at Mosset Park resulted in a 1-1 draw on 21st March 1925, Keith’s goal coming from Jock Whitecross, great grandfather of ex-Maroon Hamish Ritchie, currently plying his trade with Spartans.
A Hundred years on, and lining up for their 2,713th Highland League match, sadly this turned out eventually to be an end of season affair, with Forres well worthy of the win in the 186th league encounter between the sides.
Two goals in six minutes had the Can Cans coasting to be honest. With 13 minutes on the old egg timer, Matt Jamieson, standing all on his own, had the simple task of rifling a low 15 yarder into the bottom corner. Then, six minutes later Calum Frame easily headed an Aidan Cruickshank cross home from 8 yards. To be fair, the Maroons tried vainly to get back into the game and might have been awarded a penalty in the 29th minute when Zane Laird appeared to be toppled. No spot kick though, and less than a minute later at the other end, the deadly Frame crashed a shot off the crossbar.
A third goal was gifted with 34 minutes played when Mikey Ironside was short with a passback and Jamieson nipped in to slam a low shot past the helpless Connor Killoh.
We then had a break from the footie when twa seagulls flew down off the roof of the stand and began scrapping in the middle of the park. No yellow card from the referee although it was definitely “foul” play! Did they pay to get in? I doubt it- and I assume they didn’t buy a raffle either, though they might have swooped on folks pies!!
Back to the footie though, and Keith’s one crumb of comfort came in the 41st minute when Forres goalie Cameron Farquhar came rushing out of his charge, got in a fankle with his defence, allowing the alert Brody Alberts to nip in and run to sweep the ball into the empty net for his 6th goal of the season – Well done Brody, that makes you our current top scorer!
Seven minutes after the half-time cuppa Nathan McKeown squandered a gilt edged chance to pull another goal back, racing onto a perfect through ball with only the goalie to beat but missed out. Ach! Three minutes later it was well and truly tatties ower the side when young Macleod pulled off a fine one handed save, only for Jordan Alonge to pounce and stab home the loose ball from close range. That was that as they say, with Forres comfortably seeing the game out.
KEITH – Macleod, Lynch (Murray 78), Craib, Barron, Spink, Ironside (Killoh 78), Laird (Milne 71), McKeown, Alberts, Ormsby (Stuart 71), Cooper. Sub unused – C Gray.
Referee – O Crawford
Saturday 5th April 2025, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson