Newtonmore go down to newly promoted Fort William after two late goals
Newtonmore manager Peter Ross remained upbeat following Newtonmore’s 5-3 Mowi Premiership defeat to Fort William at the Eilan on Saturday.
Ross reflected on an afternoon when his side dominated large periods of the game but found Fort William keeper Paul MacKay in inspired form.
Rory Kennedy failed to make the starting line-up after suffering a sickening head injury in the opening game of the season, a 2-0 win away at Caberfeidh.
He required nearly 30 stitches in an accidental clash which left his ear nearly hanging off, and the Blue and Whites’ missed his huge presence at the back.
Ross said: “I’m disappointed we didn’t win the game but I certainly couldn’t fault the players’ efforts.
“There were a lot of plusses and Struan Ross, Matthew Sloss and Ritchie Irvine all played very well as did Iain Robinson who showed that he’s a proper shinty player with another two goals.
“Yes, mistakes cost us goals and we missed Rory Kennedy but who wouldn’t.
“It’s a long season in what is already shaping up to be a tight league.”
Fort William led three times through Lachie Shaw, Victor Smith and Shaw again, but they were pegged back each time through Iain Robinson from open play and then from the penalty spot before substitute Matthew Sloss made it 3-3 with his first goal for the club.
As the match moved into stoppage time, Fort William’s Victor Smith found the net with a deflected effort before completing his hat-trick to seal an unexpected 5-3 win.
Ross added: “I wasn’t happy with some of the refereeing decisions but if we had continued to play shinty instead of getting involved with some of the other stuff that was going on - and I know that’s hard to do at times - we’d have won the game.”
The Newtonmore seconds lost 4-2 against the Fort William seconds in Mowi North Division 1 at An Aird. Fraser Mackintosh and Glen Mackintosh’s penalty counted for ‘More.
This weekend, the Newtonmore first team visit Kinlochshiel in the league.
Ross said: “’Shiel are a big, fit and strong side but so are we so it should be a good game.”
The ‘More colts play the Kinlochshiel colts in the league at The Eilan.
