Lochaber aim to make history after shock win

LOCHABER hope to rewrite history after winning their first RBS McTavish Cup final place in four years.

The little-fancied Spean Bridge outfit defeated Kingussie 2-1 on Saturday to reach next month’s final and will now play Newtonmore in the first showcase of 2016.

Ironically, the side that defeated them in that 2012 final was Newtonmore, 5-1, but the parallels with four years ago don’t end there.

That year, Lochaber beat Kings in the semi-final, by the same scoreline as this weekend and ‘More defeated Glen Urquhart, also by the same 2-0 score.

Naturally, Lochaber are eager for the result in the final not to mimic 2012.

“In that final, we were caught in the headlights,” conceded forward Sean Nicolson. “I don’t think we will be like that this time. We’ve got a little but more experience now. To be honest, we didn’t play well on Saturday, but we got there, which is what matters.

“Kingussie had a man sent off and, while sometimes that can work against you, we used the spare man well at the back. It will be great to be in the final.”

Pat Toal and Stuart Callison were Lochaber’s scorers, with Savio Genini netting for Kingussie.

Fraser Munro was red carded after reacting to obstruction by lifting his stick to an opponent’s face.

In the other semi-final, Newtonmore edged past Glen 2-0 thanks to goals from Evan Menzies and Steven MacDonald. For them, it is a 100 per cent record in all competitions and a tangible chance to avenge last year’s final defeat.