Bo'ness star Keast aims to shoot down former club Broxburn

The diminutive frontman has been as cool as ice in front of goal for the Newtown Park men of late, hitting 13 goals in 14 appearances so far this season as he juggles part-time football with his gritting job on the roads for West Lothian Council.

The 23-year-old hit a double last weekend in a 3-0 victory over Broughty Athletic after a Friday nightshift spent salting the streets and he was back in his truck on Saturday night.

“I’m looking forward to going back,” said Keast ahead of tomorrow’s Super League match at Albyn Park.

“I had a good couple of years there under Pitts [Steve Pittman, formerly Broxburn boss and now Bo’ness assistant] and Max [Christie, Broxburn manager]. I’ve been back a few times watching games but it will be good to play against a few of the boys.

“I’m still mates with three or four of them but a lot of boys that I played with aren’t there anymore. I’ve been looking forward to playing against them for a while because I missed the last game against them through injury. I got injured on my debut last year so I missed about ten weeks.”

After sealing a move to Bo’ness in January, Keast was left crocked when he suffered a medial ligament injury in his first match for the BUs against Tayport.

What was initially a nightmare start to life at Bo’ness with former Airdrieonians kid Keast left frustrated on the sidelines, ended on a memorable high as he bagged his first trophy when the club lifted the East of Scotland Cup.

He said: “The move came about really quick. I played a friendly against Stenhousemuir and then on the Saturday we played Tayport. I played 90 minutes, it was just the very last kick of the ball and the boy caught me wrong and I twisted my knee. It was hard going watching when you’ve just moved and you want to prove a point.

“Bo’ness looked after me really well, they sent me for an MRI to make sure exactly what was wrong and I was going to the best of physios. It was hard, but it was good when I came back.”

Three points are a must for Allan McGonigal’s side tomorrow if they have any ambitions of catching league leaders Kelty Hearts who hold a lead of 15 points, although the BUs have two games in hand.

Keast is refusing to admit they are at the stage of matches being must-win however, insisting there is still a long way to go with more than seven months of the season remaining.

He continued: “Kelty are flying just now but it’s a long season and anybody can beat anybody on a Saturday. I think there will be a lot more twists and turns. At the end of the season you’ve just got to make sure you are there or thereabouts.

“We had a lot of injuries [at the start of the season]. It was hard missing big players like Colin Strickland and Calum Smith – they’d play in about every Junior team in Scotland, so it was hard missing them but it gave boys like myself a chance.

“I’ve been playing through the middle recently just because of the injuries but at Broxburn that’s where I played. I’m not fussed where I’m playing just as long as I’m playing. It’s been good to be scoring the goals.

“I’ve been trying things that you maybe wouldn’t try if you were low in confidence. As long as my run in the team keeps going hopefully it helps me and the team.”

Elsewhere, champions Bonnyrigg Rose will be eager to secure maximum points away to Musselburgh Athletic ahead of at least a two-week break from league action with next week’s Junior Cup tie at Thorniewood followed by Dumbarton’s visit to New Dundas Park in the William Hill Scottish Cup. Penicuik Athletic visit Lochee United, while Linlithgow Rose travel to Carnoustie. Newtongrange Star, who are bottom, host Camelon.