Keith manager Craig Ewen reaches 100 games in charge at Kynoch Park as Maroons share spoils with Forres Mechanics

It was perhaps ironic that Keith manager Craig Ewen’s 100th competitive game in the hot seat was against his former club Forres Mechanics.

If truth be known, a share of the spoils was probably about right over the piece, and this extended the Maroons' unbeaten run to three games.

There was an early chance in the third minute for the homesters, but Mikey Taylor headed a Murray Addison cross inches wide.

The Can Cans broke the deadlock with 25 minutes gone when the home rearguard failed to clear and Shaun Morrison pounced to slot home from six yards.

Maroons custodian Craig Reid was alert four minutes later pulling off a fine double save to deny on-loan Nairn County forward Ben Kelly.

Forres were in the ascendancy at this point pushing the home defence onto the back foot.

However, eight minutes from half-time it was all square when Mikey Ironside nabbed his third goal of the season from out wide right of the 18-yard box.

After the break, Forres goalie Lee Herbert kept out a close range Ironside effort, whilst at the other end Mark McLauchlan fired over the bar midway through the half.

Neither side could quite make the required breakthrough and the main talking point was the double red card to Can Cans manager Steven Macdonald for an “exchange of views” with the referee.

Keith: Reid, Addison (Buchan), Lynch, Coull, R Robertson, Gill, Tough (Killoh), Brownie, Cooper (C Robertson), Taylor, Ironside (Stewart). Subs: Elphinstone, Hanover, Macleod.

Forres: Herbert, Brady, Howarth, McRitchie, Nixon, Michie, Gordon (Skinner), Grant, Morrison, Kelly, McLauchlan. Subs: Thain, Hayller, McCullie, Ross, Milne.

Ref: L Brown.