Huntly 1 v Keith 1

GOALIE CRAIG ENTERS RECORD BOOKS!

Keith stretched their impressive unbeaten run to eight games last Wednesday earning a deserved share of the spoils at Huntly with goalie Craig Reid being the hero of the hour. His remarkable overhead kick in the 91st minute saw him join Andy Shearer as the only two custodians to score for the Maroons in open play. A mighty impressive record considering that since the Maroons entered the Highland League in 1924, they have nabbed 7,421 competitive goals.

To be perfectly honest it would have been a real injustice had home substitute Robbie Foster’s 88th minute strike turned out to be the winner as Craig Ewen’s men had dictated for the bulk of the second half.

Following a nondescript first half when neither side could show a real cutting edge, the Maroons showed why they have been on such a lengthy unbeaten run by driving forward. This was no easy task as Huntly were sitting in 6th spot pre-match and were League joint top scorers with 78 goals.

The Maroons thought they had broken the deadlock in the 72nd minute following a corner, Lewis Coull stooping to head home from close range but the goal was chalked off for offside.

With the game heading for a goal-less draw, Foster pounced to show his class by crashing home a low drive after dispossessing Connor Killoh, setting off scenes of jubilation in the home camp, with the smell of victory in their nostrils.

Ah, but there’s a new found grit and determination in the Keith squad these days, and they knuckled down to what seemed to be a forlorn task. A corner was sent pinging into the danger area and Reid, who had been sprinting upfield to put in his tuppenceworth, produced a quite remarkable overhead kick to spark off delirious celebrations in the visiting camp. A quite incredible end to a match that extended their best unbeaten run for 13 years, and helped the popular goalie join Shearer, with his 2009 goal at Wick,in a very select Band.

KEITH – Reid, Killoh (Duncan), Lynch, Coull, Robertson, Gill, Elphinstone (Ironside), Brownie, Cooper (Tough), Taylor, Stewart (McKeown). Subs unused – Smith, Addison, Yeats, Macleod.

Referee – Mr R Mackinnon

Wednesday 20th March 2024, KO 8pm
Report by Charlie Simpson