Revenge mission can inspire Lovat
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LEADERS Lovat head to Orion Group Premiership champions Newtonmore with a point to prove this Saturday.
These two high-flying rivals have won all their league and cup games so far this season and something will have to give at the Eilean.
Lovat will be seeking revenge for the agonising defeat ’More inflicted on them there last season to all but end their title hopes.
On that day ’More won 1-0, although Lovat were unfortunate not to take at least a point after they had a Greg Matheson goal controversially disallowed for offside, with Fraser MacKintosh scoring the only goal after the resultant free-hit initiated the move that led to the winner.
Lovat have hit 27 goals in five league fixtures and a MacTavish Cup tie this year and conceded only four. ’More’s record, with one league game fewer played, is 17 goals for, with only three conceded.
Lovat are going for their first-ever Premiership title and Allan MacRae will have his men well prepared for Saturday’s crunch clash so that they can take one step closer to achieving that target.
Third-placed Kingussie travel to Spean Bridge to face joint bottom Lochaber and, after a number of postponements, Lochaber boss Robert Johnstone will be targeting his team’s first win of the season to kick-start their campaign.
Having won 3-2 in their last league meeting at Spean Bridge, Lochaber will look to repeat that performance to secure valuable points to begin their move away from the drop zone.
Inveraray are another team desperately in need of points as they sit in joint bottom place with Lochaber, but their single point on the board is after four games played.
On Saturday, ’Aray play host to Glenurquhart, who they defeated 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last season.
Glen will have other ideas and, particularly should Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies travel with a full squad, further agony could be inflicted on the home side.
In the remaining top-flight fixture, Kyles Athletic face Kinlochshiel at Tighnabruaich.
’Shiel boss Colin Fraser will hope that his charges can continue their good run of results against their hosts, having taken three points off them last year, drawing 1-1 at Tighnabruaich after winning their early season clash at Kirkton 3-2.
The top attraction in Marine Harvest National Division One is the meeting of Fort William and table-toppers Oban Camanachd at An Aird.
Both teams played in the Premiership last season, with Fort winning home and away by single goal margins.
Another defeat for Oban would be a major blow to their title hopes, whilst Fort are champing at the bit to get games played after suffering a series of pre-season and league postponements leading to only two matches having been played in 10 weeks.
Kilmallie look good to take both points off visitors Glasgow Mid Argyll to make it three wins from three. However, boss Duncan Kelly will be mindful of the shock Camanachd Cup first-round defeat Kilmallie suffered last year at GMA’s hands when they went down 2-0 in Yoker.
Beauly may find Glenorchy difficult to overcome on their own Mart Park, but Roger Cormack’s men should have too much power and craft to win and move above their hosts.
Caberfeidh will be confident of adding two more points to the first two accumulated last Saturday when Bute provide the opposition at Castle Leod.
Almost a year ago, Cabers ran out 4-1 winners when the teams met in a Camanachd Cup preliminary round tie at Strathpeffer.
Marine Harvest North Division One leaders Newtonmore reserves travel to Portree where they will be fortunate to return with a point, whilst Kingussie reserves will be expected to take care of their Beauly counterparts at Braeview Park. Kiltarlity’s Balgate Park hosts the local derby duel between the respective reserve teams of Lovat and Glenurquhart.
In a Balliemore Cup first-round tie postponed from last week, Inverness have home advantage over Kilmory and should set up a home second-round tie against Oban Celtic.
