Saturday's Mackessack Park derby saw only the second-ever goal-less draw in 155 Highland League tussles between Rothes and Keith stretching back to 1938.
Rothes' Gary Kerr and Keith's Lewis Coull tussle for the ball. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
The result gave Keith back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season - they had picked up their first league shut-out in Wednesday's 1-0 success over Turriff United.
Although Maroons custodian Craig Reid pulled off a magnificent penalty save early on - his seventh such save in Keith colours - Craig Ewen’s men dominated the second half, but just couldn’t make the vital breakthrough.
The penalty award came in the 13th minute after Jake Thomson was upended inside the penalty area.
Spot kick expert Michael Finnis saw his initial effort brilliantly saved by Reid, and the ‘keeper went one better to superbly parry the loose ball before the danger was cleared.
View Beth Taylor's picture gallery from Saturday's derby below.
Gallery1
1 / 12Rothes' new manager, Richard Hastings...Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
2 / 12Rothes' Duncan Proudfoot and Keith's Jake Stewart keep their eyes on the ball. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
3 / 12Keith's Gavin Elphinstone rises to win the ball. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
4 / 12Keith's Nathan McKeown shields the ball from Rothes' Callum Cruickshank. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
5 / 12Keith's Craig Reid clears the ball away from Rothes' Jake Thomson. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
6 / 12Rothes' Aidan Wilson blocks the ball from Keith's Jordan Cooper. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
7 / 12Rothes' Callum Cruickshank and Keith's Michael Taylor compete for the ball...Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
8 / 12Keith's Michael Taylor beats Rothes' Callum Cruickshank for the ball...Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
9 / 12Keith's Nathan McKeown takes a shot at goal...Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
10 / 12Rothes' Aidan Wilson plays the ball away from Keith's Josh Buchan. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
11 / 12Rothes' Jake Thomson and Keith's Josh Buchan tussle for the ball. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
12 / 12Rothes' Gary Kerr and Keith's Lewis Coull tussle for the ball. ..Rothes F.C. (0) v Keith F.C. (0) at Mackessack Park, Rothes, Highland Football League 23/24...Picture: Beth Taylor.
Ten minutes from half-time, the Keith custodian raced out to the edge of the box to thwart Gary Kerr, whilst at the other end, a curling Gavin Elphinstone effort flew inches over the bar.
Keith forced the issue playing down the slope in the second half, and twice in the space of a couple of minutes Jake Stewart squandered gilt-edged chances, before a low Nathan McKeown drive whistled inches past the back post.
Then, with 69 minutes played, an enticing left wing Elphinstone cross was excruciatingly missed by the inrushing Cooper and Tough.
In the final minute, home goalie Sean McCarthy ensured his side earned a share of the spoils, pulling off a terrific diving save to tip over Mikey Taylor’s net bound blaster.