Buckie Thistle 3 v Keith 0

MAROONS BATTLE HARD AT BUCKIE

A brave, battling display from Keith still saw the Maroons lose out to title challengers Buckie Thistle, Craig Ewen’s men ending the game with ten men after on loan Murray Addison saw red for a hand ball on the goal-line, ex-Maroon Andy Macaskill slotting home the resultant spot kick with the last kick of the game.

The Maroons, with co-skipper Ryan Robertson making his 150th appearance, gave as good as they got and stifled the Jags until eight minutes from half-time when a slack Dem Yunus pass saw Niz Abdulkarim give away a free kick on the edge of the box. Home central defender Jack Murray stepped up to slam home the award to break the deadlock.

It was more of the same in the second half, with Keith sticking to their task but without a cutting edge. Then, with 63 minutes on the clock a corner wasn’t cleared properly and another ex-Maroon, Sam Pugh, blasted a fierce drive home from the edge of the box.

It was a bitter blow for the visitors at the very last gasp when the referee had no alternative but flash the red card and award the spot kick. Despite Craig Reid’s expertise at saving penalties, he was given no chance by Macaskill who tucked the ball away with great aplomb.

Perhaps another defeat for the Maroons, but worth noting that the win took Jags to the top of the table, albeit having played two games more than nearest rivals Brechin City. With results for the teams around Keith in the league table going against the Kynoch Parkers, the end of the afternoon saw them slip down to third bottom.

KEITH – Reid, Coull, Yeats, Smith (Hutcheon 18), Robertson, Addison, Killoh, Abdulkarim, Yunus (McKeown 59), Tough (Cumming 68), Duncan. Subs unused – Brownie, Irvine.

Referee – Mr A Proctor