A Glen MacKintosh strike with the last hit of the ball earned Newtonmore a 2-1 victory over a gallant Lochaber side in the 2016 RBS MacTavish Cup Final at a wet Bught Park on Saturday 11 June 2016.
Newtonmore boss Paul John MacKintosh had a powerful squad to choose from. He was pleased to see Norman Campbell get game time in his team’s last two outings following knee surgery. Glen MacKintosh had been nursing a knee injury and had been used sparingly in recent weeks but he joined Campbell in attack. This was a first senior final for ‘More keeper Owen Fraser, a replacement for veteran Michael Ritchie between the sticks. Some fine second team performances earned Darrin Fowler a place on the substitutes’ bench whilst Conor Jones was also included. Chris Sellar was ruled out after breaking down on his return from injury.
Lochaber manager Ally Ferguson had Martin Johnstone, who had been out with a hand injury, back in his usual wing centre position. Ferguson was also boosted by Neil MacDonald’s appearance in the win over Lovat a week earlier and he started on the bench. He was joined there by defender Barry MacDonald who was relieved that his one match ban was served in the Lovat match. Donald MacRae was back from a spell working abroad. The game came too soon for the injured Jack Dignan although he was part of the official party.
This 4.05pm throw up was broadcast LIVE on BBC Alba.
The Inverness Royal British Legion Pipe Band led the teams onto a playing surface which had been well maintained by groundsman Mike MacLeod who set out a pitch 150 yards long, just 5 yards sort of the maximum length.
Lochaber played with the wind advantage in the first half and there was early work for ‘More keeper Owen Fraser when Shaun Nicolson took the ball from Zandz Ferguson and cut in from the left and the goalie saved his shot with his feet before clearing for a corner.
A Zandz Ferguson shot rose over the bar on 6 minutes after a Ben Delaney effort had been blocked and the Spean Bridge men had settled into the match well.
Play switched to the other end and a Norman Campbell free-hit found Glen MacKintosh on the right and he took a touch before sending the ball over the bar.
Glen MacKintosh was penalised for bundling Callum MacDonald over after the keeper had cleared his lines but if he thought the challenge would intimidate the young Lochaber goalie; he was mistaken.
Lochaber returned on the offensive and Stuart Callison just couldn’t steer a shot goalwards on 9 minutes.
Callum MacDonald stopped a Jamie Robinson shot from distance with his feet before clearing the danger and, moments later, when Glen MacKintosh latched onto a long ball down the right; he sliced his shot wide under pressure from John Sweeney.
Iain Robinson shot over the top after some nice Newtonmore passing on 18 minutes.
Ben Delaney tried to wriggle his way through the ‘More defence on 20 minutes but he was brought down by Michael Russell just outside the D which earned the defender the game’s first yellow card. Ben Delaney slipped the free-hit to Stuart Callison but he had to stretch to connect with the ball and his effort went over the top
Newtonmore broke the deadlock on 27 minutes. Iain Robinson played the ball across from the right and Norman Campbell turned to his left, withheld a heavy challenge from Lachlan Campbell and he showed great strength to continue to hold off the Lochaber full back before striking the ball low across the keeper into the net to make it 1-0.
There was no sign of Lochaber buckling though and they drew level just 4 minutes later. Shaun Nicolson won possession following a Newtonmore shy from their left and he found Zandz Ferguson who was allowed too much space around 22 yards from goal. Ferguson took advantage and blasted the ball high into the net to make it 1-1.
Newtonmore were stung and they went back up the park and Callum MacDonald dived to his right to save with his caman, denying Iain Robinson, and the ball was scrambled out for a corner as Lachlan Campbell and Norman Campbell clashed.
Lochaber boss Ally Ferguson made the game’s first change late in the first half as Donald MacRae replaced Shaun Nicolson at wing centre.
With just over a minute of the first half remaining, Lochaber goalie Callum MacDonald dived full length to his right to palm a bouncing Evan Menzies shot away following a Craig Ritchie corner from the right and the first half finished all-square.
Newtonmore now had the elements in their favour in the second half with the wind, if anything, slightly stronger than in during the first period.
‘More defender Michael Russell surged forward 5 minutes into the second half and when the ball broke to Jamie Robinson, his shot bobbled just past Callum MacDonald’s right post.
Callum MacDonald then got his feet behind an Iain Robinson shot from the penalty spot and Lachlan Campbell stepped in to clear the danger.
Norman Campbell got onto a Glen MacKintosh cross from wide on the but his first-time shot flew wide of the keeper’s left post with 56 minutes played.
Referee John Angus Gillies spoke to Lachlan Campbell and Glen MacKintosh after another good natured confrontation.
Newtonmore’s Craig Ritchie took a couple of knocks in quick succession but wasn’t been able to shake them off so Drew MacDonald came on as a direct replacement with 59 minutes on the clock.
Newtonmore came within a whisker of going back in front on the hour when Glen MacKintosh collected an Evan Menzies pass in a central position. MacKintosh had his back to the goal but he turned and unleashed a ferocious shot which cannoned off the junction between post and bar on the keeper’s right side.
Shaun Nicolson returned to the field of play for Brennan MacDonald as the game moved into the final third.
Fraser MacKintosh then took over from Iain Robinson in the Newtonmore attack with 25 minutes to go.
Donald MacRae needed treatment after getting a small piece of grass in the eye. Lochaber fitness trainer Jemma Docker carried out the medic duties, and, when the game restarted, a Norman Campbell shot was deflected wide of MacDonald’s right post.
Lochaber wing back Duncan MacKinnon then required treatment from Docker on 71 minutes.
Newtonmore now had a grip on the game as the Lochaber defence worked hard to protect their goal.
A rare Lochaber attack culminated in a Stuart Callison shot from the left which flashed across goal on 75 minutes
When John Sweeney missed a Norman Campbell cross from wide on the left, Glen MacKintosh was given a clear sight of goal but he seemed to hesitate before shooting and Sweeney recovered brilliantly to make a vital intervention.
Lachlan Campbell was booked for persistent fouling with 10 minutes remaining.
It was becoming increasingly obvious that one goal would settle it and ‘More cut open the Lochaber as Jamie Robinson slipped the ball to Glen MacKintosh on the edge of the D but Callum MacDonald did superbly well to come off his line and he spread himself to keep the ball out.
MacDonald again raced off his line, to his left this time, to smother a Norman Campbell shot at the expense of another corner.
It was constant Newtonmore pressure and Lochaber made changes with Brian MacDonald limping off so Barry MacDonald came on in his place with Zandz Ferguson dropping back into defence.
Kevin Ferguson and Michael Russell challenged for the ball on the touchline in front of the main stand with the Lochaber man going into the book for a late swing which caught his opponent below the knee.
Newtonmore continued to press and Fraser MacKintosh touched the ball to the right before screwing a shot wide.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Glen MacKintosh took a Paul MacArthur pass and powered another swerving shot off the bar and the Scotland forward must have wondered if it just wasn’t going to be his day.
A Glen MacKintosh shot from a Drew MacDonald corner deflected for another corner and for all Newtonmore’s second half pressure, the final was still on level terms.
The final outcome swung on two chances at opposite ends of the park late into the 4 minutes of stoppage time.
Lochaber survived a later series of corners and forged an attack of their own. Shaun Nicolson and Stuart Callison worked the ball down the Lochaber right and Ben Delaney took Kevin Ferguson’s pass with his back and, as Steven MacDonald slipped, Delaney turned but his shot rose agonisingly over the bar.
It was a chance and Lochaber were made to pay just seconds later as Evan Menzies won the ball on the ‘More left following Owen Fraser’s goal-hit. Menzies played the ball forward to Norman Campbell whose cross ran to Glen MacKintosh in a central position. MacKintosh, with his back to goal, went to turn right before quickly turning to his left and hammering the ball low into the corner of the net, beating keeper MacDonald’s outstretched left foot, to win the cup for Newtonmore.
There wasn’t even enough time for referee John Angus Gillies, who had an excellent first senior final, to restart the game.
Inverness first team manger Drew McNeil, a match pundit for broadcasters BBC Alba, selected Lochaber goalie Callum MacDonald as man of the match and it was hard to argue with his decision.
A delighted Newtonmore captain Steven MacDonald was presented with the MacTavish Cup and commemorative caman by sponsors RBS.
Newtonmore from: Owen Fraser; Steven MacDonald (captain), Michael Russell, Andy MacKintosh, Rory Kennedy; Craig Ritchie, Jamie Robinson, Paul MacArthur; Evan Menzies, Glen MacKintosh, Iain Robinson, Norman Campbell; subs Drew MacDonald, Fraser MacKintosh, David Fraser, Conor Jones, Darrin Fowler
Lochaber from: Callum MacDonald; Lachlan Campbell, Duncan MacKinnon, John Sweeney, Brian MacDonald (captain); Martin Johnstone, Brennan MacDonald, Shaun Nicolson; Kevin Ferguson, Stuart Callison, Ben Delaney, Zandz Ferguson; subs Donald MacRae, Barry MacDonald, Neil MacDonald, Findlay MacDonald, Danny Delaney
Match Referee - John Angus Gillies
Goal Judges – Roddy Gillies & Iain Petrie
Linesmen – Andy MacLean & Neil Ferguson
Fourth Official – Deek Cameron
(Picture of MacTavish Cup Courtesy of Donald Cameron)