Huntly 1 v Keith 1
MAROONS IN TESTY DERBY NIGHT DRAW
Well, if I wore a hat, which I don’t by the way, I’d doff it to Craig’s Commandos, after a dogged, gritty, determined display to earn a share of the spoils in the 180th Huntly – Keith Highland League Derby match. The Maroons were in action for the fourth Wednesday out of the last five, in addition to the normal Saturday games, and their fitness and application is to be admired, especially given the current injury list.
They had to dig deep when under the cosh for a spell against the Strathbogie men who were relatively fresh having last Saturday free, the Kynoch Parkers knuckling down and standing up to their neeps as it were. It’s just a pity that there was a flurry of yellow and red cards throughout a keenly contested match, Keith’s Conor Bird and Huntly’s Assistant Manager Allan Youngson and goalie Lenny Wilson seeing red at the death.
Conditions weren’t great with the rain making the pitch gey heavy, but within 10 minutes Keith got their noses in front when the home rearguard failed to clear a Craig Reid free kick and Ronan Craib slotted home from close range. “Ronan, ya belter”! We all howled from the Stand.
Huntly began to push back though and Reid denied Matthew Wallace, but he was left helpless in the 32nd minute when the same player sent a rasper past him from 18 yards. No surprise really, as the Strathbogie Men had been pushing more and more. Four minutes from half time Reid then denied Kai Watson.
The homesters continued in the same vein after the break, but bit by bit the Maroons got back into proceedings. Ten minutes into the half, Liam Duncan nipped through between two defenders, only to see his well struck shot well palmed away by the goalie. Then, five minutes later, Liam was at it again, outpacing the defence, only to be forced wide of the goal area.
At the other end, Reid was called into action again, pulling off a superb diving save to turn away a Callum Youngson free kick.
We witnessed the last few minutes of the game as if somebody had lit the blue touch paper then stood back. First, Bird received a second yellow card, with Reid pulling off an excellent save from Michael Clark’s free kick following the dismissal. Hot on the heels followed Allan Youngson with a second yellow card. Then, after the referee blew his peeper for time up, as the teams were trooping off the field, the Huntly custodian received a red card for comments made.
At the end of the night, a worthy point for the Maroons, cementing their 7th place in the Table, stretching their lead over 8th placed Buckie Thistle to five points, with both sides having two games remaining.
KEITH – Reid, Barron, Addison (Killoh 70), Bird, Craib, Gill, Duncan (Ironside 70), McKeown, Cooper (Brownie 79), To (Whyte 70), C Robertson. Subs unused – Smith, Nicol, Murray.
Referee – S Donohoe
Wednesday 1st April 2026, KO 8pm
Report by Charlie Simpson