Lovat Retain Lovat Cup | |
04 January 2017 Lovat won the 2017 Lovat Cup with a convincing 5-2 victory over Beauly at Braeview Park on Monday 2 January 2017. Lovat went into the game as favourites as they finished seventh in the Marine Harvest Premiership last season - only behind Kingussie and Glenurquhart on goal difference – whilst Beauly ended the year in fourth spot in the Marine Harvest National Division. However Lovat Cup games have been notoriously close affairs in recent years with league positions not always proving to be a defining influence. As a good sized crowd of over 1,000 shinty supporters from across the country gathered for this 1pm throw up New Beauly boss Alan MacRae was on holiday so Jamie MacLennan and Neil Brindle took charge of the side. There was a start in midfield for Barrie MacDonald who missed chunks of the 2016 season through injury. The Influential David MacLean was deployed at buckshee back but Colin MacDonald was missing. Lovat have yet to appoint a new manager so former boss John MacRitchie remained in the dugout for one last time. Craig Mainland and Mark Kelly were ruled out through injury whilst the big team news saw reserve keeper Ronan MacMillan given a first team debut as Scotland goalie Stuart MacDonald was on holiday. It was widely reported that this was to be Kevin Bartlett’s last match for Lovat ahead of a return to Caberfeidh and he started on the bench. Defender Michael MacKenzie and forward Calum MacAulay were also missing. Although it was overcast, the rain stayed away and the players were piped out onto the field by legendary piper Duncan MacGillivray. There’s was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up as a mark of respect for Andy Thursby who lived in Kiltarlity and who passed away following a road accident on Hogmanay. Lovat made a whirlwind start to the game, launching wave after wave of attack on the Beauly goal, and scoring four goals in a blistering opening 16 minute spell. The writing was on the wall in the opening minute when Lovat took the lead with the first attack of the game. Danny Kelly played a free-hit down the Lovat right and there seemed little danger when Greg Matheson gathered possession but he beat defender Ewen Campbell and cut inside before playing a short one-two with Lorne MacKay and then finding Graeme MacMillan the back of the D and MacMillan confidently swept the ball into the net to make it 1-0. It was a heavy pitch but that didn’t deter the visitors and, moments later, Graeme MacMillan played in Greg Matheson but his low shot went just wide of keeper Josh Grant’s left post. Lovat doubled their advantage on 11 minutes. Ryan Ferguson played in a corner from the right which fell for Lorne MacKay at the back post and his shot went by the legs of goalie Josh Grant to make it 2-0. Lovat continued to dominate and, following a melee on the right of the Lovat midfield, Ryan Ferguson played the ball forward to Greg Matheson and he showed great determination to hold off a couple of challenges before slipping the ball low past the on-rushing keeper to make it 3-0 with just 14 minutes played. The dream start continued and Lovat were having plenty success down their right flank. A couple of minutes later, Lewis Tawse crossed a high ball from the right and Greg Matheson stretched to knock the ball down into the path of Graeme MacMillan and he moved into position before striking the ball home on his left side to make it 4-0. Lovat threatened to run riot and Josh Grant made a good save above his head to deny Greg Matheson and although the ball dropped in the mud, the keeper got it away to safety. Grant then took a Lorne MacKay shot from distance out of the air by his right post. Lovat were forced to make the first change of the game after 25 minutes when Graeme MacMillan, who had been linking up particularly well with Greg Matheson, limped off with a tight hamstring to be replaced by Kevin Bartlett. Beauly made their first change shortly after with Ross Forbes, who had dropped back into defence, replace by Greg Tillman. Beauly pulled a goal back on 33 minutes. Conor Ross floated in a corner from the left and Lovat failed to get the ball away which allowed wing centre Sandy Elrick to push forward on the right side to score. Josh Grant saved a low Kevin Bartlett shot by his post, knocking the ball to safety at the expense of a corner. Beauly’s Jack MacDonald became the first player to find his way into referee Deek Cameron’s book following a midfield clash and the first half ended with Lovat in control. However Beauly made the better start to the second half and they made it 4-2 on 48 minutes when a 22 yard Conor Ross strike was saved by teenage keeper Ronan MacMillan but Jack MacDonald was quickly onto the rebound to score. Beauly passed up a free-hit opportunity before Lovat restored their three goal cushion on 55 minutes. Greg Matheson played the ball forward into the Beauly defence and Kevin Bartlett charged down an attempted clearance before his shot, at the second attempt, from a tight angle on the left, appeared to go into the net off keeper Grant to make it 5-2. Play switched to the other end and another free-hit chance for Beauly saw Robbie Brindle’s shot blocked for a corner by Lovat keeper Ronan MacMillan. MacMillan then made a superb save to his right to keep out a crisp 25 yard shot from Conor Ross which was going just inside the post. Beauly brought on Rory Campbell before Ronan MacMillan saved a low Jack MacDonald shot. Lovat then introduced Euan Ferguson for Ryan Ferguson on 72 minutes in what could be the former’s final appearance before taking up a job in England. Play continued to flow from end to end and Lovat survived a goalmouth scramble before Bailey MacKay replaced Lorne MacKay in the Lovat attack with 76 minutes played. Greg Matheson and Kevin Bartlett combined to win possession in midfield with Matheson surging forward and picking out Bailey MacKay on the Lovat right but his shot went wide. Kevin Bartlett cut in from the left but his strike was well saved above his head by Josh Grant and Lovat had to settle for a corner on their left. A good shot from Jack MacDonald was blocked but the rebound fell back into MacDonald’s path but he steered the ball wide of goal. The chances continued and a turn and shot from Conor Ross went just the wrong side of the post with 6 minutes remaining. Lovat finished strongly and good play from Martin Mainland and Greg Matheson set up a chance for Bailey MacKay but his shot flashed across goal. With just 3 minutes remaining, Euan Ferguson flicked the ball on to Kevin Bartlett who showed great skill to control the ball, juggle it on his caman and then lob it over keeper Josh Grant but, with Bartlett ready to turn away in celebration, the ball dropped in the mud which allowed keeper Grant to dash back towards goal and clear the danger. Euan Ferguson then gathered a Martin Mainland pass but sent the ball rising just over the bar. The final whistle was warmly greeted by the Lovat camp. Greg Matheson, who was creative throughout, was best for the Balgate side, closely followed by Danny Kelly whilst young Scott MacKenzie in defence looks a real prospect. David MacLean was Beauly’s top performer and there will be work for new boss Alan MacRae to do ahead of the start of the new season. Lovat captain Drew Howie was presented with the Lovat Cup by the 16th Lord Lovat, Simon Fraser with Beauly officials David Calder and Iain Petrie in attendance. Beauly from: Josh Grant; Andrew Morrison, Ryan MacKay, Ewen Campbell, David MacLean (captain); Sandy Elrick, Barrie MacDonald, Calum Morrison; Robbie Brindle, Ross Forbes, Jack MacDonald, Conor Ross; subs Rory Campbell, Elliot Moir, Greg Tillman, Oran MacPherson, Davie Lamont, Liam Mutch Lovat from: Ronan MacMillan; Drew Howie (captain), Scott MacKenzie, Daniel Grieve, Danny Kelly; Lewis Tawse, Callum Cruden, Martin Mainland; Lorne MacKay, Ryan Ferguson, Graeme MacMillan, Greg Matheson; subs Kevin Bartlett, Euan Ferguson, Bailey MacKay Match Referee – Deek Cameron |