Fraserburgh 1 v Keith 2

MAROONS END ‘BROCH DROUGHT AT LAST GASP

Well, it just seems to get better and better just now for Keith fans doesn’t it? We’ve had some sparkling away days this season so far with the current top seven being particular targets. An exaggeration? Nae really, with deserved draws at Brechin City, Brora Rangers, Banks o’ Dee and Formartine Utd, along with fine wins at Nairn County and Clach. Then on Saturday, the pot was kept boiling as it were, with a first win at Bellslea Park since Cammy Keith’s double penalty score did the trick on 25 November 2017. Goals, never mind wins, are as rare as hens teeth at ‘Broch for Keith. Indeed when Zak To’s superb free kick nestled in the roof of Joe Barbour’s ingin bag, it was the first Bellslea goal for a Maroon since Max Berton netted in a 3-1 defeat on 16 March 2019.

Now, this was no multi coloured show, but when Scotty Barron bustled the ball into the net in the dying seconds it fairly saw the Maroons give the Black and Whites the Blues!

We all know that ‘Broch are no mugs, they won the Aberdeenshire District Shield for the 11th time on the Wednesday night, and were sitting 4th in the league table, so it was going to be a tough ask for Craig’s Commandos bidding to continue their climb up the Table.

Indeed, Mark Cowie’s men hemmed the Maroons into their own half for most of the opening 14 minutes. Then, with 15 minutes on the clock those of us of a Maroon persuasion were up aff oor seats in the  Stand. Keith were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, and Aberdeen loanee Zak To grabbed himself a belated 18th birthday present, by curling an absolute belter right into the postage stamp top corner. “Zak Ya beauty”! We all howled!

‘Broch hit back of course, but Craig Reid pulled off a terrific one handed save to deny Willie West in the 36th minute, though the homesters got a sharp reminder three minutes later when another of our Dons loanees, Jack Searle, forced a super save out of Barbour. Then, four minutes from the half-time cuppa, Reid again showed his athleticism by tipping round Greg Buchan’s fierce drive.

After the break, the Maroons were chasing, harrying, tackling and showing real vim and vigour. It was a cruel blow though with 62 minutes gone when ‘Broch levelled matters, a Fraser Mackie shot deflecting off Ryan Spink, wrong footing Reid and landing in at his right hand post.

Would ‘Broch now go on and win? Ah, but the Maroons are made of stern stuff these days, and they stuck to the task, making a real fist of it. Then….with my egg timer touching over the 90 minutes a deep curling To corner flew in amidst a melee of bodies, and Barron managed to bundle the ball home despite Barbour’s desperate effort. “Get in there Scotty B”! Jeezo what a last gasper and no mistake.

Yet again, every single player deserves credit for a sleeves rolled up display that took them up to 9th in the Table, and in what was the 183rd league encounter between them, saw them edge ahead with 78 wins to 77. That’s 8 wins, 3 draws and one defeat in the last 12 league outings, not a record to be sneezed at I’d say!

KEITH – Reid, Barron, Searle (Stephen 88), Bird (R Robertson 80), Spink, Gill, Craib, McKeown (Ironside 88), Cooper (C Robertson 83), To, Ormsby (Duncan 80). Subs unused - Paterson, Nicol, Killoh, Smith

Referee – J McCunnie

Saturday 21st February 2026, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson