Banks O' Dee 2 Keith 0: Maroons compete well in Spain Park defeat
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THIS was second top against second bottom in the Highland League at Spain Park where Banks O’Dee locked horns with Keith.
However, if you’d been a neutral that wandered into the game, you really wouldn’t have known who was in what position, writes Charlie Simpson.
Unfortunately, despite matching the title-challengers for the most part, a sucker goal just before half-time and a cracker midway through the second half consigned the plucky Maroons to defeat.
Keith had Lewis Coull making his 50th competitive appearance, and he more than played his part in the first half as his defence gave nothing away.
Chances were at a premium at both ends, and just when it looked like being a goalless first 45 minutes, the plucky visitors suffered a cruel blow.
Barely a minute from the break, a Mark Gilmour shot took a wicked deflection, completely wrong-footing Craig Reid and landing in the net.
Dee perhaps dictated more after the turnaround, and scored again with 62 minutes on the clock, ex-Aberdeen and Elgin City forward Chris Antoniazzi letting fly with a left footer some 20 yards out, giving Reid no chance.
Although Maroon heads didn’t go down and kept trying for a breakthrough, Lady Luck just wasn’t on their side.
The league table doesn’t really lie, but Keith’s last few games have all been against top five sides, namely Fraserburgh, Formartine, Brora and Banks O' Dee twice, and have given their all each time. The tide will surely turn!
