Formartine Utd 6 v Keith 0

MAROONS HIT FOR SIX – AGAIN!

For the second successive outing Keith were swept aside by a top five side, as Formartine hit them for six. The Maroons simply had no answer to the power play of the men from Pitmedden who had six different players on the score sheet.

Ethan Smith, the Club’s latest acquisition from Turriff Utd, made his debut at the heart of the defence, although Murray Addison was unable to turn out per the terms of his loan agreement with Formartine.

If Maroons fans were hoping for a repeat of the first ever Highland League tussle between the sides when it ended in a 1-1 draw, their ambitions were quickly dashed. Once the homesters opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Mark Gallagher, there was only going to be one winner. The score-line was doubled with 34 minutes on the clock, a Matthew McLean drive from, 15 yards giving Craig Reid no chance.

It was game over two minutes later when ex-Broch marksman Paul Campbell raced through to convert,with the visiting camp protesting in vain about him looking offside. Then, four minutes from the half time cuppa, Aiden Combe had the simple task of rifling home a low shot from eight yards.

A formation change after the break to limit damage seemed to be working but with 64 minutes played substitute Scott Lisle scored with his first touch, to give his side a nap hand. The powerful homesters seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal somewhat but then, with a couple of minutes remaining, Cole Anderson made it a six hit with a free kick that flew into the roof of the net.

A difficult afternoon for the visitors who battled bravely, but struggled, as they did at Brora, to get any shots on target, the end result keeping them in 14th spot in the table.

KEITH – Reid, Coull, Yeats, Smith, Robertson, Hutcheon, Mooney, Wilson, Yunus, Killoh (Tough 67), Duncan (McKeown 72).  Unused subs – Brownie, Irvine.

Referee – Mr J Kennedy

Saturday 28th January 2023, KO 3pm

Report by Charlie Simpson