Buckie Thistle 1 v Keith 0

MAROONS BATTLE GAMELY AGAINST JAGS 

Keith may have been on a hiding to nothing at “The Viccy” with Buckie Thistle firmly in the driving seat, gunning for the Highland League Championship in front of a bumper crowd. I’ll tell you what though, apart from losing an 8th minute goal which ended up clinching the title, the Maroons made a real fist of it giving the Jags some nervy moments.

In the space of five days Keith went toe to toe with the two main protagonists in the title battle, the other side being of course Brechin City, and each and every Maroon could hold their head up high.

The Maroons had 40 year old Darren McConnachie in between the sticks again, and as per against Brechin, his custodianship was faultless, having no chance with the only goal of the game. There was perhaps an air of expectation swirling around Victoria Park, and the place erupted in the 8th minute when ex-Maroon Andy Macaskill teed up for Max Barry, whose curling shot clipped the inside of the far post and into the net.

The floodgates didn’t open however, and despite Jags firing in shots, Craig Ewen’s men produced a dogged display to thwart the title aspirants. Although the homesters were mostly in the ascendancy in the first half, the visitors came more into the game in the second period and  just over the hour mark a quick fire move involving Mikey Ironside, Mikey Taylor and Gavin Elphinstone ended with the last named firing a low drive inches past the post.

As the egg-timer began to run out it was probably inevitable that Buckie would end up as Champions.  News filtered through that Brechin had broken the deadlock against Brora at Golspie – but then massive roars when there was notification that Brora had levelled. Then, of course Brechin nabbed  a late winner – a bit irrelevant really with Jags winning the title on goal difference.

Make no mistake, the championship is won over the course of the entire season, but in recent weeks the race has seen more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie Thriller. You have to take your hat off to Buckie Thistle for the way they applied themselves to the congested run of games in such a short period of time, never giving up and picking up win after win – worthy Champions!

KEITH – Darren McConnachie, Lynch, Yeats, Coull, Robertson (Addison), Gill, Elphinstone (Killoh), Brownie, McKeown (Ironside), Taylor (Duncan), Cooper (Tough). Subs unused – Buchan, Macleod.

Referee – Mr G Soutar

Saturday 20th April 2024, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpsons