Maximum points were collected once again whilst neighbours and defending champions Kingussie slipped up, dropping a point to Fort William in a 4-4 battle at the Dell.

The aim for the Blue and Whites and for the Kings is now quite simple – win every remaining game and the title will belong to them.

The clash between the two Badenoch giants pencilled in at the Dell for November 7 – the final day of the season – could prove to be the biggest game in many years – a winner takes all finale that could see more through the gate than the Camanachd Cup Final.

The first league game saw the points shared in a 1-1 draw at the Eilan and then Newtonmore went on to defeat Kingussie 5-4 in the final of the MacTavish Cup.

On Saturday, Newtonmore opened up on a soggy but playable Eilan in steady drizzle looking a certainty to have the game won before the turn.

Playing well in both defence and midfield, they created several early attacks but a lack of width produced few clear-cut openings.

Bute's first attempt on the home goal came in the 16th minute but was fired harmlessly wide then Glen MacKintosh just missed at the other end.

There was more of the same up to the half hour when Danny MacRae put the first shot on target, forcing a good save from the Bute keeper, Kevin Queen.

MacRae was again on target in the 36th minute and Queen's excellent save rebounded at chest height to MacKintosh, whose reaction volley flew just wide.

Towards the end of the half, Bute created two chances, both requiring intervention from Ritchie in the home goal.

Just as the half ended, Steven MacDonald had an excellent shot well saved by Queen to leave the interval score at 0-0.

After the turn, Newtonmore looked lacklustre for 10 minutes but they were spurred into action after Ritchie was forced to pull off an excellent save from Stuart Strathie.

The fright stung the home side into resumption of normal service and a minute later Queen was beginning to look like a secret weapon for the Kings as he kept 'More at bay once again.

David Cheyne came on for Evan Menzies in the 57th minute and immediately created an opening that had to be put round the post by Queen for a corner.

Two more corners in succession followed before the ball was cleared, only for the next attack to result in Cheyne finally piercing Queen's armour when he slotted home from close range.

Attacks continued to pour in on the Bute end, but the increasing quantity of surface water was hampering 'More's ground skills.

Steven MacDonald hit the side-netting with a rocket in the 68th minute and Cheyne was denied again by a superb save in the 83rd.

The game was finally sealed when Danny MacRae lashed home high into the net to make the final score 2-0 with five minutes left.

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