Strathspey Thistle 1 v Keith 2

MAROONS STRETCH UNBEATEN RUN – JUST!

This was no walk in the park for Keith as they extended their unbeaten run to six games, for the first time in 13 years. Strathspey had been  hammered 10-1 by Brora only three days earlier, but the bottom dogs fought tooth and nail. If truth be known a draw would probably  have been fair but Maroons fans weren’t complaining.

The homesters had Keith on the back foot right from the off but it was the Maroons who opened the scoring against the run of play in the 19th minute when Jake Stewart raced clear to slam a low drive through Strathy goalie Eathan Rae’s legs.

Leading at half-time was perhaps a bonus, and although the visitors started the second half in brighter fashion Jags deservedly levelled with 58 minutes played when Keith’s rearguard failed to clear their lines and Michael McKenzie pounced to rifle home from 10 yards. Both sides went close after that with Craig Reid keeping out a James McShane header and a Mikey Taylor backheeler screwing inches past the far post.

The winner came in the 74th minute when Jordan Lynch whipped over a high left wing cross and Taylor kept a cool head to loft a perfect lob over the goalie from 18 yards for his 5th goal of the season. The win hoisted Keith up into 13th spot in the league table.

KEITH – Reid, Lynch, Yeats (Killoh), Coull, Addison (Smith), Gill, Elphinstone, Brownie, Cooper (McKeown), Taylor, Stewart. Subs unused – Hanover, Maver. Macleod.

Referee – Mr B Baxter

Saturday 9th March 2024, KO 2pm

Report by Charlie Simpson