'More to the fore with a high five
NEWTONMORE eventually ran out comfortable winners in their Macaulay Cup first round tie against North One leaders Kinlochshiel by a 5-0 margin, but the scoreline does not reflect the whole story.
Kinlochshiel had been forced to declare their pitch unplayable meaning the game had to be switched to the Eilan – but that may have confused the visitors who netted two own goals either side of half-time to give the Blue and Whites a 2-0 lead.
Newtonmore always looked to be the likely winners from the first whistle, and Danny MacRae slapped a rocket on to the post in the opening minutes to signal their intent.
Eight minutes in, Danny MacRae and then Ackie MacRae both had good efforts that went wide, then, on 12 minutes, a shot from Fraser MacKintosh was well saved by Graham Kennedy in the Kinlochshiel goal.
MacRae struck the post for a second time from the rebound.
Fraser MacKintosh was again on target on the quarter hour mark with a shot from out on the wing which the keeper put out for a corner.
Glen MacKintosh was next to go close with an effort on 17 minutes.
However, Kinlochshiel were certainly capable of mounting the odd attack and the home support was beginning to get nervous as the half hour approached.
They were able to breathe a little easier when the home side took the lead in the 37th minute. A corner into the ’Shiel area, after a superb save by the keeper, was met by ’Shiel defender Paul MacRae, who attempted to put the ball out for a corner, but ended up sending an unstoppable strike into the net.
Half-time came and went with no further scoring, though Newtonmore had dominated the half.
A Glen MacKintosh shot in the 55th minute from wide on the left side came across the face of goal and was just missing the far post, but the keeper tried to clear the ball and instead deflected it into his own net for 2-0.
Kinlochshiel had still been mounting attacks from time to time, but Michael Ritchie had little real work to do in the home goal.
Sixty-five minutes in, the Kinlochshiel keeper produced a good foot save from an effort by substitute John Mackenzie, then three minutes later Danny MacRae fired home from a tight angle on the left to make it 3-0.
Three minutes later Ackie MacRae took a well taken shot that the keeper did well to stop, but a couple of minutes later he was rewarded with a superb goal that screamed into the roof of the net from a 45 degree angle on the right side.
John Mackenzie took a speculative shot in the 80th minute from far out on the left wing that found its way high into the net, eluding Kennedy’s outstretched caman to make the final score 5-0.