31-Jul-2010 Scot-Ads Highland Football League

Keith 5 : 3 Turriff United

Cammy Treble Sinks Turriff

A superb hat trick from striker Cammy Keith fired the Maroons on their way to an opening day win over Turriff at Kynoch Park. The home side suffered an early setback when Mark Cowie marked his United debut with the opener but once Dean Donaldson bagged the first of his two goals to equalise for Keith, there was only going to be one winner. Keith had most of the early pressure but it was Turriff who took the lead. A good break up the left involving Gary Harris and Brian Killoh Mark Cowie teed up with a tap in for his debut goal.

The visitors had a lot of chances to get back on level terms but weren't able to find a way past Turriff's trialist goalkeeper Grant Pennant. The closest they game in the opening stages was when Andrew Hutchison diverted a cross onto his own post before Jamie Lennox had two shots blocked - one blocked by a defender and the other saved by Pennant. Keith's Darren McAllister received the first yellow card of the encounter for his challenge on Donald Fraser and just five minutes later, the young attacker had to be replaced with Rob Ritchie coming on.

The Maroons finally found a leveller but Turriff felt they should have had a free kick at the halfway line in the build up. However, play continued and Cammy Keith was allowed to latch onto a long ball forward thanks to Dave McKenzie's error. The United midfielder tried to make amends with a sliding challenge and although he timed it to perfection to win the ball, Dean Donaldson was the first to react to sweep a low shot into the bottom corner.

The turnaround was complete three minutes before half time. Cammy Keith unleashed an unstoppable drive that flew across goal and into the top corner, leaving Pennant absolutely helpless.

Half time: Keith 2 Turriff United 1

Keith started the better side in the second half and they opened up a two-goal gap between the teams four minutes after the break. Stuart Walker managed to squeeze his cross past Hutchison to find Dean Donaldson at the back post and the wide man headed beyond Pennant. Keith continued to stifle Turriff and looked good going forward. As the rain started to come down, so did the floodgates open in the United defence. Gary Harris run out a bouncing ball and in on the Keith goal and although Andy Shearer smothered the ball, he was injured in the process. The big goalkeeper was fine to continue and belted the ball upfield for Cammy Keith to run onto and slot the ball into the far corner on 66 minutes.

Turriff soon got another goal back. Chris Herd's cross was flicked over the defence by Clark and Gary Harris met the dropping ball with a precise volley that went in off the far post to score on his return to Kynoch Park.

However, it didn't take Keith long to get their three-goal lead back with that man Cammy Keith looking like he would score every time he received the ball in the box. This time he twisted past a defender before hitting a low drive beyond Pennant and into the far corner. Turriff pressured to an extent but Keith always looked threatening on the break. The remaining goal in the game came with the last touch as a cross by Herd found Euan Clark unmarked to nod past Shearer.

Full time: Keith 5 Turriff United 3