MacArthur says everyone played part in excellent ‘More win over Lochaber
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
On a day when the shinty card was all but washed out, the Badenoch and Strathspey locality faired best with three games going ahead in the area.
The most prominent was the Mowi Premiership match between Newtonmore and Lochaber at the Eilan which the hosts won 4-1.
It was the only game to beat the elements from shinty’s top two divisions and ‘More’s Steve MacDonald was only fit enough to take a place on the bench whilst injury continued to rule out Michael Russell. However, Conor Jones returned to the midfield.
Lochaber were without both Shaun Nicolson and Pat Toal but went into the clash as the Premiership’s top scorers.
It was a blustery afternoon and Newtonmore opted to play against a strong wind in the first half.
However, the blue and whites looked the more threatening during the early stages and Ali MacDonald in the Lochaber goal saved with his foot from Drew MacDonald before using both feet to keep out Cameron McNiven’s effort before flicking the ball to safety with Iain Robinson hoping to profit from any slip-up.
Newtonmore took the lead on 33 minutes. Conor Jones drove the ball forward from midfield and Arron MacBean found Iain Robinson whose shot from the right was blocked before reacting quickest onto his left side and he hit a great backhand strike into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s left.
It was Robinson again on the stroke of half-time. He saw his initial shot saved with his foot by keeper Ali MacDonald, but Craig Ritchie picked up the resultant clearance and he found Robinson to the right of the penalty spot and this time he shot over the keeper’s right shoulder.
The second half was just a couple of minutes old when Craig Ritchie took Drew MacDonald’s ball from the right and, at the second attempt, he fired low into the net to make it 3-0.
Lochaber showed their battling qualities as, just three minutes later, Martin Johnstone’s ball forward fell kindly for Max Campbell in space at the front of D and he finished well against his former teammates.
Newtonmore never looked in any trouble though and Cameron McNiven completed the scoring on 82 minutes.
Iain Robinson and Craig Ritchie were involved in the lead up play with McNiven’s turn and shot from the right of the D making it 4-1.
‘More co-manager Norman MacArthur spoke just after the final whistle: “We didn’t have the same severe weather here as elsewhere. There was a strong wind in the first half, and we opted to play into it which worked well for us.
“The third goal should really have settled us but fair play to Lochaber, they got one back straight away.
“Other than that blip, I thought our defence were well on top. Rory Kennedy was outstanding as usual, and he put in some shift given he had been unwell ahead of the game.
“Struan Ross had a good game at wing centre, but they all played their part in securing another two points.”
Kingussie’s top flight game away to Skye was postponed due to the bad weather.
