Darryn Kelly is delighted his first goal for Banks o’ Dee helped secure a more than deserved Breedon Highland League point away to Buckie Thistle.

Central defender Darryn marked almost a year at Spain Park by netting with a brilliant header in the 2-2 draw with the Jags at Victoria Park.

“I don’t score many so, it’s good to get one that mattered,” said Darryn.

“My goal put us 2-1 up so it would have been great if it had actually been the winner.

“Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be, but we deserved at least a point because we created the better chances throughout and were unfortunate not to go two goals ahead on a couple of occasions.

“Taking a point at Victoria Park is a great achievement when you consider questions were being asked about whether Dee were good enough to compete at this level when we got a battering up at Brora a few weeks ago.

“To recover from that and go on a run of results that saw us heading to Buckie with the chance to go second in the table answered that.

“We were disappointed not to win, but can take a lot of confidence from the way we performed.”

At the age of 34, Darryn is one of the elder statesmen in what is an otherwise youthful Dee squad.

He also won three Highland League titles during his time at Cove Rangers, so is well placed to assess whether he could maybe pick up a fourth winners’ gong with Dee.

“That would be a huge ask when you consider a lot of our lads are playing at this level for the first time,” added Darryn.

“We have to keep things realistic, even though we are now doing well after a slow start and have managed to remain unbeaten at home so far.

“This is one of the toughest leagues there is and there is a long way to go and a lot of football to be played.

“The sensible target for us is to show we belong at this level while also allowing the younger lads to gain more experience of what they need to do to sustain a challenge over the course of a whole campaign.

“The move to Dee has also helped rejuvenate my career too because I’m enjoying the additional challenge of trying to use my experience of playing in the Highland League to help those who hadn’t.

“I’m 10 years older than the majority of them and it’s good to be taking on a that extra responsibility at this stage of my career.”

A knock picked up at Victoria Park means Darryn is one of several players doubtful for Tuesday’s Morrison Motors Aberdeenshire Shield clash with Fraserburgh at Bellslea.

But he is confident whoever is picked will be up for the challenge of trying to beat Broch to maintain our chances of retaining what was the first trophy Darryl won after joining Dee last October.

He said: “Fraserburgh is another tough place to go to, but that trophy win last season meant a lot to me and everyone else at Dee.

“Whoever pulls on a jersey will be doing all they can to get us through to the next round.”