Lovat remain top ahead of Newtonmore clash
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LOVAT’S Orion Premiership title bid remains on course after a 4-2 win over Kinlochshiel.
The West Coasters, however, produced a highly spirited performance forcing the Balgate side to dig deep for their fifth successive league victory of the new campaign.
By contrast, Kinlochshiel came in to the match with a solitary victory under their belt, but they soon had Lovat rattled with the MacRae brothers — Finlay, Keith and John — spearheading their attack. Under pressure, Lovat goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald conceded a penalty in the 30th minute, converted by Finlay MacRae.
Lovat bounced back almost immediately with Kevin Bartlett and Owen Ferguson scoring in quick succession to send them in at the interval holding a precious 2-1 lead.
‘Shiel continued to attack, but struggled to penetrate Lovat’s rearguard before a neat interchange of passes ended with Finlay MacRae hitting his second to level the match in the 52nd minute.
It was no more than Kinlochshiel deserved, yet they were left stunned minutes later when Lorne MacKay produced a goal out of nothing, firing home from 30 yards.
The visitors continued to threaten, but Lovat settled the match in the 79th minute, Graeme MacMillan finding space on the edge of the ‘Shiel penalty area to beat goalkeeper Scott Kennedy with a low drive.
Lovat comfortably saw out the remaining 10 minutes and the squad now have this week to prepare for their biggest game of the season against Newtonmore at the Eilan on Saturday.
‘More maintained their 100 per cent record with a comfortable 4-1 win against Glenurquhart in Drumnadrochit.
The Glen were hit pre-match with several call-offs — Neale Reid, Arran MacDonald, David Smart, James MacPherson and Andy Corrigan all missing.
Newtonmore were boosted by the return from injury of Danny MacRae and last season’s top scorer demonstrated his worth to the cause with two second half goals. Earlier, Fraser MacKintosh had also notched a double as the Glen fell to their heaviest defeat of the season
Lewis MacLennan hit a late consolation for the Glen whose early season promise is starting to fade.
Kingussie and Kyles shared four goals at the Dell in a match which summoned up memories of the 1914 Camanachd Cup final between the clubs.
During the Great War which followed, nine players who had played in the final, perished. Saturday’s match was preceded by a minute’s silence to honour their memory.
Goals from Thomas Borthwick and Savio Genini counted for Kingussie with Kyles responding through Roddy MacDonald and Dunkie Kerr.
It was also stalemate at the Winterton where Inveraray and Lochaber ended level at 2-2.
Lochaber went two up in the opening 30 minutes through Ben Delaney and Sean Nicholson before Chris Crawford and Euan McMurdo levelled for the home side.
In Marine Harvest National Division, Fort William, playing their first match of the 2014 campaign, signalled their title intentions with a 4-1 win at Beauly.
Both teams were some way short of their strongest line-up with Beauly missing the suspended Conor Cormack, while Gary Innes and Neil Robertson were notable absentees from the Fort camp.
It was a deserved win for Fort William, who were quickly in front with goals from Alex MacMillan and Arran MacPhee. Beauly slowly came into the game and in the 39th minute David MacLean produced a contender for goal of the month when he unleashed a 25-yard drive that flew past a startled Fort goalkeeper Paul MacKay.
Beauly rang the changes after the interval, but the visitors continued to have the edge and two goals in a five minute spell just after the hour mark from Jack Fraser and a second by MacPhee settled the destination of the points.
Elsewhere there were good wins for Caberfeidh and Kilmallie, who edged past Glasgow Mid Argyll and Oban Camanachd respectively. Glenorchy prevailed in the all south battle with a 2-0 defeat of Bute.
Meanwhile, Inverness endured weekend that was far from straightforward with a cancellation of their Balliemore Cup game at Lochgilphead only being confirmed with the team bus more than halfway through its 150-mile journey.
Also on the coach were the club’s reserve side, who were heading for Dalmally for a Sutherland Cup clash with Glenorchy colts. That turned out to be another drama with the match needing extra-time to separate the teams, Inverness scoring twice in that period to record a fine victory.
In the Sutherland Cup, Strathglass’ Robert Geddes scored five, but it was still not enough with Strathspey booking their place in round two courtesy of a dramatic 6-5 success.
Lovat eased past Lewis with a 7-1 win, while Beauly sent Caberfeidh packing after a 2-1 triumph at Castle Leod with player/manager Steve MacLean hitting the winner five minutes from.
Glenurquhart enjoyed a walkover following a Glasgow Mid Argyll default and Kingussie produced the shock result after beating arch rivals Newtonmore 3-2 in extra–time.
THE draws for the second round of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup and the quarter-finals of the Balliemore Cup are as follows:
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup second round (Saturday 10th May) — The SCOTS v Beauly; Strathspey v Kyles Athletic; Kilmallie v Kingussie; Lovat v Skye; Glenurquhart v Col Glen; Fort William v Kinlochshiel; Inverness v Lochbroom; Bute v Lochside Rovers
Balliemore Cup quarter-finals (Saturday 10th May) — Inverness/Kilmory v Oban Celtic; Strathglass v Skye; Aberdour v Lochcarron/Aberdeen University; Taynuilt v Ballachulish.
The draws have also been made for the inaugural RBS MacTavish Plate and South of Scotland Plate competitions. They were as follows:
RBS MacTavish Plate Competition quarter-finals (Saturday 19th April) — Skye v Lochaber; Strathglass v Fort William; Lochcarron v Inverness. Bye: Boleskine. Semi-finals (Saturday 17th May) — Boleskine v Strathglass/Fort William; Lochcarron/Inverness v Skye/Lochaber.
South of Scotland Plate Competition semi-finals (Saturday 17th May) — Bute v Aberdour; Strachur v Ballachulish.
