Saturday 3 December
Keith 2 Huntly 1

Keith avenged their day one defeat at Christie Park with a hard-fought win that moves them to within three points of the title holders having played two games less writes Grant Turner.

The home side threatened first with a cross from Alan Fraser on the left and he picked out former Huntly youth Jonathan Watt who headed over.

Having netted six last week it didn't take Keith long to get on the score sheet today and it was last week's hat-trick hero Darren Still who bagged his 100th goal. The midfielder received the ball in the middle of the half and fed Cameron Keith before advancing into the box to receive the return pass before finishing with composure.

Despite five corner kicks in succession, Huntly seemed unable to find their way to an equalizer the best of the five chances saw a Gary McGowan corner cleared only as far as Richie Taylor but his effort from just outside the area was well saved by Andy Shearer as Huntly looked to hit back quickly.
At the other end, Ryszard Gorski dived at the feet of Dean Donaldson after Stuart Walker delivered. Donaldson caused the visitors problems in the early stages evading two tackles to square the ball for Walker who fired wide.

Levi Stephen was next to try his luck, his surprise snapshot going straight to the keeper from eighteen yards.

Huntly's Gary McGowan was fortunate not to be given a booking on 34 minutes after a lunge on Donaldson. The former Caley winger received a warning for his challenge.

Keith went close to doubling on the advantage on the 36th minute. Alan Fraser was set free on the wing and his cross was met by young Cammy Keith but Ryszard Gorski did well to make the save look relatively comfortable.

Cammy Keith got into space again six minutes later only to drag his shot wide of goal.

The visitors were forced into a change five minutes before the break with Neil Reid replacing Alan Redford at right back.

The final chance of the half came at the other end but once again Andy Shearer was equal to the task, saving Gary McGowan's low shot after Darren Shallicker had laid the ball back for the winger.

Half Time: Keith 1 Huntly 0

The black and golds came close to levelling five minutes into the second half. Richie Taylor cut inside and drilled in a low shot to send Shearer scrambling before saving low.
On the hour mark, McGowan played a corner short to Stephen but his first time cross was headed over by centre half Ross Campbell.

Maroons captain Darren Still had been the dangerous through and played forward into the path of Keith. With the Huntly backline screaming for offside, the youngster got clear of his marker but his final shot let him down.

Alan Fraser had netted three against Huntly already this season and came close to scoring again after bearing down on goal with Gorski to beat, the forwards shot was turned behind for a corner.

Kris Niddrie scored the vital second for Keith. Simon Scott was adjudged to have fouled Stuart Walker out wide on the right. When the ball was delivered into the area although Ryszard Gorski got a hand to the ball it dropped for the big Keith centre back to fire in at the back post.
Things got worse for the reigning champions when skipper Scott Anderson appeared to have picked up a knock on his back and had to be replaced by Jerry O'Driscoll

The corner kick count for the visitors was into double figures but each attempt seemed unable to trouble the home defence this was evident as sub O'Driscoll headed over with ten minutes remaining.

It could have been three by this stage as Stuart Walker had struck the woodwork for Keith, his fine effort being only inches away from making it three goals in two games for him.
Straight away the black and golds broke to the other end and pulled one back when Darren Shallicker laid off to sub Russell Guild who, from the edge of the area perfectly placed his low shot into the bottom corner to set up a grandstand finish.

In the final minute Keith survived a scare with a goal line clearance clinching the three points after Darren Shallicker headed Guild's cross goalwards only to be denied by a last gasp Maroon.

The reigning champions have now dropped the same amount of points so far this season that they dropped the whole of last season which could make retaining the league harder to do.