Kingussie win Badenoch derby
KINGUSSIE won their first Badenoch derby since 2014, Kyles Athletic missed the chance to close the gap on Marine Harvest Premiership leaders Kinlochshiel and Oban Celtic stay top of the Marine Harvest National Division following the shinty action on Saturday March 24.
Newtonmore 0 Kingussie 1
The first Badenoch derby of the season took place at The Eilan where Kingussie upset the odds to win 1-0.
Newtonmore’s Glen MacKintosh was back in the starting line-up after missing his side’s opening league fixture win against Oban Camanachd through suspension. He started in attack with Evan Menzies, Fraser MacKintosh and Ewen Fraser. Steven MacDonald remained out. Paul MacArthur, Neil Stewart and Iain Robinson made up a strong bench.
Kingussie were still without the injured Fraser Munro. Captain Rory MacGregor was unavailable as was Calum Grant and injury ruled out Lee Bain. Louis Munro and Sandy Elrick returned to the side though with the former at full forward and the latter starting on the bench. James Hutchison, who came on as a substitute against Glenurquhart a week earlier, took his place at full centre.
The only goal of the game came on 12 minutes. Rory MacKeachan played a free hit out of defence, down the Kingussie right flank. Roddy Young gathered the ball and found James Falconer with a good pass. Falconer turned and his shot was saved by Kenny Ross in the Newtonmore goals but wing centre Savio Genini had made a great run forward and he got to the rebound ahead of Drew MacDonald to tuck the ball home from close range.
The young Kingussie defence of Robert Mabon, Rory MacKeachan, Kieran MacPherson and Alexander Michie stood up well to the challenge of the more physical Newtonmore forward line. Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson had several saves to make and he always looked in control.
It was Kingussie’s first win in this fixture since August 1 2014 when they won 3-2 in the first of the televised Friday evening games.
Andy MacKintosh was one of the few Newtonmore players to gain passmarks and PJ MacKintosh’s side will look to bounce back in this weekend’s cottages. com MacTavish Cup first round, a repeat of last year’s final when Newtonmore came out on top.
Lovat 1 Kyles Athletic 0
Kyles Athletic missed the opportunity to close the gap on Kinlochshiel at the top of the table when they lost 1-0 against Lovat at Balgate.
Lovat boss Fraser Gallacher had a selection headache ahead of this match. Captain Lewis Tawse was getting married and Craig Mainland and Duncan Davidson were guests. Lorne MacKay was still missing and Martin Mainland remained injured. However, Daniel Grieve had recovered sufficiently from a knock to be able to take up his usual place in defence. Ryan Ferguson, making a comeback to the senior squad to help out, and manager Gallacher, were Lovat’s only substitutes.
Kyles Athletic manager James Perlich had Sandy MacKenzie back from suspension and he started on the bench along with Innes MacDonald and Ross MacRae. Donald Irvine was unavailable, Grant Irvine was abroad and Rupert Williamson was left out of the squad. Thomas Whyte went to centre, with Gordon Whyte and Robbie MacLeod either side of him.
The Lovat defence had to endure a period of early Kyles’ pressure but, with Drew Howie and Mark Kelly excellent at the back, and Daniel Grieve and Callum Cruden playing their part too, they kept the visitors at bay.
Kyles had the breeze at their backs during the first half and keeper John Whyte had little to do. However, such was the dominance of the Lovat defence, keeper Stuart MacDonald only had one save of note to make, using his feet to keep out a shot through a ruck of players.
Kyles suffered a blow on 33 minutes when Roddy MacDonald had to go off. He had hurt his back in training and had to leave the field after a tangle with Callum Cruden.
While Kyles had the wind advantage in the first half, it started to get stronger in the second period and Lovat came more into the game.
Lovat called for a penalty on 62 minutes, claiming Callum Miller stopped the ball on the line with his arm but goal judge Alan MacPherson waved away their claims.
Kyles suffered another injury blow on 75 minutes. Keeper John Whyte came off his line to usher the ball out of play for a goal-hit. However, he went over on his ankle awkwardly and had to be helped from the field. Former Scotland U17 keeper Innes MacDonald took over between the sticks.
With 10 minutes remaining, Ryan Ferguson came off the Lovat bench with Fraser Gallacher introduced a couple of minutes later. The changes seemed to spur Lovat on and Innes MacDonald did well to save a first-time effort from Gallacher having earlier stopped another effort from the same player.
It looked like a draw was on the cards. Lovat danger-man Greg Matheson was well-policed by Kyles’ defender Andrew King. Matheson showed just why he is one of the game’s top forwards on 87 minutes though when he got away from King to run onto a Marc MacLachlan ball on the Lovat left. With very little backlift, Matheson shot goalwards and whilst Innes MacDonald got a foot to the strike, the power of the shot took the ball high into the net to give Lovat both points.
Dunkie Kerr collected the game’s only yellow card when he was booked by referee Andy MacLean for not retreating five yards at a free-hit.
Lovat go second in the division ahead of this Saturday’s league match away to Oban Camanachd.
Kyles are also in league action as they travel to play Glenurquhart.
Glenurquhart 1 Lochaber 1
After three Saturdays without a game, Lochaber took the field for the first time this season when they travelled to play Glenurquhart in a 3pm throw-up at Blairbeg.
Glenurquhart’s David MacLennan served a one-match suspension as his booking against Oban Camanachd a fortnight earlier took him through the disciplinary points threshold. Fraser Heath was also missing, but James MacPherson was back.
New Lochaber boss Neil MacDonald has keeper Callum MacDonald sidelined after suffering an accident at work so Ally MacDonald was between the sticks. Brian MacDonald served a one-match ban carried forward from the end of last season.
After a goal-less first half, Shaun Nicolson fired Lochaber into the lead on the hour mark.
However, five minutes later, Connor Golabeck ran in to turn home a ball from the left from inside the ‘D’ to earn Glenurquhart a share of the points.
Skye Camanachd 1 Caberfeidh 5
Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh, both promoted from the Marine Harvest National Division last season, battled it out at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree, with the visitors claiming two valuable points following a 5-1 win.
Skye boss John MacLeod was without keeper Iain MacLeod so Ryan Morrison deputised between the sticks. Stewart Grant was also missing so Ally ‘Spod’ MacLeod came into the squad and started on the bench with Connor Gilpin taking Grant’s place in defence.
Caberfeidh’s manager Jodi Gorski had Scott MacLachlan and Jamie MacKintosh back from injury and both started on the bench. Ryan Symonds was still missing.
Will Cowie gave Skye the lead on five minutes when he produced a great finish following a Ruaraidh MacLeod corner on the right.
Two Kevin Bartlett goals had Caberfeidh ahead at the break though. First, Bartlett struck the ball low across the keeper after Ally MacLennan had won possession. Bartlett then cracked the ball high into the net from an almost impossible angle on the left to leave the visitors 2-1 ahead at the break.
Craig Morrison added two more goals after the re-start. His first came on 47 minutes when his shot from the left deceived the keeper. Morrison got his second, and Caberfeidh’s fourth, following a free-hit at the edge of the ‘D’ with 52 minutes played. His initial attempt was blocked by Connor Gilpin but Morrison hammered the re-bound into the net.
Skye had the ball in the net midway through the half but goal judge Donnie Martin ruled the effort offside.
Kevin Bartlett blasted home a penalty on 87 minutes to complete his hat-trick after referee Calum Girvan penalised a Skye defender for falling on the ball inside the ‘D’.
Caberfeidh manager Jodi Gorski will be pleased to have amassed three points already this season, especially as his first two matches were against Kinlochshiel and Kyles Athletic. Caberfeidh have a very good core to their side with full back Martin MacDonald outstanding at the back before he was forced off injured and Blair Morrison turning in another assured performance at buckshee back. Ally MacLennan prompts the midfield, whilst Kevin Bartlett and Craig Morrison pose an obvious threat up front.
Skye are without a fixture for the next two Saturdays.
Kinlochshiel P Oban Camanachd P
The match between league leaders Kinlochshiel and Oban Camanachd was postponed as Kirkton was ruled unplayable.
The field was playable on Friday evening but an 8am Saturday morning inspection led to a call-off.
For Oban Camanachd manager Ian Hay, it will allow an extra week to ease his injury list ahead of this weekend’s home meeting with Lovat. Garry Lord and Willie Neilson picked up knocks in the previous week’s draw with Glenurquhart whilst Gavin Stobbart is also recovering from injury. However Scott McKillop and Aidan MacIntyre are now rated longer term absentees.
Kinlochshiel boss Johnston Gill will have been disappointed to miss the opportunity to keep his side’s winning momentum going. However with title challengers Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore both losing, he will have had worse days. boost Strathglass. Neil Carmichael and Andy Hunt returned to the Oban Celtic squad but, with Rory Bruce and Fulton Ross already missing, Daniel MacMillan was a Saturday morning call-off so manager Kenny Wotherspoon travelled north with just 14 players. This didn’t affect the spirit and effort the away side put in however.
Strathglass went ahead on six minutes when a clever Darren Reid finish found the corner of the Celtic net.
Celtic pressed to get back level and equalised on 17 minutes when an Andy Hunt corner from the right found Ross MacMillan and his shot looped over the keeper and into the net.
Strathglass forward Scott Douglas was causing Michael MacKinnon all sorts of problems and he put Strathglass back in front with a cracking strike on 27 minutes.
Daniel Madej’s goal on 30 minutes made it 2-2, only for Scott Douglas to produce another fine finish to see the home team go in at the break 3-2 ahead.
A positive and encouraging half-time team talk from Kenny Wotherspoon seemed to do the trick as the Oban side bossed the second half and Ally McKerracher’s performance at full centre made him the man of the match.
Celtic made changes on the hour as Calum MacLean and Andy Hunt made way for Dylan Cooke and veteran Iain MacKechnie. The moves proved significant as Celtic levelled for the third time on 70 minutes. A low drive from Andy MacDonald beat the keeper to make it 3-3.
A couple of minutes later, Celtic went ahead for the first time in the match and it was no more than they deserved. Ally McKerracher’s long ball from his own half found full forward Daniel Madej who controlled the ball well. Madej played an intelligent ball, finding the advancing Ross MacMillan who fired past the keeper to make it 4-3.
The win and never-say-die attitude keeps Oban Celtic top of the table - a point ahead of Kilmallie.
Oban Celtic now begin preparations for this Saturday’s Glasgow Celtic Society Cup first round tie at home to Bute.
Fort William 2 Kilmallie 3
It was also derby day at An Aird where Fort William and Kilmallie locked horns.
Fort William went into the game on the back of a good win at Inveraray, whilst Kilmallie had suffered the disappointment of a home defeat to Inverness.
Sean Cameron, Sean Cruickshank and Graham Campbell all returned for Fort William.
Kilmallie’s Liam MacDonald was still injured but Michael Rodger and Craig MacIsaac were free of suspension. Rodger started, whilst MacIsaac came off the bench during the second half. Innes Blackhall was free to play for Kilmallie but he will miss this weekend’s cottage.com MacTavish Cup tie against Newtonmore through suspension.
Fort William got off to a great start when Arran MacPhee bagged a spectacular opener on two minutes, volleying the ball over his head and into the net.
Daniel Stewart levelled against his former club on 21 minutes and it remained all square until the break.
Kilmallie made a powerful start to the second period and Michael Rodger shot from distance into the bottom corner of the net on 49 minutes to make it 2-1.
Just 60 seconds later, the visitors extended their lead when Daniel Stewart stuck the ball high into the net, also from distance, to make it 3-1.
Graham Campbell slammed home a re-bound on 63 minutes to make it 3-2, but Kilmallie stayed in front to claim the local bragging rights, lifting the 2017 Mod Cup in the process.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Beauly 1
Glasgow Mid Argyll and Beauly drew 1-1 at Yoker.
GMA’s John Don MacKenzie was free of suspension, whilst Finlay MacMillan and Ewen Murray also returned.
Liam Girvan was still missing for Beauly.
Craig Anderson put Glasgow Mid Argyll ahead on 72 minutes. Anderson took his goal well, beating a couple of defenders before firing a well-struck 18 yard shot past Josh Grant in the Beauly goal.
Beauly equalised 10 minutes from time. A loose ball out of the GMA defence fell for Sean Stewart outside the ‘D’ and his well-taken snap-shop beat the keeper to make it 1-1.
There was a lot of hurried hitting in the game and a lack of goal-mouth action, although it took a good save from Robert Dunnings to stop Beauly getting a second.
Inverness 1 Inveraray 2
Inveraray made the long journey north to the Bught Park, looking for their first win of the season against an Inverness side in confident mood after their impressive win at Kilmallie the previous week.
Inverness were without Ewen Neilson, but Jason McLeod and James MacKenzie returned, whilst the visitors travelled without six players including the suspended Allan MacDonald.
Clear-cut first half chances were hard to come by with both defences well on top. Inveraray were especially well-marshalled by half back John Kennedy and the teams went in at the interval locked at 0-0.
There were strong words in the Inveraray changing rooms at half-time and they finally took a grip of the game and, on the hour mark, were unfortunate not to take the lead when veteran David Robertson, who was returning to the team to help cover the list of absentees, smashed a powerful shot against the upright from 20 yards out.
The breakthrough came on 67 minutes, albeit from an unlikely source. Nicholas Crawford hit a speculative 40-yard lob which