Keith Football Club target Highland League win over Nairn County before manager Craig Ewen's thoughts turn to Saturday's rearranged cup semi-final at Brora Rangers
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Keith manager Craig Ewen is putting all focus on tomorrow’s league match against Nairn County before thinking about Saturday’s rearranged Highland League semi-final at Brora Rangers.
The Maroons’ scheduled trip to Sutherland for the semi was postponed when a serious road traffic accident resulted in the A9 being closed near Golspie.
“Football doesn’t matter when something like this happens,” said Ewen. “I don’t think I’ve had a game called off in that circumstances but it is very sad.
“We had arranged to be in Tain for our pre-match lunch at 12 and it was getting known then that there had been an accident.”
The big cup clash has been slotted in to this Saturday’s schedule, but first of all Keith will play host to a Nairn County side which crashed to a 6-0 loss at Buckie Thistle last weekend.
It will be a hard game for the Maroons but Ewen knows his men will have taken great confidence from last Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at home to Fraserburgh, after twice taking the lead.
The manager got the perfect response from a much changed starting eleven to the one which crashed to a 5-2 Scottish Cup defeat to Luncarty four days earlier.
“I made six changes. It was made on the basis of how bad they were in the Scottish Cup. I would have changed more but Matty Tough and Ethan Smith are just coming back from injuries and aren’t 100 per cent.
“It was very pleasing for us. I don’t think we could have got a result against a team at the top end before so it definitely shows that our squad strength is better.
“Ultimately now we need to try and pick up a couple of wins in the league. Every game is hard in the league now. We have to fight for everything we get.”
Goals by Mikey Taylor and Mikey Ironside edged the Maroons ahead twice, before a Liam Cheyne own goal and a disputed penalty, which Craig Reid but Ryan Sargent scored on the rebound on 87 minutes, salvaged a point for Broch.
“There was some disappointment. When you go ahead after 83 minutes you need to see out the game.
“It was one of those where the ball was hit towards the goal and the boy’s arm was down by his side but it hit his arm and the penalty was given. It was a great effort from the players on a terrible night in terms of the conditions.
“We will go again now and Nairn is the start of a busy spell. We will see how we go with that game and then we can think about Brora after that.
“Nairn will be looking to react to their result so it will be a hard game.
“We will be huge underdogs going up to Brora, there’s no doubt about that.
“Brora are on a fair run and winning games comfortably after a couple of draws. They are scoring goals and it will be a tough ask.
“It’s a big game for us and the club and we will certainly be giving it our all, that’s for sure.”
Matty Tough and Ethan Smith played for the under-20s on Monday and are battling to be fit.
