Keith 1 Nairn County 1: Controversial stoppage time goal robs Maroons of Highland League victory at Kynoch Park in Ross Tokely's debut match for Nairn County
Although the Maroons shared the spoils with visitors Nairn County, given the lateness, and the controversial manner of the visitors’ equaliser, it felt more like a defeat for Keith diehards.
New penalty expert Stewart Hutcheon gave his side a 44th minute lead, and with the match heading into the first minute of stoppage time, an unlikely leveller appeared.
It looked as if Matty Tough had been sent sprawling on the enclosure side touchline, but play carried on and Angus Dey’s wickedly deflected shot screwed into the net.
As a result, manager Craig Ewen’s comments to the match officials, earned him a red card.
Nairn had 43-year-old veteran Ross Tokely in their line-up, in a bid to add experience to their side.
The early stages of a dour first half saw the visitors lose Scott Davidson after only ten minutes, and a couple of minutes later, the Maroons lost co-skipper Ryan Robertson with a bad facial injury.
The only goal of the first half came a minute from the break when Kieran Mooney raced upfield and into the danger area only to be toppled inside the penalty box.
'Hutchie', who had replaced the unfortunate 'Robbo', calmly slotted home the spot kick.
Although the Maroons showed a bit more urgency in the second half, neither goalie was tested and with seven minutes remaining it looked as if three points and a clean sheet would be the order of the day when County had used their three substitution allocation and Callum Howarth was forced to limp off, reducing his side to ten men.
That was until the late sting in the tail for the homesters looking to get back on the winning trail after three successive defeats.
Keith: Reid, Coull, Grant, Thomas, Robertson (Hutcheon 12), Killoh, Andrews (Wilson 77), Brownie, Mooney (Tough 84), Yunus, Yeats.
Subs unused: Abdulkarim, Ironside, Duncan, Irvine.
Referee: S Donohoe.
