Lovat Retain RBS MacTavish Cup | |
23 June 2014 Lovat retained the RBS MacTavish Cup with a convincing 5-1 win over Glenurquhart at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 21 June 2014. Glenurquhart co-managers Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies had Andrew Corrigan free of suspension and John Barr, who had been used sparingly in recent weeks, was fit to play. Ally MacKintosh, who has been dogged by injury problems all season, was given a place on the bench. Lovat boss Allan MacRae also had injury concerns ahead of the game. Defender Drew Howie had been involved in a motorbike accident a fortnight earlier but he started in defence. Greg Matheson was also passed fit to play but Michael MacKenzie did not make it back from holiday in enough time to play whilst injury ruled out Jamie Matheson. Glenurquhart won the earlier league encounter between the sides and so went into the final with confidence. Lovat’s gamble to play Drew Howie only lasted a couple of minutes when he had to come off and he was replaced by Fraser Gallacher. The early change didn’t faze the Balgate men though and they went ahead after 5 minutes when Greg Matheson won the ball following a Lewis Tawse on the right and he burst down the right before firing the ball across keeper Stuart MacKintosh into the net to make it 1-0. Glen’s Arran MacDonald collected a Neale Reid cut-back had a shot saved by Stuart MacDonald and Daniel Grieve cleared the danger. Lorne MacKay hit a first time volley wide after Greg Matheson had prevented the Glen defence clearing a Graeme MacMillan cross from the right. Lewis MacLennan crashed wide as the early action swung from end-to-end. A ball from Lorne MacKay found Greg Matheson on his left side but he put the ball over the top. John Barr fouled Lorne MacKay and Graeme MacMillan’s free-hit picked out Kevin Bartlett who ran back before turning and sending a low shot across goal, bouncing narrowly wide of Stuart MacKintosh’s left post As the rain started to fall midway through the half, Stuart MacDonald made a great save from a low Kevin Bartlett shot on the right. Fraser Heath caught Greg Matheson across the leg inside the D in the ensuing scramble and Ryan Ferguson was booked for his complaint. Lovat were forced to make their second change as Matheson had to go off with Gavin MacAulay coming on in his place. A second Lovat goal was coming and it arrived on 28 minutes. Stuart MacKintosh saved with his legs from Lorne MacKay but Kevin Bartlett pounced to slot home the rebound which made it 2-0. After an even opening, it was now almost all one-way traffic and a third goal followed on 33 minutes. A Daniel Grieve ball from the right was deflected into the path of Graeme MacMillan on his left side and he beat Stuart MacKintosh in style, tucking the ball home inside the keeper’s right post and Lovat led 3-0 and had one hand on the cup. Graeme MacMillan was hit on the head by Euan Lloyd just after he had cleared the ball from midfield. He had to go off for treatment with blood coming down the back of his neck and Greg Matheson returned to the action in his place. The Glen took the chance to make their first change with David MacLennan replacing James MacPherson Greg Matheson showed super skill to juggle the ball across goal on 39 minutes. Stuart MacKintosh slid in to save with his legs before the ball was scrambled away for a corner. David Smart was booked for persistent fouling on 43 minutes after catching Ryan Ferguson on the foot with a late swing. It was a content Lovat side who went into the break three goals to the good. The Glen attacked straight from the restart and Arran MacDonald slipped the ball to Neale Reid and his shot from distance flew wide of target. Graeme MacMillan was back on the field and he picked a terrific Lewis Tawse pass in space and raced in on goal and although he didn’t catch the ball as he would have liked, it deceived keeper MacKintosh and bounced back off the face of the post. The game’s third booking went to Kevin Bartlett for speaking out of turn. Callum Cruden was next to be yellow carded for a wild swing which caught David Smart on the back of the head. Neale Reid looked sure to pull a goal back after collecting a Lewis MacLennan ball on 62 minutes but Stuart MacDonald showed his class, stretching to save the ball at his right post. Lovat went further ahead on 64 minutes. A John Barr foul on Graeme MacMillan drew a free-hit and when MacKintosh saved Bartlett’s shot, Lorne MacKay held off Barr to smash the rebound low into the net to make it 4-0. Kevin Bartlett beat Andrew Corrigan in a race for the ball on the right on 66 minutes but he put his effort wide of goal. Stuart MacDonald did well to palm away an Eddie Tembo shot through a ruck of players on 72 minutes. It was to be Tembo’s last action of the afternoon as he was replaced by Callum Smith. Stuart MacDonald made a fantastic save above his head from Neale Reid on 81 minutes. Glenurquhart pulled a goal back with 5 minutes remaining. Lewis MacLennan got on the end of a Callum Smith pass and made space before firing low into the net on his left side to make it 4-1. Iain Nicolson made a late substitute appearance for Lovat. Lorne MacKay was about to shoot on 90 minutes but Andrew Corrigan threw his stick into his patch. The resultant free hit was well-worked and saw the same players combine as Lewis Tawse found Lorne MacKay wide on the left and he sent a sweetly struck shot into the back of the net to make it 5-1. Callum Smith seemed to have scored a second Glenurquhart goal at the death. His shot looked to have spun out of the inside frame of the goal but neither goal judge nor referee agreed. Neale Reid was booked for his protests. Lovat full centre Ryan Ferguson was named man of the match after dominating the middle of the park throughout the game. Lovat captain Stuart MacDonald lifted the MacTavish Cup in front of a delighted Lovat support. Glenurquhart from: Stuart MacKintosh; John Barr, Andrew Corrigan, Euan Lloyd, Fraser Heath; James Hurwood; Eddie Tembo (captain), Arran MacDonald; David Smart, Lewis MacLennan, James MacPherson, Neale Reid; subs David MacLennan, Callum Smith, Ross MacAulay, Ally MacKintosh, Billy Urquhart Lovat from: Stuart MacDonald (captain): Drew Howie, Craig Mainland, Daniel Grieve, Calum Cruden; Owen Ferguson, Ryan Ferguson, Lewis Tawse; Greg Matheson, Graeme MacMillan, Kevin Bartlett, Lorne MacKay; subs Fraser Gallacher, Calum MacAulay, Iain Nicolson, Martin Mainland Match Referee – Innes Wood Goal Judges – Robert Watson, Iain Petrie Linesmen – Andy MacLean, Evan MacRae Scorers: Lovat Greg Matheson (5) Kevin Bartlett (28) Graeme MacMillan (33) Lorne MacKay (64, 90+1) Glenurquhart Lewis MacLennan (85) |