Half-time: 0 - 1

Scorers - Donaldson(17), Walker(78).

It was still dark at 6.00am on Saturday morning when the Keith FC bus left Kynoch Park heading off on it's 500 + miles round trip to the shores of the Solway Firth, Kirkcudbright to be exact, where they were due to tackle South of Scotland League outfit St Cuthbert Wanderers for the first time ever reports Charlie Simpson.

Well, the long trek was certainly worthwhile as the Maroons left St Marys Park later that day with their name safely in the hat for the second round draw of the Scottish Cup, thanks to two super goals from Dean Donaldson and Stuart Walker. It was as though the script had been specially written for this match, Donaldson's net bulger came the same weekend as his testimonial dinner, Walker's clincher came in his first game for six months due to injury, and the clean sheet came on the back of two defeats that had seen Darren Still's side concede nine goals.

The manager recalled Andy Shearer to wear the goalie's jersey, Walker for his first appearance since March, Craig Phillips was brought in, and Darren McAllister made a rare start in the first eleven.

The main aim early on was not to concede a silly goal, and the visiting defence looked far more assured than of late. Three corners were conceded in the opening four minutes as the home side tried to impress themselves on their visitors, but it was Keith who really should have drawn first blood in the 10th minute. Dean Donaldson was sent sprawling inside the penalty area by Roddy Cooksely, but his weak spot kick was easily saved by the diving Shaun Hutchison.

Four minutes later Craig Rudd brought a fine diving save out of Andy Shearer, but within three minutes the sun drenched spectators were treated to a real gem of an opening goal for the Maroons. Dean DONALDSON gathered the ball deep inside the home half, looked and blasted and unstoppable 20 yarder into the top corner, well beyond the helpless goalie for his 4th goal of the season, and his 96th goal for the Club, that ton is just round the corner Deano!

That stung St Cutberts into a quick response and Justin Nicholl rattled the crossbar with a 25 yard free kick. Then, when the bounce of the ball beat Craig Phillips in the middle of the park Colin Carnochan pounced, but Shearer dived to hold his 15 yarder. This was proving to be real end to end cup-tie and on the half hour mark Lennox raced onto a through ball only to screw his shot wide of the far post, a real chance lost.

A minute before the break, Lennox and Andy McAskill combined but the latter's shot was saved by the diving 'keeper. At the other end, almost on the stroke of half-time the homesters struck the bar again when Graeme Prentice let fly from the edge of the box.

The Maroons dug in after the break as the home side pushed forward in search of a leveller, but they failed to breach the solid rearguard. The visitors were hemmed in for a five minute spell, with a string of corners being conceded, but then with 12 minutes remaining the home gas was put at a low peep when a second goal killed them off. A McAskill corner flew into the danger area amongst a melee of bodies, and WALKER clinched a dream return by slamming a 15 yarder into the net, to cap a fine display by him.

That was that really, as the Maroons kept a cool head to see out the game.

A thoroughly professional team performance, but Walker was the outstanding player afield, whilst Donaldson was a constant threat, and Lennox ploughed a thankless lone furrow up front until he was replaced late on.

ST CUTHBERT WANDERERS - Hutchison, Brown, Thomson(Kirk 79), Cooksley, Johnstone, Prentice, P McClymont, Muir(Kiltie 70), Rudd, Nicholl, Carnochan(A McClymont 81). Subs unused - Gordon, Davis.

KEITH - Shearer, Phillips, Walker, Niddrie, McNamee, Robertson, McAllister(S Keith 53), Raffell, Lennox(Smith 79), McAskill, Donaldson. Subs unsed - Watt, Anderson, Kinnaird.

Referee - Mr K Graham.