Champs crash out of the cup
The first round of the Macaulay Cup produced a major shock when Newtonmore crashed out at the hands of newcomers to the top flight, Kinlochshiel,
They have proved beyond doubt that their successes so far in the Premier League have been no fluke, and their fast, determined style of play can upset anybody.
Keith MacRae put ‘Shiel in the driving seat in the 39th minute, and try as they might, Newtonmore could not pull back to level terms.
The break-through finally came in the 72nd minute, when Calum Stewart netted to inject a tense finish into the game. But Newtonmore lost Chris Sellar to a red card, and ‘Shiel took full advantage, though leaving it agonisingly to the 90th minute.
John MacRae shot home to see Kinlochshiel safely through to the next round, and Newtonmore facing the immediate loss of a coveted trophy.
But there was worse news for the holders of the Macaulay, Kyles Athletic, who lost out 2-1 at Inveraray.
Garry Macpherson shot Inveraray ahead in the 20th minute, and, not unlike the Newtonmore story, Kyles equalised in the 70th minute, only to find their ego well and truly deflated by Chris Crawford in the final minute of the game.
Bute had an easy ride at Oban Celtic, winning 5-2. Graham Fisher shot them in front in seven minutes and Roberto Zavaroni made it 2-0 with a 45th minute penalty.
Gordon MacMillan made it three in the 53rd minute before Celtic finally woke up and pulled one back through Ally MacKerracher in the 58th minute, then a second from Kenny Wotherspoon in 73 minutes.
But Bute stepped back up a gear as Zavaroni netted his second in the 78th minute and Robert Walker put the game well and truly out of Oban’s reach with eight minutes left on the clock.
Oban Camanchd, on the other hand, fared better, but only just at Dalmally, where Glenorchy put up spirited resistance that lasted right through to the 84th minute when they conceded a penalty that was fired home by Scott MacMillan.
Glasgow Mid Argyll also booked their place in the second round with a 2-1 victory at Taynuilt with goals from Craig Anderson and Mark Bain, whilst Willie Neilson netted for the home side.
Glenurquhart had an easy passage at home to Kilmallie, with Fraser Heath netting for the home side in the first minute, followed by Neale Reid in 20 minutes, then David Smart two minutes later.
The Glen found themselves four up in the 39th minute when Heath netted his second. Ross Lavin did pull one back for Kilmallie in the 78th minute, but they lost John Stewart to a red card.
The final match in the first round ties was also a close affair as Lovat faced Fort William at Kiltarlity. Lewis Tawse gave Lovat the lead in the 17th minute but Bryan Simpson levelled seven minutes later.
Owen Ferguson restored the Lovat advantage in the 27th minute, but two strikes in quick succession from Gordie MacKinnon in the 42nd and 45th mniutes left Fort William with a 3-2 half time lead.
Ryan Campbell stretched the lead further just six minutes into the second half and despite the best endeavours of the Lovat attack, it was only in the 89th minute that a goal was pulled back from Ferguson to leave the final score at 4-3 to Fort William.