Marine Harvest National Division
Bute 1 Inveraray 4
INVERARAY stay top of shinty’s second tier after beating Bute 4-1 in their 3pm throw up at the Meadows.
Inveraray travelled with a depleted squad, missing several regulars, including the suspended Andrew McMurdo. They found Bute in a similar situation so both teams fielded some of their promising youngsters.
On a dreich day in Rothesay, ’Aray made the brighter start and deservedly went ahead thanks to Allan MacDonald’s persistence which saw him break clean through on goal and confidently strike the ball past the keeper to make it 1- 0.
The visitors were now playing the ball slickly around the front line for Fraser Watt, David Robertson, Ruaridh Graham and Allan MacDonald and it
was no surprise when they extended their lead. Fraser Watt added a second with a well struck shot from 20 yards on 18 minutes.
Then, 10 minutes later, player/ manager Ruaridh Graham pounced on a through ball and sent a strike high into the net to make it 3- 0.
The Inveraray midfield of Garry MacPherson, Lewis MacNicol and youngster Ruaridh Graham dominated the middle of the park.
Young Graham deserves special praise for a tireless display all afternoon and he is a player for whom the Winterton side has high hopes.
There was role reversal after the break when Bute came much more into the match and stopped Inveraray from playing their usual game.
The visitors managed a fourth goal through Allan MacDonald on the hour when he had a simple finish to notch his second strike of the afternoon following great play from Ruaridh Graham senior.
Inveraray made changes for the final 20 minutes, replacing veterans David Robertson and Ruaridh Graham with young guns Robert Wood and Niall Kennedy.
Bute finished strongly and got their reward five minutes from time when former Lovat player Duncan Davidson scored to make it 4-1.
In the end, Inveraray did the damage in the first half against a never-say- die Bute team.
Ballachulish 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 12
GLASGOW Mid Argyll notched up another league win and go second in the table after thumping Ballachulish 12- 0 at Jubilee Park.
Scott MacDonald was still out through suspension for Balla’ while GMA were without the banned John McNulty and the injured Brian Slattery and Euan Murray. Mark Bain returned.
This was the fourth time these sides had met this season with GMA coming out on top each time.
It took GMA half an hour to break Balla’s resistance with Euan Forsyth scoring. Craig Anderson added a second a minute before the break.
The goal glut came in the second half. Craig Anderson got his second three minutes after the restart and Mark Bain made it 4- 0 on 54 minutes.
Garry Luke added a fifth on 57 minutes with Nick Lavin adding his name to the scoresheet 10 minutes later.
Garry Luke completed his hat-trick with goals on 74 and 79 minutes to make 8- 0.
Ryan Harrison made the most of a spell up front with goals on 82 and 88 minutes. His goals came either side of a first goal at senior level from GMA debutant Angus MacInnes, the youngster netting on 86 minutes.
Mark Bain rounded off the scoring just seconds before referee Innes Wood’s final whistle.
It’s tight at the top of the Marine Harvest National Division with only five points separating the top five teams. Inveraray are four points ahead of second placed GMA but the Glasgow side has three games in hand.
Beauly and Kilmallie only trail GMA on goal difference with Caberfeidh just a point behind them.