Bo'Ness Athletic 2 v Keith 1
MAROONS FALL AT FIRST HURDLE
Keith’s 340 mile round trip on Saturday bore no fruit as the Maroons suffered a Scottish Cup first exit at the hands of national tournament newbies Bo’ness Athletic, after handing the East of Scotland Premier Division outfit a two goal start, which in the end, proved to be insurmountable. This was Keith’s 72nd Scottish Cup game stretching over a period of 99 years 8 months, whilst their hosts were playing only their second match in the same Tournament.
The match had a 7pm Kick Off due to Athletic sharing Newtown Park with Bo’ness United who were tackling Banks o’Dee earlier in the day.
Sadly, there was no Saturday Night Fever for the Maroons, in a match played in incessant rainy conditions, as they handed both goals on a plate in the opening stages of the game. Despite looking the better side throughout, Craig’s Commandos, although a spirited effort, couldn’t quite take the game into extra time.
The match signalled captain Ryan Spink’s 150th appearance for the Maroons, and it should have been a winning start in the 4th minute when Nathan McKeown found himself in the perfect position to fire home, instead opting to whip a cross over to the far side of the penalty area. Two minutes later, they were trailing when the defence failed to deal with a left wing cross from Pele, yes that’s his first name, Hagger, and Michael Weir converted at the back post.
Far from being despondent, Keith hit back and Jordan Cooper swept a shot inches over the bar from 18 yards in the 11th minute. The Maroons seemed to be in control at this point, then midway through the half, a hefty clearance from the Bo’Ness defence saw the visiting rearguard caught out, and Craig Reid out of his charge, Weir gleefully lobbing the ball over him into the empty net.
Barely a minute later Cooper squandered the perfect opportunity to haul his side back into the frame but slewed his shot well wide of target – Jeezo! Yet, Keith continued taking the game to the homesters, creating chances without converting them.
What could the Maroons do in the second half? Well, a couple of substitutions, and change of tactics brought a goal within three minutes of the restart. A McKeown cut back saw Horace Ormsby gleefully tuck the ball into the old onion bag from 6 yards – Ya Beezer H, Game On!
Bo’ness were rocked and with the Maroons in the ascendancy Ormsby saw an 18-yarder fly just past the post with 63 minutes gone, then five minutes late Murray Addison skied over the bar from 8 yards. Jordan Lynch then set off on a surging left wing run, only to see his parting shot screwing inches past the far post.
In the dying seconds, it was so near and yet so far when the home defence somehow kept the ball out of the net amidst a crowded six yard box, the referee blowing his peeper to end Keith’s Scottish Cup challenge for another year, seconds later.
A brave attempt by Keith but ultimately the two gift wrapped goals, and lack of cutting edge proved to be a bridge too far.
KEITH – Reid, Barron (Craib 46), Lynch, Bird (Addison 46), Spink, Cooper (McAllister 79), Ormsby, Gill, McKeown (Duncan 75), Searle, To. Subs unused – Smith, Angus, Paterson, C Robertson, Ironside.
Referee – Mr S Luke
Saturday 27th September 2025, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson