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Keith Football Club bounce back from 10-0 defeat to Buckie Thistle as Craig Reid penalty save earns goal-less draw with Inverurie Locos to take Maroons off bottom of Highland League


By Ali Morrison

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WHAT a difference a week can make in football at Keith Football Club, writes Charlie Simpson.

Keith keeper Craig Reid saved a penalty and won man of the match in the 0-0 draw with Inverurie Locos. .Picture: Becky Saunderson.
Keith keeper Craig Reid saved a penalty and won man of the match in the 0-0 draw with Inverurie Locos. .Picture: Becky Saunderson.

Seven days before Saturday's match against Inverurie Locos, a youthful Maroons side were swamped at Buckie, resulting in the management duo of Andy Roddie and Tommy Wilson quitting.

The club’s Director of Football, Michael Brown, himself a Keith legend, took the interim reins, and with the assistance of Dod Simmers and Steven Rattray at the weekend, had the players fighting tooth and nail for a magnificent share of the spoils against Locos.

With eight players missing through either injury or suspension, three players from the under-18s were drafted into the squad and 17- year old Alan McLeod from Newmill came on for the last 20 minutes, and played his part in the marvellous battling display that saw the Maroons move off the foot of the table.

Although a terrific team performance, goalie Craig Reid earned the match sponsors' man of the match award, The Breakfast Show on Original FM, selecting him for a string of fine stops, including a tremendous penalty save.

An end-to-end first half saw Reid pull off fine saves to deny Ross Still, Jamie Michie twice and Kieran Shanks in the opening half hour.

He then kept out another Shanks effort as half-time approached.

Michael Ironside almost broke the deadlock with Andy Reid denying him, the Locos goalie also thwarting Andy Stewart.

Local lad McLeod then stepped into the fray with 75 minutes gone, replacing Stewart who had worked his socks off up front.

With ten minutes remaining it all seemed to be in vain when Robert Ward was sent tumbling inside the penalty area, but Reid denied goal machine Neil Gauld from the penalty spot, throwing himself to his right to brilliantly palm the ball away.

Given recent displays and outcomes, this was like a breath of fresh air swirling around Kynoch Park, total commitment, and supporting each other on the park, and off the park, fans cheering every tackle and pass.

Trooping off the pitch at the final whistle with their heads held high, and looking up towards the stand to acknowledge the backing was a joy to see.

Keith team: Reid, Thomas (Yeats 55), Emmett, Grant, R Robertson, Hutcheon, Ironside, Yunus, Stewart (McLeod 75), McKeown, Selfridge. Unused subs: Nawrocki, Christie, Scott, Cook.

Ref: J Kennedy


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