Super sub Neil Gauld leads an Inverurie Locos fightback from 3-1 down against Keith to claim victory at Harlaw Park

This was a tough one for Keith and their travelling fans to stomach, writes Charlie Simpson.

The Maroons hadn’t played for a month, and still with a lengthy list of injuries, unavailability and suspensions, they were leading high flying hosts Inverurie Locos a merry dance.

Craig Ewen’s men were 3-1 to the good when Locos introduced master goal snatcher Neil Gauld to the fray, and the veteran goal machine proceeded to slam home a 17-minute hat-trick, consigning the brave visitors to an empty-handed trek back along the A96.

Keith, playing up the Harlaw Park slope in the first half, broke the deadlock midway through the period, James Brownie capitalising on their first corner by sweeping the ball home from eight yards.

Fourteen minutes later he stunned the home support by rifling a low 20-yarder into the bottom corner.

Playing well in all departments, the Maroons certainly giving their much-vaunted hosts a headache, although, Locos got a glimmer with 58 minutes gone, Lloyd Robertson whipping home a low drive through a ruck of players.

The visitors produced the perfect response right from the re-start, Michael Selfridge being upended inside the penalty area, and the skipper made no mistake with the resultant spot kick with his fifth goal of the season.

Locos brought on Gauld in the 61st minute, and the homesters were back in the game nine minutes later, Robert Ward whipping home an unstoppable 18 yarder.

It then became the “super Gauldie” show and despite some fine saves from young goalie Jamie Shingler, the veteran striker nabbed an opportunist treble to leave the visitors oh so dejected and empty handed.

Not a dirty game by any means, the referee flashed his yellow card to five Maroons and four homesters, with Nathan Meres collecting a second yellow a couple of minutes from the end.

Empty-handed maybe, but a lot of positives for Keith to look upon, with every man jack doing their bit, and great credit for not capitulating when the going got tough in the latter stages.

There is now a togetherness in the squad that was missing at the start of the season, and once the list of absentees has decreased, surely the climb up the table will commence.

Keith team: Shingler, Hutcheon, Yeats, Thomas, Robertson, Yunus, Gray (Ironside), Brownie, Tough (McCredie), Mooney, Selfridge. Subs unused: McKeown, Irvine.

Referee – D McFarlane.

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