Tuesday 9 August
Aberdeenshire Cup 1st Round: Keith 2 Huntly 0

A second half double from Alan Fraser was enough to give Keith the win in tonight's Aberdeenshire Cup 1st Round tie at Kynoch Park writes Grant Turner.

The home side made two changes from the side that started the defeat at Huntly 10 days with Stuart Walker coming in for injured skipper Darren Still while ex-Huntly striker Gary Nicol started up front in place of the absent Dean Donaldson.
Huntly had Darren Shallicker back in attack following suspension while Levi Stephen and Matty Gairns dropped down onto the subs bench.

The visitors twice threatened in the opening minutes. Mark Gray delivered a free kick for Darren Shallicker which was deflected behind for a corner. From the resultant kick, Scott Anderson rose at the back post only to see his effort turned behind for another flag kick.
A minute later, former Maroon's winger Ally Reid saw his cross headed back across goal by Ross Campbell into the path of Shallicker who fired over with a side volley.

The home side went on the attack in 11 minutes with left back Graham Lonie getting forward for the and cutting inside forcing Richard Bowman to save low at the front post. Moments later Fraser wasted a good chance firing over from distance.

Some quick attacking play saw Huntly come close halfway through the first half. Russell Guild's through ball picked out A Reid on the wing who sent in a dangerous cross into the home penalty area allowing Kris Niddrie to clear any danger.

Three minutes later, the home side were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal after Campbell held back Barrie Stephen. Gary Nicol curled in the dead ball which failed to trouble Bowman who made a clean catch.

The first of three booking came in 28 minutes. G Nicol fed a through pass for Barrie Stephen who went down untouched under the challenge of Simon Scott and was booked for diving.

B Stephen threatened again minutes later forcing Bowman to save a well struck effort. The shot rebounded to Stuart Walker who saw his cross headed away by Campbell in the goalmouth.

The best chance of the first half for the visitors saw Jerry O'Driscoll getting his head to a Neil Reid cross with Shearer able to keep out the ex-Dundee player's effort.

A minute from the break, O'Driscoll became the second player booked for diving after Referee Steven Duff adjudged the striker to have gone down untouched inside the Keith box.

Half Time: Huntly 0 Keith 0

Five minutes after the interval, Guild came close for Huntly with Shearer finger-tipping over the midfielders lob for a corner.

There was panic for the champions in 64 minutes. Wayne Mackay struck a shot from the edge of the area which saw the ball come off Scott Anderson and nearly into his net before the defence cleared upfield.

Sub Jamie Lennox had only been on for ten minutes and seemed to make difference for the home side on the right flank. The youngster delivered a corner into the area which was cleared out as far Barrie Stephen. The former Vale player gained possession on the left side of the box to pick out Alan Fraser to open the scoring with a first time bicycle from 12 yards out.

Huntly were looking for an equaliser and Scott got forward on the left to cross for sub Martin Fellowes to headed towards the back post only for Shearer to get across quickly to turn the ball behind for a corner.

The maroons sealed the win with five minutes to go. From a Huntly corner on the right, the ball was lofted forward for B Stephen who played a neat pass into the path of sub Cammy Keith. Keith found Alan Fraser in space and the former Celtic youth player gave Bowman no chance with a 22 yarder which flew high into the net.

Huntly finished the game with 10 men after Simon Scott had to leave the field with two minutes remaining with what looked to be a head knock.

Keith are now away to Princess Royal Park, in a weeks time to face Deveronvale in the semi-finals while Huntly have failed to win a match in the Aberdeenshire Cup for the third consecutive season.
The reigning champions also failed to score for the second game running.