The Shinty Round Up - Saturday 10 February 2018 | |
11 February 2018 Some matches beat the elements as the latest round of pre-season friendlies took place on Saturday 10 February 2018.
Lovat 4 Fort William 1 Fort William and Lovat were to meet at An Aird but an unplayable pitch led to a switch of venue to Balgate. On a bitterly cold day, both teams had absentees with Callum Cruden missing for Lovat whilst the Fort travelled without Bryan Simpson. Lovat started with Marc Kelly and Chris Johnston in the wing back positions whilst Craig Mainland and the excellent Scott MacKenzie flanked full centre Danny Kelly in the midfield. Fort William had Jack Fraser at full forward and Padraig McNeil at wing centre. Play flowed from end to end before Lovat took a 10 minute lead. Craig Mainland pushed forward from midfield and his strike flew over keeper Paul MacKay and into the net. The hosts doubled their lead late in the first half. The ball broke to Marc MacLachlan on the right of the D and he sent a powerful shot into the net to make it 2-0 at the break. Lovat extended their lead on the hour mark. Greg Matheson fought for possession and his shot was well saved by Paul MacKay but the ball rebounded to Marc MacLachlan who calmly leathered the ball into the net. Fort William, with Victor Smith and Grant Disher given first team debuts, had chances in the game and, with 5 minutes remaining, Calum Shepherd pulled a goal back with a low strike to make it 3-1. Lovat restored their three goal cushion a minute later. Greg Matheson went wide to gather the ball. Matheson initially shielded the ball and looked for a pass. However with no obvious options, he turned and thundered a shot goalwards which went across keeper MacKay into the far corner of the net, leaving the goalie helpless. It was a superb strike and Lovat manager Fraser Gallacher will have been pleased with how well Greg Matheson and Marc MacLachlan linked up in attack. Referee Archie Ritchie’s final whistle signalled a 4-1 Lovat win.
Ballachulish 3 Strathspey Camanachd 1 Ballachulish and Strathspey Camanachd were initially to play at the Jubilee Park. The astro pitch in Kinlochleven had been put on stand-by and it was called into action when The Jubilee was deemed unplayable on Saturday morning. When the action began, goals from Duncan MacDonald, Scott Henderson and Lewis Bryson gave Balla’ a 3-1 win with Chris Cameron bagging the Strath goal. There was also a meeting between the club’s youth sides at the same venue earlier in the day. Strathspey were 2-1 winners in that one with Struan Ross and Jack Nelson cancelling out Ross MacLean’s effort.
Kingussie 1 Caberfeidh 1 (Kingussie won 3-2 on penalties) Kingussie and Caberfeidh had their annual meeting for the William MacPherson Plate in memory of Bill MacPherson who was a significant figure for both clubs. The game went ahead at Dunbarry with a 1.30pm throw up and Cabers went into the match as holders. Two Scottish internationals were to the fore as Lee Bain for the Kings and Kevin Bartlett for Cabers made it 1-1 at full time. There was plenty of excitement in the resultant penalty shoot-out. The sides were level at two goals apiece after the first ten penalties. Savio Genini and Roddy Young both missed the target with their Kingussie penalties before Lee Bain’s effort was saved by Cabers’ keeper Ewan Pilcher. Alexander Michie and Kieran MacPherson both netted for Kingussie and Cabers also scored twice but Kingussie goalie Craig Dawson saved from Kevin Bartlett, Craig Morrison and Blair Morrison. At 2-2, the shoot-out then went to sudden death. This time Savio Genini scored for Kingussie whilst Craig Dawson made his fourth penalty save to deny Craig Morrison and give Kingussie victory.
Beauly 2 Glenurquhart 1 A waterlogged pitch at Blairbeg meant the meeting between the Glenurquhart and Beauly first teams was transferred to Braeview Park. A debut goal from Callum Flynn gave Beauly the lead. Connor Golabeck drew the Glen level but Jack MacDonald scored what proved to be the winner for Alan MacRae’s Beauly side to notch an impressive 2-1 win against top flight opposition.
Glenurquhart 3 Beauly 2 The Glenurquhart and Beauly second teams lined up at the astro pitch at Drumnadrochit. Callum Flynn scored twice in the second half for Beauly but goals from TJ Van Loom, Ben Hosie and Callum Miller gave the Glen a 3-2 victory.
Aberdour 0 Kyles Athletic 4 A more experienced visiting Kyles Athletic side were 4-0 winners in their 1pm throw up against Aberdour at Silversands. Roddy MacDonald and Sandy MacKenzie both scored twice for Kyles. Kyles gave a debut to new signing Neil MacVicar from Skye and he played the final 25 minutes of the match in the forward line.
Newtonmore 2 Kingussie 2 The Badenoch reserve team derby between Newtonmore and Kingussie was originally scheduled for The Eilan. An unplayable field led to a Friday switch to Dunbarry with an 11.30am throw up; ahead of Kingussie’s senior meeting with Caberfeidh. A 9am Saturday morning pitch inspection ruled that the pitch could take two games and, in the end, it was honours even as the sides drew two-each. Russell Menzies and a first goal in Kingussie colours for Sandy Elrick counted for the Kings. However Craig MacLeod and Chris Sellar for ‘More made it 2-2 and ensured a share of the spoils. This was a well contested match between two impressive young sides.
Oban Camanachd P Oban Celtic P Shinty supporters in Oban were left frustrated as the derby meeting between Oban Camanachd and Oban Celtic was called off on Saturday morning as Mossfield was unplayable.
Lochside Rovers P Glengarry P Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions Lochside Rovers were to play host to Glengarry, newly promoted to Marine Harvest North Division 1 after winning the North 2 title. However, the game was called off on Thursday when it became clear that Ganavan would not be playable.
Strathglass P Skye Camanachd P With Cannich hit hard by frost, there was no option but to call off the clash between Strathglass and Skye Camanachd.
Skye Camanachd P Lewis Camanachd P There was disappointment for the Skye Camanachd second team and Lewis Camanachd when their meeting at Pairc nan Laoch was postponed as the Portree pitch was unplayable. With it being 100 years since the end of World War 1, the teams will try to contest the John “Kaid” MacLean Cup later in the season.
Inveraray P Kinlochshiel P The clash between Marine Harvest National Division side Inveraray and Marine Harvest Premiership champions Kinlochshiel was called off as The Winterton was unplayable. This was ‘Shiel’s second cancelation in successive weeks.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Newtonmore P Heavy overnight rain led to the cancelation of the 2.30pm start between the Glasgow Mid Argyll and Newtonmore first team at Yoker.
Taynuilt P Col Glen P Taynuilt and Col Glen were to contest the Jake Matheson Cup at the Taynuilt Sports Field. However it was too wet for the game to go ahead so new Col Glen boss Ronnie MacVicar will have to wait for his first game in charge. |