Craig Ewen: No reward for strong Keith performances
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Keith have gained no reward from strong performances in a gruelling run of Highland League games, says manager Craig Ewen.
Ewen remains optimistic that his team can pick up points in the second half of the season when the fixtures are kinder, and would love to see his team go on a run in the Aberdeenshire Cup beginning with tonight’s quarter-final tie against Aberdeen.
That Kynoch Park clash could already be in doubt due to Monday’s incessant rain, but the Maroons have positives to take from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at title-chasers Banks O’ Dee.
“I think Banks O’ Dee only had six shots at goal the whole game which for us, going there it seems quite low,” said Ewen.
“We competed really hard the whole game and there was nothing in it first half.”
Ewen was frustrated to see keeper Craig Reid beaten by a deflected strike for the first goal, and a wonder strike for Dee’s second.
“I think Craig is saving the shot on the edge of the box and one of the defenders is trying to block it, it deflects off his leg and Craig has already dived and it’s went past him. It just summed up how things have been going for us.
“The second goal we could probably defend it a wee bit better but the boy cuts inside 25-yards out and curls it into the top corner.
“In terms of the performance we competed really well and Banks O’ Dee have only lost one league game all season so that shows we have acquitted ourselves well.
“We are just looking to get some points on the board and try to move that. That has to be our game plan now.
“You look at our last five games, Frasrburgh away, Formartine away, Banks O’ Dee home, Brora away and Banks O’ Dee at home. It’s effectively four of the top six teams in those fives games and four of them away from home, a very difficult run of fixtures.
“We just have to move on from this, we have a lot of points to play for between now and the end of the season.”
Keith are due to face another of the league’s top performers this weekend. A Nairn County side who thumped Buckie 3-0 on Saturday make the trip to Kynoch Park.
