The match at the Dell was played in front of the biggest crowd for a league match this season, with nearly 2,000 spectators taking in the top of the table clash.

Both sides and sets of supporters from across the narrow divide gave everything - and it was this determination which meant the game was no classic.

Kingussie's hallmark for the past decade has been the creative use of space, running off the ball, and teamwork.

This season, those same attributes had finally been learned by their neighbours, who had genuinely looked the part - never more so than in their demolition of Inveraray a few weeks ago.

But in this game, both sides forgot all of that in their eagerness to pile up in front of goal.

Both were guilty of bunching, and both goalmouths experienced huge stramashes with defenders and attackers furiously engaging with each other with virtually no room to swing a cat, let alone a caman.

The main talking point after the game was the sending off of Newtonmore's Scott Campbell and its impact on the match.

Ronald Ross scored just a minute later, and it was a bitter pill for the Blue and White side of Badenoch to swallow given their anger over a soft decision.

Newtonmore boss Norman MacArthur said: "Scott's dismissal was the turning point as Kingussie scored from their free hit and we had to play the second half a man down."

The Blue and Whites had to pull Dave Cheyne back into midfield which blunted their attack.

MacArthur said: "It was the biggest crowd I have ever seen at a league match, but sadly the ref spoiled it. Scott is the last guy in the world to swing recklessly.

"Russell Dallas came in from the side and, not seeing him, Scott caught him with his stick. It was never a red card."

The game began on a soft and rather slippery surface with Newtonmore first into action when they forced a corner which came to nothing.

Ross forced a good save from Michael Ritchie in the 'More goal after three minutes.

Newtonmore were soon back on the attack as the game swung from end-to-end in the opening minutes.

Newtonmore's Danny MacRae (centre) attempts to burst through the Kingussie defence, but Ali MacLeod (right) is standing firm.

Ross forced another save from Ritchie on the ten minute mark, but just a minute later his team was behind to the league leaders.

Danny MacRae converted with a spectacular volley, stick parallel to the ground, that flew into the back of Andrew Borthwick's net in the blink of an eye.

A few minutes later and MacRae picked up a nasty cut above the eye from a foul by Ali MacLeod that might, on another day, have earned him a red card.

On the restart, Borthwick had to look lively to keep Newtonmore at bay. The Kings forced three corners in succession.

Ritchie had to be quick coming out of his goal for a loose ball in the 21st minute and he just beat the advancing Ross to force a corner.

Kingussie were starting to take charge by now without creating any real chances.

Paul Gow was booked for a foul against Glen MacKintosh that looked harsh with the Kingussie man making no contact.

Kingussie were back on level terms in the 36th minute when danger man Ross was let in by some poor defending to slip the ball home.

The defining moment came in the 44th minute came when Scott Campbell was sent off by referee Ronnie Campbell for what in Formula One terms would be described as a pure racing accident.

Worse was to come for the visitors just a minute later. From the resulting free hit, the ball came to Ross in front of goal and he made no mistake to put Kingussie 2-1 up at the turn.

Both defences were in disarray as opposing forwards piled forward in numbers. A number of goalmouth scrambles ensued at either end before the killer punch was landed on the hour mark by the Kings.

Following a quick break, Ross broke through the Newtonmore defence for a third time to slip the ball home to make it 3-1.

Still the Blue and Whites tried to make the running and Evan Menzies forced a save out of Borthwick in the 70th minute.

There was more desperate defending in the Kingussie goalmouth in the 82nd minute but they once again held firm.

Kingussie's Ali MacLeod received his marching orders four minutes later in pretty much the final act of the game which has blown open the title race between the two Badenoch giants.

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