Wick Academy 2 v Keith 3
AND...ON IT GOES!
Jings, it just goes on and on doesn’t it? The rich vein of form that the Maroons are currently in, stretched to 10 wins, 3 draws and a solitary defeat in 14 outings, with a dogged victory at Harmsworth Park. Twice coming from behind, including a scrappy first goal, was probably good enough for most of us happy to share the spoils – but na, Craig’s Commandos thought “We’re nae all the way up here for a draw” – and proceeded to get a dramatic winner three minutes from the end.
Conor Bird and Jack Searle twice drew the Maroons level, then wee Mikey Ironside was the hero with the late, late strike, that well and truly trimmed the Wick! With eight games still remaining, Keith have already amassed their largest points tally for 10 seasons, and the whole squad is absolutely buzzing just now.
The opening goal in the 10th minute saw the ball whing about in a crowded penalty area, and poor Craig Reid let it slip through his fingers – just one of those things I’m afraid. Now, playing up the hill at Harmsworth is always a tester, so us Maroons sitting in the Stand shielding our eyes from the sun, were delighted when a Zak To free kick flew into the danger area and Conor Bird was able to ram home his 3rd goal of the season. “Birdy, ya beauty”! We all howled!
After a scrappy first half, and playing down the slope after the half-time cuppa, we thought we might take the game by the scruff of the neck. Not the case, I’m afraid, and 10 minutes in, the Maroons’ rearguard failed to attack a corner and George Ewing powered a header into the roof of the net. Stroll on! - We began to get a feeling that this was going to be a long journey home – ah, but with 20 minutes remaining, a triple substitution was made, and believe me this was no triple decker Club Toastie, though the trio helped put Wick on toast!
With more bodies in the firing line, an equaliser was looking on the cards, and sure enough with 74 minutes gone it came. Now, I’m nae telling tales out of school as it were, but young Jack Searle had to come back onto the bus after we arrived at the Park, he’d left his boots in the rack above the seats! Well, it was most certainly shooting boots he had, as he cracked a beauty past the helpless goalie from 20 yards for his 3rd goal of the campaign. In time honoured fashion we’re up aff oor seats – “Yahoo, Jack you belter!” Wow, and you tend to forget that the Aberdeen loanee is still only 17 years old.
Although the impetus was now with the Maroons, to be honest, after trailing twice we’d have been relatively happy with a point. The guys on the pitch were having none of it though, and with time beginning to run down, young Jack whipped over a low left wing cross, and wee Mikey Ironside stretched to stab the ball into the bottom corner of the net for his 4th goal of the season. Up aff oor seats yet again “Mikey, ya wee cracker, get in lad!” That was that, as they say, and well and truly tatties ower the side for “The Scorries”.
Harmsworth Park is always a tough venue, and maybe the Maroons weren’t at their best, but they managed to keep the pot boiling with the late drama. To cap a perfect day for me – dropping in past the Stag Inn, Golspie for a celebratory beer on the way home, I was asked by the barmaid for ID!!
KEITH – Reid, Barron, Lynch (C Robertson 70), Bird, R Robertson (Ironside 70), Gill, Ormsby (Duncan 70)(Killoh 87), McKeown, Cooper (Stephen 70), To, Searle. Subs unused- Craib, Spink, Smith
Referee – V Melnyk.
Saturday 7th March 2026, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson