Sunday 10 October
SFA Youth Cup - Round 2: Huntly 0 Keith 4
Against Keith at Christie Park on Sunday afternoon, Huntly made their exit from the Scottish Youth Cup when the two came up against each other in this second round tie.

It was level pegging in the first-half but the visitors were by far the stronger side in the second period and when they began to take command there was no way back for Huntly, writes Alex. Bremner.

Keith were first to look dangerous when Jake Strachan sent the ball through the middle of the home defence, but with Jamie Lennox chasing after it, Steven Thomson came swiftly out of his penalty box to belt it clear.

Even at this early stage Keith looked to be the stronger side, but when a corner for the visitors was swiftly cleared downfield by the home defence, it was picked up by Gary Harris who broke clear to pull a good save from Daniel Napier.

Sean McKinstry started a good move for Keith when he sent the ball through for Jamie Lennox to flick it on for Bryan Spalding to chase after it, but again Steven Thomson came quickly out to collect it.

Huntly came into the game when Brian Higgins sent a long ball through for Robert English to win a corner when his attempted cross was deflected out by Danny Tritton, but Daniel Napier had no problem in pulling Stuart Allan's flag kick out of the air.

In Keith's next attack, Steven Thomson split the visitors' defence with a great clearance which was collected by Robert English but there were no takers when he sent the ball into the Keith goalmouth.
Keith broke quickly to the home end for Jamie Lennox to pull a brilliant save from Steven Thomson at the expense of a corner.

When Huntly won another corner, Stuart Allan's flag-kick was this time collected by Wayne Murdo only to drive his effort narrowly past.
A free kick for Huntly just outside the Keith box looked promising, but in the mad scramble which came from Stuart Allan's kick into the visitors' goalmouth, Gary Harris had his shot blocked on the line and cleared.

Jamie Lennox and Sean McKinstry broke through in a neat move with Steven Thomson blocking the latter's shot when he stuck out a foot, then the ' keeper came swiftly off his line minutes later to make another superb blocking save on the edge of his penalty box.

Half-Time: Huntly 0 Keith 0

Huntly went storming into the attack after the interval and when Gary Harris cut the ball back to Stuart Allan, he took Daniel Napier down low to hold his fierce drive.

With only five minutes of the second-half gone, there was a setback for Huntly when Wayne Murdo was injured and had to be replaced by Mark McKay.

Keith were obviously now the more determined side and with 55 minutes gone Steven Thomson blocked the ball with a timely tackle on Jamie Lennox, but when the ball rebounded to David Ewen he quickly sent it across the goal for the unmarked Bryan Spalding to open the scoring for the visitors when he side-footed it into the net.

The visitors were now pushing forward and after Steven Thomson made another good save from Jamie Lennox, the ball was quickly sent back in for Bryan Spalding to pick up the rebound from another blockage and put the visitors two goals ahead in 60 minutes.

Minutes later, Bryan Spalding was left with a great opening to collect his hat-trick when the home defence got in a tangle which left him with an open goal only to blaze the ball wildly past.

When a free kick for Huntly was hit into the Keith goalmouth by Lee McGregor, Daniel Napier pulled off a brilliant save from Gary Harris when he connected with the ball and fired it for goal.

With 67 minutes gone, however, Brian Higgins sent Jake Strachan flying in the home penalty box and after the home player had been booked, Scott McArthur made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Keith were now well on top now and when Bryan Spalding ran on to a through ball which left the home defence stranded, he broke clear to round the advancing Steven Thomson and send the ball into the empty net to complete his hat-trick in 78 minutes.