Marine Harvest Premiership
Skye Camanachd 0 Newtonmore 5
A POWERFUL first half performance helped Newtonmore to a 5- 0 win over Skye Camanachd in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye Camanachd first team John MacLeod made two
changes to the squad which lost 4-2 to Newtonmore in their Camanachd Cup quarter final tie at the Eilan a week earlier. Iain Murray was on holiday, whilst Steven Morrison was a late call- off through injury. Gilleasbuig MacDonald and David MacInnes returned after missing the previous weekend’s match, whilst Chris MacLennan was back from injury. Allan MacKinnon and Shockie MacLennan remained on the injury list.
Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh’s main concern was Fraser MacKintosh who has now missed his team’s last three outings through injury. Michael Ritchie took over from Owen Fraser in goal, whilst Andy MacKintosh, Jamie Robinson, Drew MacDonald and Craig Ritchie were also unavailable. Iain Richardson started in defence, Norman Campbell took over at full centre and there was a place on the bench for Ackie MacRae after a spell in Australia.
The visitors attacked from the start and Glen MacKintosh tucked the ball into the net from a tight angle on the left following a Paul MacArthur shy from the left on 10 minutes.
Evan Menzies played in Glen MacKintosh who flicked the ball into the net to make 2- 0 on 16 minutes.
The ’More forwards reversed roles on 31 minutes when a Glen MacKintosh cross from the left found Evan Menzies who slotted the ball home. Menzies then scored the goal of the match on 34 minutes when he crashed a David Fraser corner from the right into the roof of the net to make it 4- 0 at the break.
MacKintosh completed his hat-trick four minutes after the restart when he struck the ball low into the net following a David Fraser shy from the right.
Skye came more into the game but they had to defend well towards the end of the match to prevent ’More adding to their tally.
Newtonmore, now half-way through their league programme, are currently two points ahead of second-placed Kinlochshiel and they also have three games in hand.
Next up for Skye is a crucial league meeting with Glenurquhart in Portree, whilst Newtonmore travel to An Aird to play Fort William.
Kingussie 1 Oban Camanachd 0
KINGUSSIE upset Oban Camanachd’s title bid when a late Roddy Young goal gave them a 1- 0 win in their 3.30pm throw up at the Dell.
Kingussie had a number of absentees as Robert Mabon, Darren Hanlon, Ryan MacWilliam, Jake MacPherson, Savio Genini and Rory MacGregor were all on holiday. Ryan Borthwick and Fraser Munro, now free of suspension, were both injured. They were able to call on Louis Munro though as the PE teacher was home for the school holidays and he proved to be a class act at buckshee back.
Oban Camanachd were without youngsters Daniel MacVicar and Ross MacMillan.
The Dell was in terrific condition which helped the players serve up a really entertaining match for the supporters.
Oban Camanachd, with Lorne Dickie excellent at full centre, played some good shinty and they had the better chances overall. Daniel Cameron missed the target on a couple of occasions and home goalie Craig Dawson had to twice sprint from his line to clear the ball following dangerous attacks, while Calum Grant and Rory MacKeachan did well in the wing back positions.
The story of the day was the Kingussie 15-year- olds. Alexander Michie played the whole game at wing centre and turned in a fine performance. Then, with their fathers – Kingussie stalwarts Davie Anderson and Dallas Young watching from the touchline – Kingussie brought on Ruaridh Anderson and Roddy Young.
The young guns combined to conjure up the winning goal just a minute from time. Young had already twice gone close and caused the visiting defence problems with his strong running. With the clock ticking down, Anderson threaded the ball forward. Young broke through the Oban Camanachd defence to get to the ball just ahead of the advancing Oban keeper Gavin Stobbart and the youngster steered the ball into the net for his first senior goal.
There was an acknowledgement from the proud fathers who know just a thing or two about notching winning goals.
The win means Kingussie climb to fourth in the league. They only trail third-placed Oban Camanachd on goal difference although they have played three games more.
Kingussie are not back in action until Friday August 5 when they play Newtonmore in the league at the Dell, which will be shown live on BBC Alba. Next up for Oban Camanachd is a league meeting with Lochaber at Mossfield this Saturday.
Fort William 1 Lovat 2
LOVAT go fifth in the league after they beat Fort William 2-1 at An Aird.
Fort William were without Mark Grant who served a one match ban for exceeding the disciplinary points threshold. Bryan Simpson and Stevie Stewart were absent, but Graham Campbell returned.
Lovat were without Daniel Grieve, Martin Mainland, Lorne MacKay and Ryan Ferguson. Fort William started
with the wind at their backs and were the better team during a largely uneventful first half, despite having to overcome a couple of early injury set-backs.
Despite all Fort William’s pressure, they weren’t able to seriously test Stuart MacDonald in the Lovat goal.
It took 20 minutes for Lovat to threaten the home goal. Lewis Tawse and Calum MacAulay exchanged passes before MacAulay slipped the ball to Kevin Bartlett, but his shot went wide.
When Lovat took the lead on 42 minutes, it was against the run of play. Greg Matheson won the ball and cut in from the right, across the penalty spot. Matheson looked to have hit the ball just too far ahead of him but Callum Cruden allowed the ball to run and Matheson hit a strike across the keeper, high into the net, to give the Balgate side a 1- 0 lead at the break.
Referee Evan MacRae awarded Lovat a penalty on 59 minutes. Tawse went on a long run with the ball down the Lovat left. Tawse cut across the ‘D’ and was chopped down just inside of the area. Matheson sent a superbly struck spot-hit to the keeper’s left to make it 2- 0.
Lovat were now playing some nice shinty, using the full width of the pitch. They came close to increasing their lead on 66 minutes when Kevin Bartlett picked up a MacAulay corner and beat his man before flicking the ball past an advancing Paul MacKay in the Fort goal. The ball went just past the post though.
Bartlett went neatly round his marker on 70 minutes and sent a fierce, low shot past the keeper’s left post.
Bartlett again got past his opponent on 73 minutes and played a great ball to Matheson whose sweetly stuck shot produced a super save from keeper Paul MacKay. The rebound fell for Bailey MacKay, who had come on for Graeme MacMillan four minutes earlier, but again the Fort William custodian completed a good double- stop.
Fort William reduced the deficit on 84 minutes when they scored against the run of play. An Alexander MacMillan shot from distance was saved with his feet by Stuart MacDonald, but Graham Campbell was smartly in to tuck home the rebound with the Lovat defenders claiming for offside.
Lovat had to defend at the end with Mark Kelly, always clam under pressure, outstanding throughout at the back whilst goalie Paul MacKay was best for Fort William.