Keith fans were like big kids let loose in a sweetie shop on Saturday, yes, after nine long weeks, finally a game of football. The Maroons last played on December 6 last year, and really there are only so many episodes of “The High Chaparral”, or “Gunsmoke”, or some grainy old black and white films you can watch on a Saturday afternoon!
Whatever the circumstances, we were always going to have our work cut out against probably the form team in the league just now, in the shape of Cove, but nine weeks of inactivity certainly wasn’t going to help.
The first half in the League Cup tie saw Gordon Winton’s side battle bravely, closing down their far more experienced rivals. Allied to some good goalkeeping from Daniel Bell, and quick tackling the scoreline was respectable at 1-0 at half-time.
The old failing of not closing down crept back in after the half time cuppie though, and the death knell came with four quick fire goals. Michael Ewen’s penalty was a small crumb of comfort, but to the teams’s credit they kept battling away till the end.
6-1 was maybe a it harsh, but that was the scoreline. To be fair we didn’t fold up, and there were one or two pluses, with new signing Grant Mitchell from Lossiemouth showing up well in the heart of the defence along with Bruce Milne. Goalie Daniel Bell also pulled off several fine saves and wee Ryan Stewart beavered away.
If they can learn from the second half, namely keeping on harrying and not giving opponents a chance or room to manoeuvre, then all is not lost. I understand that one or two other irons are still in the fire, so maybe things will start taking shape and a move up the table might be on the cards – let’s hope so anyway.