Aberdeenshire Cup: Huntly and Keith eager to bounce back from Highland League defeats in derby cup clash at Kynoch Park
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Huntly manager Allan Hale wants a reaction from his men to Saturday's "nervy" Highland League opening defeat.
The Christie Park men to travel to Keith tonight for a first round tie in the Aberdeenshire Cup.
Both sides lost their opening league games on Saturday with Huntly going down 2-1 at Turriff while Keith were beaten 4-0 at home to Brora.
Huntly boss Hale sees the tie as an opportunity for his men to bounce back from their weekend disappointment.
"We certainly need to give a vastly improved performance to get anything from the game and hopefully the players give that," said Hale.
"It will be a really tough game. We know all about Keith. Last season we played them a couple of times and every game was close-fought and really tight encounters and we would expect much and such the same.
"There’s a good incentive for playing Aberdeen in the next round as well. It’s set up to be a tasty encounter."
Huntly will be without the suspended Ross Still while Robbie Foster is out with a hamstring injury, and Colin Charlesworth is unlikely to be risked until Saturday as he continues his comeback from a cruciate operation.
Reflecting on his team's defeat at The Haughs, Hale added: “It was a poor performance."
“Pre-season went well and the new players integrated themselves into the team really well.
“But on Saturday we never got going. You have to praise Turriff, they restricted us, they didn’t allow us to play the way we wanted to play.
“The players looked a little bit nervy. We didn’t have the composure that we usually have in our play and we just allowed ourselves to fall below the standard that’s expected.
“We’ve not had that level of performance too often from the players so we just hope it’s a wee blip from them.
“It can happen, the first game with a few new players into the team playing in front of a big crowd for the first time. I’m sure nerves played a part with one or two in terms of the level of performance that they gave us.
“Everyone hopes to get off to a good start but unfortunately we were one of the teams that didn’t. We can’t afford to dwell on it too much, we’ve got to look ahead to the next match now.”
Hale made a signing last week when he brought keeper Fraser Hobday back to the club on a five-year deal. Hobday, who left league new boys Banks o’ Dee, came straight into the team at Turriff
“Fraser is at a good age (26) and has already played over 200 games at Highland League level. I was surprised to see he was available but I was pleased to see us get the discussions over the line quickly,” Hale said.
Keith manager Craig Ewen also wants to see his team respond to a league defeat.
The Maroons held Brora for 44 minutes but lost goals either side of half time on their way to a 4-0 home loss.
“It wasn’t a great start for us,” said Ewen. “They could have scored more and we needed (goalkeeper) Craig Reid to make some good saves.
“We might have had a couple of goals ourselves when (Brora keeper Joe) Malin had a couple of saves as well.
“But the timing of the goals killed us. We were on the rack for the first 25 minutes and probably steadied the ship and looked like we were going in at 0-0, which would have given us a platform to build from.
“But we’ve lost possession and conceded a penalty and to go in at the break behind was a bit of a kick to us. Then we’ve conceded another pretty cheap goal within a minute. Brora could then sit in and play on the counter-attack.”
“Wednesday is going to be a game between two teams looking for a positive reaction to bounce back from disappointing results,” Ewen added.
“It’s a local derby, although I wouldn’t imagine there’s many players from Keith or Huntly being involved in the game.
"But for the supporters it is one they always want to win. I would expect another close game like last season’s were.”
Ewen hinted that centre back Nizam Abdulkaruim could start against Huntly.
Buckie Thistle make the trip to Formartine United, who knocked them out at the same stage of the competition last season.
Game of the night sees league champions Fraserburgh host holders Banks O' Dee, who won at Bellslea Park in the Shire Cup semis a year ago.Ttwo junior sides will look to topple Highland League visitors with Dyce meeting Inverurie and Hermes at home to Deveronvale.
Quarter-finals draw (August 17):
Formartine United or Buckie Thistle v Hermes or Deveronvale
Fraserburgh or Banks O' Dee v Dyce or Inverurie Locos
Aberdeen University v Turriff United
Keith or Huntly v Aberdeen
