| Back-to-back nap hands for Keith |
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Keith made it 10 goals and two clean sheets in their pair of games this midweek as the Maroons continue their hectic schedule with this victory at Aberdeen junior outfit East End. Darren Still's side now prepare for a trip to Edinburgh to face Craigroyston, their third game in less than five days. In this one, East End started off brightly and on four minutes, a darting run by Christian Mackie left the defence exposed. Keith goalkeeper Andrew Duff rushed out to narrow the angle and as Mackie was about to round him, he brought the striker to the ground but nothing was doing with referee Bryan Braidwood. Keith threatened seven minutes in as the ball was slipped through to winger Craig McGovern but from 12 yards, he shot just over the bar. Within a minute, the visitors took the lead. Dean Donaldson's cross from the right found its way to the unmarked Jamie Lennox at the back post and he prodded the ball into the empty net. Keith's dominance began to grow and East End became frustrated. Their first shot on target was a speculative pot shot by Mackie from 30 yards which rolled tamely into the arms of goalkeeper Duff. The Maroons were back on the attack as Lennox knocked the ball down from a corner on 24 minutes to McGovern but his effort was palmed wide by East End goalkeeper Sean Barney. From the resulting corner, Keith doubled their lead as the ball found its way to Derek Nicol who swirled his marker before shooting low beyond Barney to put the visitors two goals to the good. On 27 minutes, Keith came very close to making it three as McGovern was once again released into the box but this time his near post effort cannoned off the upright to the relief of the hosts. Within two minutes though, the Maroons were awarded a penalty as new signing Jonathan Smith was clipped inside the box by Alan Black. Dean Donaldson stepped up to calmly roll the ball home. Smith almost provided an assist on 34 minutes as he crossed in from the right and found McGovern once again. This time the youngster had a free header but was unable to direct it on target. Half time: East End 0 Keith 3 A trip by Sam Mackenzie on Mackie in the penalty box awarded East End the chance to pull a goal back. However, Grant Elliot blasted the ball high over the crossbar from the penalty kick. Three minutes later, a penalty was awarded at the other end after a corner was headed goalwards and cleared off the line by the hand of Ross Graham. Jonathan Smith stepped up to make no mistake with the spot kick. East End threatened on 67 minutes when a mazy run by Elliot saw him drift into the Keith box but his shot was blocked by visiting defender Kris Niddrie. Then on 73 minutes, the impressive Craig McGovern swung in a corner from the left which found the towering figure of Mackenzie but his header was cleared off the line. The home side's first corner of the game 10 minutes from time saw two substitutes combine as Stuart McLean's delivery found the head of Paul Yates but his effort was impressively beaten away by Duff. Keith substitute Cammy Keith came close to making in five on 85 minutes but his 20-yard effort forced a great save by Barney low to his left. However, Keith was not to be denied as just a minute from time, the Maroons were awarded their third penalty of the game. George Douglas tugged the shirt of the striker in the penalty box and he dusted himself off to calmly dink the ball into the net. Full time: East End 0 Keith 5 Reporter: Andrew Skinner |
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