Mowi Premiership
Kinlochshiel 2
Oban Camanachd 0
Jordan Fraser scored twice in the second half to give Kinlochshiel a 2-0 win over Oban Camanachd in a game of few chances at Rèaraig.
Both teams were understrength for this clash in the sun and although the pitch had taken a lot of rain, it didn’t cut up as much as expected pre-match.
Kinlochshiel’s John MacRae had been playing with a back injury recently and missed this one.
Keith MacRae returned to the Kinlochshiel starting line-up after sitting out the previous week’s win over Caberfeidh. Zander MacRae, who scored both goals in that game, was injured. David Falconer returned to the Kinlochshiel bench where he was joined by youngster Seumas Martin.
Oban Camanachd were without a fixture the previous weekend which allowed Daniel Sloss, Daniel Madej and Evan MacLellan to shake off knocks and they all started. However, Garry Lord was missing whilst Scott McKillop’s wedding the previous day ruled him out. The ensuing reshuffle meant Blair McFarlane started in defence with Malcolm Clark going to full centre.
Oban Camanachd started well but as Kinlochshiel settled into the match. Visiting keeper Cameron Sutherland was called into action on a couple of occasions in the first half, saving from Ali Nixon with his foot and parrying Duncan ‘WD’ MacRae’s spectacular strike from wide on the right touchline before slapping the ball away for a corner.
Kinlochshiel continued to have most of the pressure in the second half without working the keeper and Jordan Fraser, who started despite a back problem and was withdrawn after 20 minutes, returned to the field for the final 25 minutes.
It proved a decisive reintroduction as Ali Nixon found Keith MacRae wide on the right and turned the ball back to Jordan Fraser who was racing into the centre of the D and he crashed the ball high into the net to make it 1-0.
Oban Camanachd pushed Daniel Cameron up front in an attempt to draw level with substitute Scott Robertson, who was at wing centre, dropping back into defence. But the Oban side struggled to get the ball to Cameron.
Jordan Fraser sealed the win with six minutes remaining. Donald Nixon’s ball from the right was touched forward by Duncan ‘DA’ MacRae and Fraser whipped the ball low into the corner of the net to the keeper’s right.
Kinlochshiel full back Finlay
MacRae came off late in the match as a precautionary measure after feeling his hamstring tighten.
Oban Camanachd substitute Connor Howe saw a shot saved with his feet by Josh Grant by his left post with the visitors’ first real effort on target.
Oban Camanachd applied some late pressure but Kinlochshiel defended well to take the points.
Daniel Sloss and Daniel Cameron were best for Oban Camanachd whilst the Kinlochshiel defence of Finlay MacRae, Duncan Matheson, Mark MacDonald and Conor Cormack gave nothing away allowing Jordan Fraser to make a match-winning contribution.
Speaking after the final whistle, Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: ‘It was a stuffy game and there wasn’t that much in it. We were a bit punchless up front today and Conor Cormack mopped up everything in defence for Kinlochshiel.
‘We missed Garry Lord. It meant we had had to take Blair McFarlane from centre to defence and we missed his drive in the middle of the park.
‘To win a game like this you need all 12 players to be performing and unfortunately we only had around eight today.’
Oban Camanachd welcome Caberfeidh to Mossfield in the league this Saturday.
Kyles Athletic 2 Newtonmore 2
Kyles Athletic came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with league leaders Newtonmore at Dunoon Stadium.
Kyles were without Innes MacDonald, whilst skipper Owen Fraser made a surprise return in goal for Newtonmore, wearing a glove to protect his injured finger.
Newtonmore got off to a great start with Max Campbell netting in the opening minute.
When Struan Ross added a second on 67 minutes, it looked good for the visitors.
However, two goals in two minutes from Ross MacRae on 74 minutes and Colin MacDonald 60 seconds later ensured a share of the points.
Newtonmore will be concerned after vice-captain Drew MacDonald was added to their injury list with a knee injury.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 Caberfeidh 3
Blair Morrison’s hat-trick saw Caberfeidh beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 3-2 at Peterson Park.
GMA were still without injured pair Ewen Fraser and Calum McLay, whilst Craig Morrison served the second game of a three-match ban for Caberfeidh.
Blair Morrison opened his account on 24 minutes but Oliver MacRae equalised a minute later.
It was Blair Morrison again on 63 minutes, only for the Glasgow side to level for a second time through Andy McGhee on 71 minutes.
Both teams were reduced to 11 players late in the game. Referee Graham Fisher was dealing with a separate incident when a scuffle broke out between GMA’s Ally McKerracher and Caberfeidh’s Ryan Symonds and both were sent off.
With just three minutes remaining, Caberfeidh got the winner when Blair Morrison completed his hat-trick, to give Caberfeidh their first points of the season.