Just watch us pull off a few shocks warns Keiss boss
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
“ONCE we get our full squad back, then you’ll see some shock results.” That’s the defiant message being put out by Keiss boss Graham Banks.
The Bayview Park men lie perilously close to the bottom of the Cafa Division Two table, having taken only two points this season.
Their situation was not improved following a 4-0 home loss at the hands of promotion-chasing High Ormlie Hotspur and were it not for the even poorer form of Francis Street Club and Top Joes, they would be propping up the table.
However, as Banks explains, Keiss do have some mitigating circumstances – although with one in particular, you’d wonder how the likes of Bill Shankly or Alex Ferguson would react.
Banks said: “You name it, we’ve had it. Injuries, suspensions, work commitments... I’ve been struggling to raise a full squad all season.
“With last week’s game against High Ormlie, we had a new one. Some of the younger lads pulled out because the game clashed with their school prom.
“You couldn’t imagine how the faces some of the great old-school managers like Shankly or Fergie would have looked after hearing that one.
“I only had 13 players available to me last week – and one of them was injured but he put himself forward if really needed. We had 10 players call off.
“Managing Keiss this season has seen more time spent on the phone than taking training. I’m permanently messaging people to see if they’re available to play.
“I truly believe we’ve been unlucky and once I have everyone available to me, then you’ll see some shock results from us.
“To be fair to those who have come in to cover for those unavailable, they have given 100 per cent and I can’t fault them for their effort. In fact, getting beaten by only four goals is something of a moral victory given the circumstances.”
High Ormlie Hotspur’s success came via a Ben Gordon hat-trick with Euan Munro also finding the net.
However, despite the scoreline, Spurs boss Ewan McElroy felt his side should have performed better.
He said: “It wasn’t the best we played, to be honest. I felt that we were just doing enough – even though the scoreline says we won 4-0.
“Admittedly it was a difficult pitch to play on. For those who haven’t been to Bayview Park, to say there’s a slight slope would be an understatement.
“Ben Gordon took his goals well – his second one was a bit special when he smashed the ball into the top corner.
“However, our best player on the day was centre-half James Halliday – he was solid as a rock throughout.”
Player/manager Stuart Sinclair hit a double for Watten in their 2-0 win at Top Joes.
Sinclair said: “We played very well but to tell you the truth, the boys – myself included – should have scored a few more.
“But we won and we’re in a good place right now. We had a tough start but I always felt things would come together.”
Elsewhere, Wick Thistle had a 4-0 win over Francis Street Club. Stephen Budge fired in a brace with Colin Henstridge and Greg Gunn also netting.
Leaders Castletown hammered hapless Keiss 11-1 at Back Park.
Connor Mackintosh (4), Michael Smith (3), Greg Shearer, Greg Macleod, Liam Deeny and Ryan Forbes all hit the target for Castletown. Keiss’s solitary reply came from Keiron Davies.
