Wick played host to Keith today, and with Keith snapping at the heels of a league top 4 finish, this was always going to be a tough game. Don failed to make the starting line-up, so young James More started the game in goal.
The game had an explosive start, with two goals in the first 3 minutes.
First to score were Keith in the 2nd minute. They were awarded a free-kick just outside the Academy box. Darren Still floated the free-kick into the Academy box, and the ball fell to Jamie Lennox who chipped from a wide angle over More to score.
0 – 1
Academy responded straight away. From the kick-off they pushed up-field and the ball was crossed into the Keith box by Nigel Mackenzie. It found it’s way to Martin Gunn who took his time, controlled the ball, and rifled past keeper Shearers right hand with a powerful right foot shot.
1 – 1
Academy’s next chance came in the 16th minute. Keith No 3 Graham Lonie gave the ball away deep in his own half. The ball was picked up and Academy drove at Keith with Craig Shearer having two attempts on goal. The first was charged down by a defender, and the second was saved by the keeper.
Keith then missed a wonderful chance to take the lead in the 26th minute. Gary Nicol broke down the right hand side of the field from a Darren Still pass, and managed to get round keeper More who had come to narrow him down. He had an open goal to aim for, but his shot hit off the Academy post to the cheers from the Academy supporters.
Mark Nichol picked up a yellow card, and a bloody nose, in the 27th minute. He jumped for a high ball and was deemed to have fouled a Keith player.
Craig Shearer then had two fairly good attempts on the Keith goal. His first in the 32nd minute when he had a drive from about 25 yards out that just went wide, and his next in the 39th minute when he had a looping header from a Nigel Mackenzie cross that went just high over the Keith cross-bar.
Keith then spurned another chance to take the lead in the 40th minute. Darren Still again providing the ammunition with a good cross that Gary Nicol should have score from, but his free header at goal went wide.
Half Time 1 – 1
Academy started the second half with a chance that should have put them in front for the first time in the game. Martin Gunn had a good run up the left wing and sent in a cross that Graham Read ran onto at the far post, but he fired high over the cross-bar. Had his shot been on target he would have scored with the keeper nowhere to be seen.
Keith then started to exert a lot of pressure on Academy, and were camped out inside the Academy half for a good 10 minute period.
Keeper More made a good low save from a Lornie attempt in the 56th minute, and Keith continued to press. Their goal to be honest did look to be coming, and they got it in the 57th minute. A bit of a scramled ball out of the Academy defence fell to Dean Donaldson on the edge of the box, and the Keith no 11 rifled past Mores left hand.
1 – 2
Keith then really controlled the play to the final whistle, with Academy really not looking as if the could pull anything back.
Alistair did make changes taking off Nigel in the 73rd minute for Murray Coghill.
Murray had a looping header over the bar a few minutes after coming on from a David Cowie cross, but that was a s close as they really came.
Gavin Henderson came on for Mark Nichol in the 82nd minute, but Keith played the game out to take all 3 points.
Final Score 1 – 2
So with both Wick and Lossie, who got beat 8 – 1 today, failing to pick up any points this weekend, Academy stay in 11th place in the league. The Rothes game was cancelled today, but they are now only one win behind Wick and Lossie with a game in hand.
Keith come visiting again on the 4th of March in the first round of the Fosters League cup, and Academy are going to have to play a lot better in that game if they are to expect a cup run this season.
Sponsors Man of the match Craig Shearer
Seen here receiving his award from Match sponsor Caithness Stone Industries.
Match Mascot Reece Coghill – picture here.
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Academy Team: More, Reid, McCallum, Macleod, Manson, Cowie, Gunn, Shearer, Farquhar, N Mackenzie (Coghill 73), Nichol (Henderson 82).
Subs: Lamb, Sinclair, Henderson, Weir, Coghill
Bookings: Nichol (27), Mackenzie (50)
