PICTURES: Keith's new recruits impress manager Craig Ewen as a point is a fair outcome from Maroons' Highland League encounter with Clachnacuddin at Kynoch Park
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Keith's latest recruit from Turriff United impressed manager Craig Ewen with his debut performance.
Midfielder Jordan Cooper (24) completed his move to the Maroons last week and came straight into the line-up for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Clach - see picture gallery below.
“He showed he is going to be a good signing for us,” Ewen said..”He had good energy, kept his position well and his decision-making generally was good. Positionally he was clever enough to be in the right areas for us so I was pleased.”
Cooper joins former Liam Cheyne at Keith, the full back recently making the same move from the Haughs to Kynoch Park.
Ewen has placed midfielder Tom Andrews on the transfer list after the player rejected a Maroons contract extension.
The manager admitted a draw was a fair result against Clach.
“Either team could have nicked it, but neither team did enough to win the game. We might’ve had a dubious penalty at the end, potentially Gavin Elphinstone got bowled over right on the edge of the box with the last kick of the game but the boy didn’t give it.
“It was a really competitive Highland League game with two teams going for it and the result was about right.”
Keith were missing vice-captain James Brownie due to a hamstring strain with the player’s fitness being assesed to see if he can make Saturday’s visit to Turriff .
Ewen sees the home team, who beat Inverurie 4-1 in their opening game and should have striker Neil Gauld back from injury, as strong opponents.
“Turriff would be favourites with how things have started, we will be underdogs and not expected to win in most quarters.
“It will be a hard game and whoever plays better on the day gets the three points - hopefully it will be us.”
Keith got their first point of the season as the result of a hard-fought tussle with old rivals Clach.
This was the 183rd league meeting between the sides, stretching back 99 years, so there is a lot of history to this fixture.
Amongst the interested spectators was a trio all the way up from York – Tom, his friend Rob and Tom’s father-in-law aptly named Keith.
The Maroons handed latest signing Jordan Cooper from Turriff his debut, whilst co-skipper James Brownie was absent due to a hamstring injury.
It was even stevens in the first 45 minutes with neither side quite able to break the deadlock despite creating chances. The homesters got their noses in front with 63 minutes on the clock when eager beaver Gavin Elphinstone whipped across an enticing pass from the right wing to Mikey Ironside who expertly curled the ball home from 15 yards,leaving Clach goalie Daniel Rae grasping at fresh air.
The lead only lasted nine minutes, Clach drawing level when Murray Addison sent Harry Hennem sprawling inside the penalty area, very luckily escaping with only a booking. Hennem dusted himself down, and made no mistake with the resultant spot kick.
Three minutes later a perfect right wing cross from Matty Tough saw Liam Duncan launch himself head first only to see his header fly inches over the bar. Then at the very last gasp Joey Wilson sent Elphinstone haring through only for the buzzbomb to be halted on the edge of the box with what looked like a foul, but the referee waved the Keith player’s strenuous appeals aside.
Keith team: Reid, Addison, Cheyne (Coull), Smith, Robertson, Gill, Elphinstone, Cooper, McKeown (Duncan), Taylor (Tough), Ironside (Wilson). Subs: Killoh, Yeats, McLeod.
Referee: D Alexander.
