Keith goal hero Jordan Cooper inspires Highland League win at Lossiemouth and says three Maroons’ shut-outs in a row can boost confidence for League Cup clash against Fraserburgh
Three clean sheets have helped more than double their league points tally.
Now Keith are preparing for a tough cup double header, and midfielder Jordan Cooper believes his team should hold no fears.
The Maroons have won their last two away outings at Nairn County and Lossiemouth, both by 2-0 margins.
A goalless draw at home to Turriff United in between means seven points out of a possible nine for the measly Maroons.
Cooper headed in Keith’s opener in Saturday’s success at Grant Park and hopes it can build some confidence for this weekend’s League Cup clash at home to title chasers Fraserburgh, followed by an Aberdeenshire Shield visit to Inverurie Locos.
“We were saying on Saturday that it's a tough thing to do, to even get the three games unbeaten,” he said. “So, getting to get three clean sheets in a row as well, that's positive signs.
“At the start of the season, we were probably leaking a bit too much goals. Now we're settling down and getting to the stage where we're harder to play against, I guess.”
The 26-year-old says he feels like an older head in a young Maroons squad, but is enjoying seeing the younger players make an impact.
Aberdeen loan teenagers Zak To and Jack Searle have boosted Keith’s efforts, while another young gun Callum Robertson came off the bench on Saturday to crack in a great finish and seal his team’s victory at Lossiemouth.
“You would think that some of them have been playing Highland League for years.
“The two Aberdeen lads have been a big help for us. Callum hasn’t played a lot but he’s definitely one for the future and scored a great goal when he came on.
“There’s young lads like Ronan Craib at the back as well. we’ve had a settled back four and they’ve been doing well.
“It definitely helps having experience in there as well, with (goalkeeper) Craig Reid and (captain) Ryan Spink being so important to us.”
Manager Craig Reid has assembled a talented crop of players and results are finally happening for the Kynoch Park men.
They may not have a Cammy Keith to rattle in the goals these days, but keeping a tight ship at the back has laid the foundation for the Maroons to build up some good form.
Saturday’s Moray derby between two sides struggling for goals was always going to need a clinical edge to win the day, and Keith provided it.
“Zak put in a great cross for me, and I don’t score many headers so I was happy with that.
“It was one of those games where we would have taken a scrappy win, but it wasn’t scrappy. Both of the goals were well worked.
“No disrespect to Lossie but we just had that wee bit more quality in front of goal and I think we deserved the three points.”
Fraserburgh’s visit could pose far more problems for Reid’s men in the cup but it’s a competition that cooper has good memories of from recent seasons.
“A couple of years ago we got to the semi-finals after we beat Buckie, and they won the league that season,” Cooper recalled.
“We know it will be tough but I fully back our boys to go out there and get a result.
“We’ve drawn with top teams like Formartine and Banks o’ Dee this year, and we should be going out there full of confidence.”