Keith manager sees Buckie as top four material
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KEITH boss Dean Donaldson believes tomorrow’s opponents Buckie Thistle will be top four contenders this season.
But with his own side buoyed by last week’s thrilling 4-3 win at Clach, he anticipates an exciting Banffshire derby.
The Maroons have been hampered by missing players in their early games but at Inverness on Saturday they had more strength in depth and some canny substitutions by Donaldson sparked a comeback from 2-0 down to pick up a dramatic victory.
An absentee in Keith’s opening day defeat a week earlier, Scott Begg scored twice to highlight his value to the team.
The visitors were also supercharged by the introduction of Michael Selfridge as a second half sub, setting up two goals and leading a Maroons surge which culminated in skipper Cammy Keith’s last minute winner.
There was also a debut goal for teenager Josh Bolton, signed from Inverurie only days earlier. “Josh got a goal and was involved in most of the good play we had,” said Donaldson. “He is just going to need games and get himself going but he looks like he’s going to be a good asset to the team.
“Beggy got two as well, the first one set up by Selfie (Selfridge) who I brought on along with Andy Smith after we went two goals down.
“We never changed the formation, we just changed the personnel. The passing was not great but the dynamics changed when Selfie came on because within two minutes he took on his man and crossed and we got a goal.”
There was little sign of a goal-fest when Clach led 1-0 at half time but their second goal, scored after Keith keeper David Dey made a blunder, was the catalyst for a Maroons revival.
Begg’s brace and a close range Bolton goal turned the game around. “ It was all us after that,” added Donaldson, “But when we were 3-2 up Max Berton played a slack backpass which let their striker in on goal. Adam Clark took him down inside the box and with the new rules he only got a booking which was lucky for us, but they scored the penalty.
“The winner was different class, a great goal. A crossfield pass, laid off first time and Cammy put it in the bottom of the net.”
“Now we’ve got a tough one against Buckie who I think will be up in the top four this year.”
Grant Thomson and new boy Bolton are away on holiday this weekend but Ryan Spink is fit to return.
