Keith manager Craig Ewen 'delighted' as Keith continue good run of form against Lossiemouth
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
EDGING out tight games has been the name of the game for Keith in what has been a fantastic run of form for the Maroons.
Manager Craig Ewen said the club’s form, performance-wise, has been consistent throughout the Highland League campaign – but fine margins have seen them turn narrow loses into draws and victories.
It was the 12th game of the season before a team beat Keith by more than one goal – Brechin City with a 3-1 win over Ewen’s side at Glebe Park – but by that point the Maroons had just eight points from 11 games, having lost seven games by one goal.
Now, Keith are undefeated since the start of February and have won four – all by one goal – and drawn three of their last seven.
“We were playing fine at the start of the season but the first three months of the season we were losing narrowly and now that has turned in our favour,” Ewen said.
“Now we are maybe winning by a goal or coming back to get a point in a game.
“I don’t think the performance levels have changed, but we are defending well as a unit.
“There are still eight games to go so we have got to try to continue what we are doing and see where it takes us.”
Gavin Elphinstone grabbed the only goal of the game as Keith ran out 1-0 victors over Lossiemouth on Saturday.
Ewen added: “It was a very tight game, as we thought it would be as the teams fairly evenly-matched, but I thought we deserved it over the piece.
“We edged the first half without working their goalkeeper too much. At half-time we felt one bit of quality could be a deciding factor and Elphinstone has smashed a free-kick into the top corner.
“We had a one-on-one for 2-0 and Lossie were still giving us problems, especially with the long throw-ins, so it was a big game for us to win and get the three points. I was delighted with that.
“Gav (Elphinstone) has got that sort of goal in his locker. He’s got the unexpected, you are unsure what he is going to do and makes it difficult for defences.
“He’s kept his head down, he’s back into the fold and deservedly got the winning goal and that’ll give him a good feeling.”
Keith have a tough couple of fixtures coming up with a derby clash against Huntly at Christie Park tomorrow (Wednesday) night before visiting Inverurie Loco Works on Saturday.
“We have a big week ahead of us against Huntly and then at Locos,” Ewen said.
“Locos are probably the form team in the league since January and Huntly want top six. So it’s two form teams, but we are on form ourselves.
"We won’t be setting up to try and be defensive. We will stick to what we have been doing, we have been pretty resolute.”
