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31 July, 2010
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Newtonmore 4, Fort William 1
Published: 29 July, 2009
NEWTONMORE put in their best performance of the season on Saturday when they beat a strong Fort William side 4-1.
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Saturday's victory at the Eilan in the Premier League means that the Blue and Whites maintain their unbeaten record and keep their challenge for the title firmly on track. Five minutes in and Bryan Simpson was given too much room on the right side of the Newtonmore area but his final shot went wide. Danny MacRae went close for 'More in the 11th minute, and 60 seconds later Michael Ritchie had to look sharp to clear a snap shot from Fort William's Gordie MacKinnon from a tight angle. In the 20th minute, the visitor's James Clark had a shot deflected for a corner. Newtonmore were straight back on the attack with an effort just wide of Scott McNeil's left post. In the 26th minute, 'More's Scott Campbell picked up a foot injury and was subbed by David Campbell three minutes later. Big Jim Clark got ahead of Norman Campbell for the first time in the game just after the half-hour mark but Ritchie was on hand to clear the danger. Fort William were enjoying more of the game, but the Newtonmore defence was putting in solid work and coping admirably. Campbell was outstanding back in his old role at the heart of the defence. Ritchie was called into action again in the 35th minute to save from Daniel Stewart. Fort William brought on veteran striker Victor Smith in place of Gary Innes. With a minute to go to the interval, McNeil pulled off a good save from Danny MacRae, but Newtonmore were not be denied. The resulting corner came through to MacRae on the far left who lashed a rocket into the roof of the net to give the home side the half-time lead. The Blue and Whites made it 2-0 soon after the restart with MacRae firing home six minutes into the second half. Fort William were clearly rattled as 'More, with their tails up, had the lion's share of the game during this period. Steven MacDonald was unlucky not to score after a flowing move saw the final effort skim narrowly wide. A couple of minutes later and Fort William created an opening for Smith but his effort was spectacularly stick saved by Ritchie high above his head. On the hour mark, and Fort William substituted Daniel Stewart with Paul Bamber, who was moved back to shore up the Fort's defence. Another Newtonmore attack ended with a neat pass in front of goal from MacRae to Evan Menzies in space on the left, but he will have been disappointed to see his final shot fly wide. The home side continued to have the better of the game and the pressure was taking its toll on the visitors. MacDonald made a superb mazy run through the Fort defence only to be felled just outside the area. MacRae fired in a fierce shot that was well saved by McNeil in the 70th minute, but the rebound came to the feet of Glen MacKintosh, who fired a ground shot home to make it 3-0. By now, Fort were beginning to show their frustration and Mark Lawrie was booked in the 73rd minute. Shots were raining in on the Fort goal as Davie Cheyne came on for Newtonmore to replace Evan Menzies. Bryan Simpson and John MacDonald found their way into referee Charles Young's notebook for the visitors. Fort William pulled a goal back in the 81st minute when Smith's pass found Clark on the left, who made no mistake. MacKintosh and MacRae went close for the home team. In the fourth minute of injury time, MacNeil was penalised for kicking the ball in the area and MacRae made no mistake with the resulting penalty to leave the final score at 4-1. |
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