The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 20 March 2010. | |
22 March 2010 Bute, Inveraray and Fort William topped the Scottish Hydro Premier Division ahead of the fixtures on Saturday 20 March 2010. However all 3 sides lost at the weekend so Newtonmore now take over top spot.
The match of the day in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division took place at the Eilan where championship contenders Newtonmore and Fort William met. David Cheyne gave the home side the lead on 27 minutes when his strike gave Fort keeper Paul MacKay no chance. However the Fort were level just 4 minutes later through James Clark. Glen MacKintosh gave the home side a vital interval lead when just 3 minutes from the break. Newtonmore went top of the table when Steven MacDonald netted after 57 minutes to seal a 3-1 win. ‘More have 5 points from their opening 3 games and even at this early stage; they are the league’s only unbeaten side and they are back at the top of the table where they spent much of last season. Fort William now face a second Badenoch test next weekend when the host Kingussie and Newtonmore can only benefit, whatever the result.
League leaders Bute hosted Glenurquhart at the Meadows with the knowledge that a win would give them their best start to a top flight season. However it was Glenurquhart who impressed, picking up their first win of the season. Calum Miller gave the Glen a 10 minute lead and Ally MacKintosh made it 2-0 just 5 minutes from the break. Stuart Strathie pulled a 70 minute goal back for Bute but a scorching drive from Neale Reid, 5 minutes from the end clinched a 3-1 win.
Inveraray were on the road for the first time this season as they traveled to Balgate to play newly promoted Lovat. The visitors got off to a good start when Grant Griffin put them ahead after just 5 minutes. However Lovat’s young striker Greg Matheson leveled on 14 minutes. Fraser Gallagher put the home side ahead after 25 minutes only for Neil Campbell to equalise 5 minutes later and ensure the sides went into the break all square. It remained all square until 10 minutes from the end when Lovat’s James MacPherson made the vital break-through to give his side the lead. Fraser Gallagher notched his second 5 minutes from the end to give Lovat their first win on their return to the top flight. It was a disappointing defeat for Inveraray after 2 wins in their opening 2 games.
Kingussie were too strong for Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker and they raced into a 4-0 lead after just 13 minutes. The Kings were without Ian Borthwick and Lee Bain and they played defender James Hutchison in attack. It was a move that paid instant dividends. Ryan Borthwick gave the visitors a 7 minute lead and Hutchison added a second a couple of minutes later. Ronald Ross made it 3-0 within 60 seconds and Ross netted again, this time from the spot, after 13 minutes. Hutchison scored his second on 41 minutes to give the Kings a comfortable 5-0 half time lead. However a mixture of good defending from the home side and some wasteful finishing meant that the expected second half goals avalanche didn’t follow. In fact Kingussie only had 2 second half goals to show for their efforts. Ronald Ross completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes and 16 year old Thomas Borthwick nipped in for his second goal in 2 games just 10 minutes from the end.
A goal apiece in a second half 3 minute burst ensured Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic finished all square at Mossfield. Grant Irvine put the visitors ahead after 55 minutes but Scott MacMillan leveled for Oban Camanachd, who were without the suspended Liam MacIntyre, just 3 minutes later.
Skye Camanachd started their Marine Harvest North Division 1 campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Beauly at Braeview Park on Saturday 20 March 2010. Skye Camanachd first team manager Aonghas MacDonald made the trip without several players. Ally MacLennan was unavailable and John Moir, Kenny Campbell, Danny Morrison and Ian Morrison were all injured.
However Shockie MacLennan and Iain Nicolson both recovered from knocks and Allan MacKinnon returned to the side. Stewart Grant, a London Shield winner in 2009 with the Skye Camanachd U17 side, was called up to the first team whilst Dougie Rankin and Norman MacLeod came out of semi-retirement to help out. Keith MacKenzie was also called up to the squad. Beauly welcomed new signing Marc McLaughlin into the team for his first appearance of the season. Skye played with the wind in the first half but it was Beauly who had a couple of chances in the opening stages of the game. David Neilson came close to giving them the lead when he steered the ball past the sprawling Jamie Gannon but Skye captain Steven Morrison cleared the ball off the line. Beauly claimed the ball had crossed the line but referee Donald MacRae was unimpressed. Skye took the lead on 16 minutes when good movement from the Islanders forward line gave Somhairle MacDonald the chance to crack the ball, low into the net. Just a minute later it was 2-0 to the visitors as MacDonald lost his marker to score his second with a tidy low strike. The Skye forward line of Somhairle MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon, Alan Palmer, and Iain Nicolson were playing some lovely shinty and they completed a devastating 11 minute spell when Allan MacKinnon made it 3-0. A deep, low corner from Shockie MacLennan flashed across the Beauly goal and MacKinnon controlled the ball expertly before pushing it over the line. Beauly full forward David Neilson pulled a goal back a couple of minutes later to reduce Skye’s half time advantage. Beauly remained a constant threat and Skye keeper Jamie Gannon made several fine stops to maintain his side’s 2 goal lead. On 67 minutes, Somhairle MacDonald got on the end of a Shockie MacLennan shy to thump the ball low into the net at the keeper’s left hand post to make it 4-1. Skye took off forward Alan Palmer, who was unlucky not to get on the score sheet, as he was feeling the effects of a tight hamstring. Palmer was replaced by 17 year old Stewart Grant who came on to make his debut for the senior side. Sean Stewart pulled a goal back for the home side 11 minutes from the end but Skye held on to take the points. Probably the main difference between the sides was the good play from the Skye forwards during an 11 minute display in the first half when they took their chances with some aplomb.
Caberfeidh continued their good start to the league season with a 3-0 win over Kinlochshiel at Castle Leod. Scotland U21 cap Kevin Bartlett gave Cabers a 5 minute lead and Lee Nicol doubled their advantage just 5 minutes later. Bartlett added his second on 40 minutes to give the home side a 3-0 interval lead. There was no further scoring in the second half and the win leaves Cabers with 4 points from 2 games. However ‘Shiel, who had Finlay MacRae sent off, have now lost their opening 3 games. The west coast side have some respite this weekend when they travel south to play Kilmory in the preliminary round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup.
Kilmallie were in ruthless form against an under-strength Lochcarron side at Canal Parks. The visitor’s absentees included Kenny Ross who will be missing for several weeks with a hand injury. Scotland international John Stewart put the home side ahead after 9 minutes and Michael Rodger made it 2-0 on 22 minutes. Liam MacDonald added another 6 minutes later and Rodger notched his second just 2 minutes from the end to give Kilmallie a 4-0 half time lead. Peter MacIntyre made it 5-0 just 10 minutes into the second half and a Martin Stewart penalty on 68 minutes wrapped up a 6-0 victory. Its 2 wins out of 2 for Kilmallie who top the table ahead of Caberfeidh on goal difference. They are in Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup action this weekend.
Strathglass secured their first win of the season in their local derby against Inverness at the Bught Park. It was a couple of veterans, and former first team managers, who scored the goals to win the points. Robert Geddes gave Strathglass the lead after 16 minutes and he added a second on 58 minutes. A last minute Garry Reid penalty confirmed a 3-0 win.
Lochaber had a free weekend in this 9 team league.
Kilmory are the Marine Harvest South Division 1 pace-setters following their 3-0 win at newly promoted Taynuilt. Calum MacKinven gave Kilmory the lead just 3 minutes before the break and strikes from Hal Jones on the hour mark and Alex Cunningham on 78 minutes clinched victory. It’s been an impressive start for Kilmory as they top the table with 2 wins and a draw from their opening 3 games. They are in Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup action next weekend.
Glenorchy enjoyed their second convincing win in 2 weeks when they beat Ballachulish 5-0 at Dalmally. Glenorchy’s Grant MacPherson continued his good form with his second consecutive hat-trick in 2 weeks whilst Alex MacPherson and James Livingstone got the others. Ballachulish’s David Grant was sent off by referee Ted MacDonald. Glenorchy are in second place, a point behind leaders Kilmory with a game in hand. They are the only unbeaten sides in the league.
Lochside Rovers came out on top in the Oban derby with a 3-0 win over Oban. Scott Maitland got Lochside off to a great start with a 6 minute goal. Louis Cameron hit a second half double with goals after 48 and 76 minutes.
Skye Camanachd and Newtonmore met at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree in Marine Harvest North Division 2. An under-strength and youthful Skye side took the lead after just 7 minutes. Skye defender Martin Bruce and Newtonmore’s Chris Sellar tussled for possession and referee Deek Cameron penalised the More forward for fouling the Skye defender as he was about to clear. Bruce took the free hit himself and launched the ball into the Newtonmore penalty area where their defenders failed to clear the danger and Angie MacDonald made space to turn and lash the ball into the net. However Skye only held onto the lead for 60 seconds. Straight from the throw up, referee Cameron blew for a foul in favour of the visitors. As the free hit was played forward, Conor Jones got the final touch in front of goal to steer the ball over the line. The Skye defence were forced to cope with a period of Newtonmore pressured but some resolute defending, missed chances and some fine saves from home keeper Ross Graham kept the scores level. Skye came back into the game towards the end of the first half with both wing centres effective – Daniel Morrison was industrious on the right whilst Neil MacVicar showed some good hitting on the left. Just 4 minutes before the break, a goal-bound rocket shot from Ian Grant was stopped in the air by Newtonmore full back Mike Russell. Newtonmore took the lead on 55 minutes when Chris Sellar broke down the right and his cross was swept into the net by David Wilde. Skye’s Jordan Murchison shot goalwards on the hour mark but ‘More keeper Douglas Gray saved well. Murchison thundered a 25 yard effort goalwards 4 minutes later and Gray produced an even better save high above his head. These saves proved vital as Wilde turned and tucked the ball past Graham to make it 3-1 just a minute later. On 70 minutes, the Skye defence failed to clear a ball from the Newtonmore left and Wilde got the slightest touch to the resultant cross and the ball slipped agonisingly over the line to complete his hat-trick. Skye had a chance to get back into the game on 76 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a kick. Full back David Grant stepped forward but he was unable to repeat the goal he scored from the spot the previous week as Gray turned his effort onto the post. Ally MacLeod came on in place on Daniel Morrison who was hampered by a knock on the knee picked up towards the end of the first half. More pressed again and a last gasp challenge from Martin Bruce prevented Mark MacDonald from scoring but the visitors pressed again and Wilde got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble to make it 5-1. Skye full centre Scott Martin received a nasty blow on the nose which required hospital treatment and Calum Gibb came on in his place. 15 year old Chris MacLennan came on for Ian Grant to make his debut for the second team. David Wilde completed a great personal performance when he tucked a way his fifth and Newtonmore’s sixth goal just 4 minutes from the end. The winning margin was harsh on Skye considering the commitment and application shown by the younger players.
Fort William and Lovat met 4 times last season including the finals of both the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup and the Strathdearn Cup with the Fort coming out on top in all 4 meetings. So Lovat will be delighted to have beaten their rivals in their first meeting of this season at Balgate. Martin Anderson put Lovat ahead after 15 minutes and although an own goal drew Fort William level 5 minutes from the break; Owen Ferguson restored Lovat’s advantage on the stroke of half time. There were no second half goals so the spoils went to the home side.
Kinlochshiel got off to a flying start against Beauly in the noon throw up at Braeview Park when 15 year old Jordan Fraser scored the fastest goal of the day in the opening minute. Jack MacDonald had played in both Beauly’s first team games ahead of this match and he showed that the experience had done him no harm when he equalized on 38 minutes. The sides remained level until 2 minutes from the end when Ian Campbell became the Shiel hero by netting the winner.
The meeting between reigning champions Glenurquhart and Kingussie at Blairbeg was, as expected, a close affair. The Glen’s Ewen Brady – who is still eligible for their U14 side – got the strike that separated the teams on 65 minutes.
Glengarry came out on top in the local derby at Invergarry when they beat Kilmallie 2-0. A goal in each half – Martin Cameron after 36 minutes and Steven Cameron after 70 minutes – put ‘Garry top of the table with 2 wins from 2 games.
A bereavement meant that the Marine Harvest South Division 2 match between Tayforth and Bute in Perth was postponed.
Col Glen suffered a crushing 8-0 home defeat to Kyles Athletic. Gus Finlayson scored a hat-trick for Kyles whilst Roddy MacColl went one better with 4 goals. Peter Mobeck got the other.
Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll shared the points in Fife. Craig Anderson scored the opener after 2 minutes and Ewan Forsyth made it 2-0 for the visitors on 15 minutes. However the home side fought back and a double from Doug Newsom after 49 and 64 minutes earned Aberdour a draw. Aberdour and Kyles Athletic are level at the top of the table.
The match between Ballachulish and Strachur was postponed as the pitch at Jubilee Park was ruled unplayable.
The Marine Harvest North Division 3 meeting between Lochcarron and Aberdeen University was postponed as Battery Park was unplayable.
Inverness traveled west to play Ardnamurchan and returned with the points following a morale-boosting 4-3 win. Ardnamurchan’s Craig Lindsay will feel unfortunate to be on the losing side in this exciting match after scoring a hat-trick but a treble from Gordy MacKenzie and a Brian MacKain effort gave the Bught Park side the points.
Caberfeidh returned from Ullapool with both points following a 2-0 win over Lochbroom. Ian MacDonald scored both Cabers goals on 52 and 61 minutes. Cabers join Aberdeen University at the top of the table.
Strathglass were unable to raise a team for their match against Boleskine at Cannich. |