Caithness second division champions Keiss ‘can only get better’
Player/manager Bradley Thomson believes his young Keiss squad “can only get better” after securing promotion to the top flight of Caithness summer football.
The village side came from behind to beat Swifts 2-1 at the Dammies on Thursday night to make sure of top spot in Division Two with one game to spare.
Darryn Mackay’s opener for Swifts was cancelled out by a Tony Miller penalty before half-time and Ryan Calder struck the winner.
The last time Keiss played in the first division was 16 years ago.
“It’s good to finally get it over the line,” Thomson said. “We’ve got our reward for all the hard work and dedication from the committee and especially players over the season.
“It has been too long since Keiss played in the first division and this team has been three or four years in the making.”
Olly Manton and Tony Miller have been prolific up front but Thomson emphasised that it has been a team effort.
“Our full squad has chipped in with great performances throughout the season,” he said. “Of course everyone talks about the forward players, and rightly so, but when you look at how many we have conceded we have the best defence in the division as well as the best attack.
“I think our ability to adapt to different games and formations at times has seen us through. It’s still a young group so it can only get better too.”
Keiss had to pick themselves up from their Steven Cup final disappointment the previous Saturday, surrendering a 3-1 lead in losing 4-3 to Acks after extra time.
Swifts came close midway through the first half in Thusday when Nigel Mackenzie unleashed a shot with the keeper out of his goal. Amazingly, Keiss defender Grant Innes flung himself at the ball and cleared it from the line with a diving header.
His spectacular intervention resulted in applause ringing out around the Dammies.
Not long afterwards Swifts took the lead when Darryn Mackay finished off a well-worked move.
Late in the first half, Miller was brought down in the box and he gave Asa Sinclair no chance with the resultant spot-kick to make it 1-1 at the break.
Ryan Calder rounded off a fine run with a shot that struck the crossbar. Not long afterwards Calder struck the decisive goal, gathering a long clearance and crashing a well-placed shot past Sinclair.
Not for the first time this season, indiscipline crept into the Keiss play – culminating in substitute Adam Sherry being shown a straight red card while on the touchline.
Keiss held on to clinch only their second county league divisional championship, having last won it in 1994.
CAFA president Murray Coghill presented Keiss captain Carter Mackay with the Eddie Mackay Cup on the field afterwards.
Carter Mackay was keeping up a family tradition as his grandfather John Mackay, along with his four brothers Bill, Murray, Ramsay and goalkeeper George, won three Rural League championships with Keiss in 1958, 1959 and 1962.
For Swifts, the focus is now on Monday night’s concluding round of second division fixtures. There is all to play for in the race for second spot and a place in the promotion/relegation play-off, with Acks just one point behind.
Watten were 6-1 winners away to Top Joe’s. Shane Honeyman scored twice for Watten, with Jamie Mackenzie, Sam Shearer, Steven Hughes and Alan Farquhar also on target.
Top Joe’s consolation goal came from Lee Taylor.
Additional reporting by Angus Mackay.
Results – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur 2, Staxigoe United 2; John O’Groats 1, Lybster 3; Wick Groats 2, Pentland United 2; Wick Thistle 1, Castletown 2. Division Two: Halkirk 2, Acks 2; Swifts 1, Keiss 2; Top Joe’s 1, Watten 6.
Fixtures – Friday, August 9 – Division Two: Halkirk v Pentland (7pm).
Saturday, August 10 – David Allan Shield final: Staxigoe United v Wick Groats (3pm, Dammies).
Monday, August 12 – Division Two: Acks v Keiss; Top Joe’s v Pentland; Watten v Swifts (all 6.45pm).
Tuesday, August 13 – Division One: Castletown v Staxigoe United; High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Pentland United v John O’Groats; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (all 6.45pm).