NEWTONMORE ENTERTAINED - if that's the right word for this game - Fort William on Saturday in the first of a series of absolutely vital games if they are to defend their title this season.
Fort William certainly started the game as if they meant it, and four minutes in, Michael Ritchie was called upon to make a good foot stop from a low Gary Innes drive.
Then John MacLeod had a shot well saved as Fort William dominated almost totally until the tenth minute when they were hit by a sucker punch.
Stephen MacDonald slipped a neat pass through to Danny MacRae on the left edge of the area and he slotted home from Newtonmore's first real attack of the game.
The game was held up in the 14th minute after the net at the smiddy end goal came adrift at the top left corner, providing an unusual diversion for the crowd as a ladder was found and the problem fixed.
The Fort continued to be consistently quicker to the ball and largely in control of the midfield, but by the half hour mark, they were beginning to become frustrated and resorted to some rough play.
Liam MacIntyre, in particular, was lucky to escape with just a single yellow card before he was substituted.
For all Fort's stronger and faster play, it was once again a quick break from Newtonmore that added to the scoreline.
Glen Mackintosh drilled a fierce strike from 14 yards out to put the home side two up.
In the first minute of first half stoppage time, however, sloppy defence let Gary Innes pull one back.
The half ended with Newtonmore 2-1 up although Fort had had the better of it.
Once again, Fort William pressed after the re-start but the half generally settled into a dull exchange in midfield with the odd shot from distance.
One notable incident came in the 63rd minute, when a high ball dropped almost vertically in front of Danny MacRae.
His superbly struck volley ended up just narrowly wide of the Fort keeper's left post.
More of the midfield jousting followed, but it was Newtonmore who were creating the few chances and Danny MacRae put a couple of good shots just wide.
Jamie Robinson came on in place of an oddly out of touch Cameron Binnie in the 75th minute and was immediately involved in an attacking move.
But, in the 80th minute, a shot from a tight angle meant that Ritchie had to be sharp in the 'More goal, to deflect the ball for a corner.
Owen Fraser sent a looping shot in from 35 yards on the Fort goal in the 87th minute and the keeper had to make a solid hand save to put the ball out for a corner.
In the end, though, there was to be no further scoring and the best that can probably be said for Newtonmore is that a win's a win.
For a full round-up of all the shinty action see this week's Strathy.
