2023/24 – Kemnay Amateurs 5 v 1 Tarves

Kemnay Academy , AAFA Premier League. 24/2/24

Me 300, Wee Man 168

Kemnay Amateur Football Club

Founded – 2017

Nickname – None

Honours – Dickie Trophy – 2018/2019. Association Trophy – 2022/2023

Random Fact – The club are a continuation of a Kemnay juvenile team who stuck together after the end of their stint at U19s

Reason for visiting – Wee Man trains here and he wanted to see a game as opposed to training

With the Wee Man having a fitba team party in Inverurie at 4, something local had to suffice and why not a dip into the Amateurs. At the request of the man himself he took us to Kemnay to where he trains with his Blackburn team and what a spot it is in daylight. To be noted Kemnay train right after Wee Man finished up on a Thursday night.

The plan was a bite to eat at the Bennachie Lodge, it wasn’t open for lunch. Somewhere I used to go a lot for food with Wee Man when he was younger. Turns out it is only open in the evenings now. A bad start. Next up we attempted the Burnett Arms where they had a big sign saying “food served all day” and “families welcome”. We were turned away on both counts. So not only lunch but a pint was out the window too. Cafe 83 was full so we resorted to plan D, stovies and a fine piece in the baker instead. It could have been a lot worse. But a lesson learned, Inverurie for pre-match fitba shenanigans if we find ourselves in Kemnay in the future.

Back the ground. I mentioned above it is quite the spot. I have been here numerous times in the past watching training but it has always been pitch black so the views have been hidden. Daylight shows you find yourself pretty much at the bottom of Bennachie, with the peak of Mither Tap poking its head above the trees looking down on you. You are surrounded by the foothills of Bennachie to two sides and woodland to the other(the academy to the other but you don’t see that watching a game). It’s a bonnie place which makes up for the simplicity of the ground itself. Also to be noted the change in temperature between morning and kick off was incredible, the puddles and cars outside my house were inches thick with frost, come the game I felt over dressed and had to jettison my tourie. Must be that global warming thing people talk about.

The game was decent viewing on the whole. The fitba was mostly played on the deck, the challenges were stern but fair, there was plenty of action and there was a hat trick. What’s not to like? The first of the action was a penalty shout when Kemnay’s Josh Proud looked to be upended in the box but the referee waved play on. Kemnay were on the offensive early and were getting in behind with ease with Mason Reid giving Tarves a torrid time down the right. This was to prove the downfall of the visitors. Tarves were not without their own chances and Blair Davidson was unlucky when he tried to lob an effort over the Kemnay back line and keeper after a poor clearance landed right at him. He was then again cursing himself when after receiving the ball in the box but he undercooked his effort. Next up to try his luck was Proud for the hosts when he tried an overhead effort which flew over. From the goal kick Tarves got up the park and were claiming for a penalty when there seemed to be a handball in the box. I thought I saw one but the referee didn’t flinch or even acknowledge the shouts, a high chance his view was blocked by the bodies between him and the incident . Then it was time for the first goal and over the top into the right corner, the proverbial thorn in side of Tarves paid off for the first time and Mason Reid crossed perfectly to Matthew Battensby who tapped in from close range. This was followed by a second for the hosts but this time although the play was very similar to the first goal it came from the left where Battensby hit the initial shot from the cross which was saved only to land at Finlay Watson who tapped in. We were joined for the rest of the game at this point by a disappointed Kevin Beaton, manager of Rothie Rovers who had seen his own game called off due to the frost which may have been premature given the rapid thaw. A bit of chat on all things fitba followed as Tarves grabbed what was to be a consolation when Ross Walker crashed home effort from 12 yards or so. This giving us hope of “game on” in the second half.

HT 2 v 1

After a kick about(great place for one due to the 7-a-side goals) our hopes for a contest were not to be fulfilled and Kemany were the better team. The closeness of the first half was gone. The ball into right was more apparent and Tarves were seriously struggling to deal with it. The first opportunity off this move saw a what looked like a slow motion episode where three home players dived in to tap home one after the other. Davidson was to miss a big chance for Tarves when he was clean through where he allowed the keeper to make the save. From here it was all Kemnay and the ball in behind on the right was to almost pay off again. Reid’s ball found Proud who’s effort rattled the post with the rebound landing back at Reid who took too long with his effort allowing the save to be made. The familiar ball did not fail the next time it was carried out and Reid fired in the cross where his team mates were queuing but it Proud who buried it. The fourth came soon after and you guessed it. A Reid ball in from the right found Battensby who made no mistake. But the striker was not done there and he finished off his treble when like a battering ram bullied his way through the Tarves defence to slot home. Kevin at this point informed me this was an ex-Tarves player. What a way to take on your old side. A bad day at the office for his old club probably made worse by this. There were three points between the two teams prior to kick off. There is now six and Kemnay’s bad run of form has been ended.

Plenty of action for us to watch and a decent example of fitba being entertaining at all levels. That’s 300 clubs visited now for me. Most of which have come after chucking my season ticket at Pittodrie which is five years ago next week. Can’t see it changing any time soon.