Rookie keeper impresses in Keith cup defeat
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ROOKIE goalkeeper Regan Stuart earned plaudits on his Keith debut as the Maroons ran Brora close in the cup.
The 17-year-old was drafted in to replace injured regular David Dey and made some good stops in Saturday's 2-1 Highland League Cup quarter-final defeat.
Brora were huge favourites to win at Kynoch Park having defeated Keith 3-0 in the league a week earlier.
Young Stuart was recalled from a loan spell at junior side Whitehills to make his first senior appearance.
He was beaten by a Steven MacKay strike on 27 minutes, before the home side quickly levelled through captain Cammy Keith's 20th goal of the season.
Stuart produced a fine double save from Kyle MacLeod in the first half.
the scores remained levelling going into the last ten minutes and extra time looked a possibility until Martin McLean plundered an 81st minute winner.
Keith will keep playing young Stuart for their remaining games.
"Regan did well and we are bringing him in for the rest of the season," said manager Dean Donaldson.
"We are not going out to try and buy a keeper with only about seven games to go."
Brora will now meet Formartine in the semis with Cove and Fraserburgh facing off in the other tie.
Forres Mechanics look on course to cement another top six finish in the Highland league after beating Moray rivals Buckie Thistle 1-0 at Mosset Park.
On-loan Caley Thistle striker Andy Macrae scored for the sixth game running for Mechanics, nicking the win with seven minutes to go.
Lossiemouth suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, a 9-1 thrashing at Inverurie Locos.
Their only consolation was a first senior goal for teenage striker Brodie Allen midway through the second half.
Rothes' home game against Fraserburgh was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch along with Deveronvale's visit to Strathspey Thistle.
Huntly picked up their first win since early December, defeating bottom side Fort William 4-1 in Lochaber.
Matty McDonald and Michael Clark scored in the first half with a Cammy Booth double sealing victory after the break.
Leaders Cove Rangers were held 1-1 by Wick Academy, Turriff beat Clach 1-0 and Formartine were 2-1 winners at Nairn.
