Deveronvale 3 v Keith 2
VALE OF TEARS FOR MAROONS!
To be honest, nobody would have begrudged Keith a share of the spoils in the 159th Banffshire Derby league tussle between them and hosts Deveronvale at Princess Royal Park on Wednesday night. Both sides served up a five goal thriller which the Banffers edged thanks to being more clinical in the firing line.
Not only did we have an entertaining 90 minutes of football, but I had an entertaining half time cuppa, meeting up with Kevin Bremner, “The Foggie Fury”, who was up in the area with his family from south of the Border. Kevvy boy of course started his Highland League career with ‘Vale before becoming one half of the most prolific goalscoring partnership I’ve ever seen at Keith, he and Raymond “Ace” O’Hara striking fear in defences throughout the North in 1979-80, nabbing 69 between them.
Anyway, back to the game, and indecision in the Maroons rearguard saw ‘Vale nab the lead after only 5 minutes, Jack Mitchell laying the ball into skipper Jamie Maclellan’s path, and he promptly curled an 18 yarder into the far corner.
The Maroons stuck to the task though, and on the quarter hour mark Nathan McKeown got on the end of a super Horace Ormsby cross, only to head wide of target. A goal was only delayed however, and midway through the half it was level pegging. Jordan Lynch,celebrating his birthday, pinged a corner into the danger area and Conor Bird powered an 8 yard header into the roof of the net for his first Keith goal. Ya Beezer – get in there Birdy!
Keith ought to have taken the lead a minute before the break when a super chip from Craig Gill saw Lee McAllister head straight at the goalie – Ach! Then, the Maroons came out for the second half full of vim and vigour,and nine minutes after the turnaround Murray Addison saw his surging run into the penalty box ended with Murray Esson toppling him. Nathan McKeown expertly slotted home from the spot to put his side in front – Nathan ya wee beauty!
Ach, but within five minutes it was level pegging as Fergus Alberts capitalised on more defensive frailties, pouncing to lash the ball home from 10 yards. Worse was to follow with 72 minutes on the clock, when more failure to clear lines, Maclellan clipping the ball well beyond the diving Reid for what turned out to be the winner.
Credit to the Maroons, they kept battling until the final peep of the referee’s whistle, but ended up empty handed yet again amidst a tough start to the campaign.
KEITH – Reid, Addison, Skea, Bird, R Robertson, Gill (Cooper 79), To, Lynch, McKeown, McAllister (Duncan 68), Ormsby (Ironside 85). Subs unused – Smith, Paterson, C Robertson, Whyte, Craib.
Referee – V Melnyk.
Wednesday 13th August 2025, KO 8pm
Report by Charlie Simpson