After two previously aborted attempts to get this game started it was 3rd time luck today for Keith, winning the game by 7 goals to 0.
Keith started the game at a frantic pace and put Academy under pressure straight from the off. Their first goal came in the 5th minute. A defensive laps in concentration saw Cameron Keith nip in between Don and Alex Lamb in defence, and he clipped the ball into an almost empty net.
0 – 1
4 minutes later they should have scored again when Barrie Stephen picked the ball up from a through pass, rounded Don and struck the post when he had an empty goal to aim at.
It was 15 minutes before Academy ventured into the Keith box. A good run down the right hand wing by Gavin Henderson saw him whip in a dangerous cross. Mark Nichol was waiting for it at the far post, but Stuart Walker rose first to head the ball for a corner.
The resulting corner was cleared by Keith and they went straight up the park, and again should have scored. Dean Donaldson this time sending his shot just wide of target.
It was all Keith at this stage and Don made two good saves within the space of 5 minutes to keep Academy in the game. His first came from a header from Barrie Stephen in the 17th minute. Don parried it out, and Andrew MacLeod cleared it for a corner. His second however in the 28th minute was the best save of the game. Jamie Lennox had a scorching 25 yard shot that was heading for the top left hand corner, but somehow Don managed to get a hand to it, and he turned it over the bar.
Keith continued to press, and their next attempt came in the 32nd minute, this time Alex Lamb managed to put just enough pressure on Cameron Keith to make him screw his shot wide of target.
Academy just couldn’t seem to get into the game, and the frustration started to show when Mark Nichol got booked in the 35th minute for descent, talking back to referee Robertson after he’d given a Keith free-kick for what looked to be a nothing sort of a challenge.
The constant Keith attack continued, and they doubled their lead in the 37th minute. They won a free kick about 30 yards from goal. Barrie Steven took it, and it was cleared out of the box by the Academy defence, however Wayne Mackay took it in his stride and scored with a 25 yard cracker.
0 – 2
The last action of the half saw the Keith no 3 Graham Lonie being booked for a late tackle on David Cowie in the 40th minute, and with virtually the last kick Cameron Keith again having a half chance on goal, but Don made a comfortable save.
Half Time 0 – 2
Alistair rang the changes at half time, taking on Murray Coghill and Gary Weir for Martin Gunn and David Cowie.
In 49 minutes Alex Lamb had a bit of a tussle with Darren Still on the edge of the Academy box, and referee Robertson booked Alex for the challenge. Wayne Mackay took the free-kick which he floated to the back post, and Jamie Lennox arrived un-challenged to score with a diving header from about 4 yards out.
0 – 3
Keith were firing on all cylinders by this stage and created their next chance on the hour mark. This time Dean Donaldson surged up the right wing and crossed for Cameron Keith to hit the post from a header from only 4 yards out.
Keith scored their 4th of the game in the 63rd minute. Slack defending by Academy saw Gary Farquhar giving the ball away in his own box. Darren Still slipped a nice back-heal pass to Dean Donaldson, and he side-stepped the Academy defence and stroked the ball home with a cool finish past Dons left hand
0 – 4
Keith made a change in the 66th minute with Alan Fraser coming on for Jamie Lennox.
A minute after the change they scored their 5th, this time Stuart Walker made the run down the right wing and supplied the cross for Dean Donaldson to head home his second goal of the game.
0 – 5
Donaldson was substituted 2 minutes later for no 12 Watt.
More bad news was to follow for Academy in the 71st minute when Mark Nichol injured himself chasing a through pass into the Keith half. He was assisted off the pitch, and replaced by Graeme Reid. Keith made their final change of the game at the same time, with Darren Stephen coming on for Kristopher Niddrie.
Academy were well beat by now, and Keith added insult to injury in the 73rd minute. Another crossed ball into the Academy box by Stuart Walker was picked up by Darren Still, and he performed some neat foot-work to avoid the defenders and slot the ball home from 8 yards out.
0 – 6
Keith wrapped up in the 86th minute. Alex Lamb gave away a free-kick on the edge of the Academy box, which was fired over the wall and into Dons top right hand corner by one of the Keith substitutes Alan Fraser.
0 – 7
Full-Time 0 – 7
So Keith go onto meet Fraserburgh in the next round, and Academy finish what has turned out to be their last home game of the season with a really disappointing performance, with zero goal attempts on target. Perhaps the lack of games in the last few weeks was a contributing factor, but in all honesty they really didn’t compete with Keith today, who were on the other hand worthy of their win.
Sponsors Man of the match Keith’s Stuart Walker
Seen here receiving his award from Gussie Mackay, Match sponsor R F More Properties Ltd
Match Mascot Connor Thomson
Academy Team: MacMillan, McCallum, Lamb, Macleod, Cowie (Weir 45), Henderson, Gunn (Coghill (45), Shearer, Farquhar, N Mackenzie, Nichol (G Reid 71).
Subs: Weir, Reid, Sinclair, Coghill, More
Bookings: Nichol 35, Lamb 49
