Strathspey and Badenoch Herald
31 July, 2010
RSS
By Dave Fallows
Published:  29 April, 2009

NEWTONMORE and Kingussie made it safely through to the semi-finals of the MacTavish Cup at the weekend.

advertising

Kingussie took half-an-hour to dent the Glen Urquhart defence with a strike from Kevin Thain and there the score remained until the turn.

Thain notched up a second five minutes into the second period, then Ronald Ross netted a double to make it 4-0.

John Gibson made it five and Lewis MacLennan grabbed a late consolation for the Glen with five minutes left on the clock.

Kingussie now go on to meet Lovat in the semis on May 30 after the Kiltarlity side won the local derby tie over Beauly 3-2.

Beauly had taken the lead in ten minutes through Stephen MacLean, but James Mackenzie equalised for the home side five minutes later to leave the tie all square at the interval.

Greg Matheson gave Lovat the lead, but Beauly equalised with 20 minutes left through David MacLean. Lovat's Raymond Rennie, however, was on hand ten minutes before the final whistle to score the winner.

The start at Newtonmore was delayed, first due to the teams from the earlier second team match not being clear of the dressing rooms, then further by the need to fix a hole in the net.

Once the game did get under way, Newtonmore found Lochaber a handful in the early exchanges.

They even took an early lead when Ben Delaney was on hand to slot home for Lochaber, although there was a hint of offside.

The score stood, however, and Newtonmore were stung into action. Shots from Glen Mackintosh and David Cheyne went narrowly wide in the following minutes.

In the 23rd minute, from a free hit, the ball came to Evan Menzies, whose neat pass to David Cheyne in space in front of goal created a golden opportunity from 11 yards out that Cheyne converted.

Newtonmore continued to create chances with MacKintosh and Cheyne both going wide.

Newtonmore's Evan Menzies lets fly with a shot on goal as Lochaber's Shaun Oliver (left) takes cover.

Menzies forced a good body save from Angus Morrisson in the Lochaber goal with a shot that reared up off the lumpy surface.

Both sides were using the full width of the pitch as Lochaber's determined play needed constant concentration in the 'More defence and midfield.

Newtonmore's use of the wings and creative switching of the play was causing real trouble for Lochaber, with Menzies on the left wing consistently outpacing his marker.

One of their best moves of the season saw Newtonmore take a 2-1 lead on the stroke of half-time.

A ball cleared out of defence came to Menzies on the left whose ball up the line was perfect for Cheyne to run on to.

MacKintosh was running unmarked through the centre and gave an early call for the ball.

Cheyne reached the through ball and, in a single move, made an inch perfect pass leaving MacKintosh with the time and space to stop the ball, take aim and fire.

Into the second period, and Lochaber again started quickly. However, it was not long before 'More's forwards were once again creating chances, with a goal chalked off for offside. Menzies was by now rampant on the left wing.

MacKintosh received a pass in front of goal, turned his marker James MacLean with ease and closed in on goal to slip the ball past Morrisson for a 3-1 lead.

Newtonmore's work rate began to slip as the game wore on and Lochaber came back into it, but they were unable to create any real opportunities.

The Eilan side will face Fort William in the other semi-final after they defeated Lochcarron at An Aird 4-0.

It took the home side until the 45th minute to break through with a goal from Bryan Simpson, but a hat-trick from Gary Innes sealed the tie.



highlands
  • AHR
  • gifts
  • hotels
  • Horoscopes
  • Photos
  • 100 Years
  • tourism
THE BIG VOTE

Are you in favour of Strathspey Thistle’s plans for the Black Park?

  • Yes
  • No
All content copyright 2008 Scottish Provincial Press Ltd.