KYLES ATHLETIC'S scheduled match against Kingussie ended up as their third postponement in as many weeks as once again the Tighnabruaich pitch was unplayable.
Even a move to Mossfield Park in Oban proved fruitless as both teams travelled.
A serious road accident delayed Kyles on their journey, then it appeared the pitch would have been unplayable anyway.
Also postponed was the potential relegation battle between Kilmallie and Lovat, though two games did go ahead. Glenorchy ended their pointless season with a 4-2 defeat at home by Glenurquhart, though the two goals they did score took their goals for tally from three to five, with 95 goals against.
Doubles from John Barr and Liam Girvan gave the Drumnadrochit side their victory while John McNulty netted twice for the doomed Dalmally side.
The game that did matter most, however, was at the Eilan, where Newtonmore raced to a 4-0 half-time lead.
Danny MacRae netted first on ten minutes, then a mazy run from Ackie MacRae - the first of several such from this determined young player - led to Stoddart in the Oban goal tripping him in the penalty area.
Glen MacKintosh made no mistake with a sharp ground shot to the keeper's left to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute.
The same player netted again five minutes later, then completed a hat-trick a couple of minutes before the interval with a fine ground shot from wide on the left.
In between times, the keeper had pulled off several good saves to keep the score down, and Ackie MacRae had been unlucky with a rasping shot from the left side that rattled the post.
Danny and Ackie MacRae could have added further to the score had it not been for the keeper, and Paul MacArthur had a searing shot from the left wing slap saved for a corner.
Throughout the first half, Oban had been totally dominated by the rampant Newtonmore side.
Numerous Oban players became rattled and resorted to niggling fouls and, on occasion, equally foul language, aimed mostly at referee Graham Cameron.
On 40 minutes, Oban's David MacInnes mouthed his way to a yellow card, then continued to abuse the referee to earn himself a second yellow before the game had even restarted.
He was then clearly heard to threaten the referee as he disappeared into the changing rooms to crashes and bangs that could be heard at either goal end.
In the second half, and Danny MacRae, who was suffering from a streaming cold, was substituted by John Mackenzie, who went close several times.
Oban full back Andrew Pearson had an outstanding half, with speed and anticipation on his own part, as well as taking on the marshalling of the 11 men to ensure that cover was always maintained.
As is often the way, it was the 12 who found the going tougher as the 11 showed determination and far better discipline to keep the score at 4-0 until the 90th minute.
MacKintosh drilled home from an angle on the right to make it five and bring his personal tally to four.
Manager Brick MacArthur was well pleased with five goals, which narrows the goal difference with Kyles to just six, with Newtonmore level on points having played a game more.
He said: "Some felt that only one goal in the second half was a disappointment but it's always difficult to play against a well marshalled 11, and we needed not just to look to attack, but to make certain we didn't concede any."
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