’More soar on while Kings take a tumble
THERE were mixed fortunes in the Macaulay Cup on Saturday with Newtonmore progressing but the Kings losing out in a thriller to their bogey side Kinlochshiel.
The Eilan side continue to make progress in all competitions after their 5-0 victory at home which was a long-time in the making but the Red and Blues were beaten 4-3 at the Dell with a late goal by Gordie MacDonald.
Victory over Lochaber was always on the cards for Newtonmore but the score remained goalless at half-time.
The Blue and Whites had created the first of the chances and early on it looked like they would have the game in the bag by half time.
Their best chance of breaking the deadline came when they should have been awarded a penalty when MacDonald in the Lochaber goal clearly lifted his foot off the ground to clear a goal-bound shot.
However, both goal judge and referee missed the incident.
Lochaber had rarely threatened in the opening half but were much brighter after the break and for 10 minutes or so gave as good as they got before the home side gradually re-established superiority.
Fraser MacKintosh’s goal in the 54th minute gave Newtonmore the self-belief they had been missing. Danny MacRae slipped home the second in the 68th minute.
Two more superbly taken goals in the 84th and 86th minutes from MacRae, looking fit and determined after his injury-enforced lay off, buried Lochaber. Glen MacKintosh rubbed salt into the wound with a well taken drive in the final minute to leave the result at 5-0.
Louis Munro had put Kingussie in front in just seven minutes against Kinlochshiel, but first Keith MacRae in the 20th minute then Gordie MacDonald in 39 minutes, saw ‘Shiel go in at the turn with a 2-1 lead.
After the interval, Fraser Munro levelled in 52 minutes then he gave Kingussie a 32 lead with just minutes to go but the Badenoch side was not able to hold onto their lead for long.
A minute later Gordie MacDonald grabbed his second to level for Kinlochshiel, and just as the game looked likely to go into extra time, he completed his hat-trick in the final minute.
Elsewhere in the cup, in form Lovat continued to perform well, this time beating Glenurquhart at Kiltarlity by 4-2 goals. The Glen had taken the early lead through Neale Reid in seven minutes, but Martin Mainland levelled five minutes before half time.
David Smart gave Glenurquhart the lead again in 63 minutes, but a double from Greg Matheson in 75 and 78 minutes, split by one from Kevin Bartlett in 76 minutes sank the Glen.
Fort William finally came good in what has so far been a very poor season for them. They defeated neighbours Kilmallie, who have been going well at the top of North Division 1 by a 4-1 margin, though the first half was goalless.
Daniel Stewart, a Gary Innes double and an own-goal from Ian Robertson were the Fort’s scorers whilst Mark Graham netted Kilmallie’s consolation.
Inveraray won 3-0 at Glasgow Mid Argyll thanks to a double from Garry Macpherson and one from Euan McMurdo, whilst a bad tempered Glenorchy finished with 10 men after red cards for John McNulty and Alex Macpherson as visitors Oban Camanachd won 4-0.
Their goals came from a Gavin Stobbert double and singles from Andrew MacCuish and Lewis Cameron. The ties between Bute and Kyles, and Oban Celtic and Taynuilt were both victims of the weather.
Shinty lines drawn for crunch meeting tomorrow (Friday). See page 61.