The Saturday Shinty Snapshot – Saturday 24 August 2013 | |
25 August 2013 Orion Group Premiership leaders Newtonmore won the Badenoch derby and Bute’s Robert Walker scored an impressive seven goals following the shinty fixtures on Saturday 24 August 2013.
Orion Group Premiership Kingussie 1 Newtonmore 6 Newtonmore have the Badenoch bragging rights following their 6-1 win over Kingussie at the Dell. This 4.05pm throw up was televised live on BBC Alba and by the time the game started, Lovat had won their fixture and gone a point clear at the top of the table. However they weren’t to be there for long. Kingussie had Fraser Munro back from suspension and Louis Munro returned following a spell abroad but they also had several notable absentees including Paul Gow, Ryan Borthwick and Ronald Ross who is still hampered by a knee injury sustained against Kinlochshiel a few weeks ago. Work commitments meant that Lee Bain and Savio Genini would be late arrivals so they started on the bench. Newtonmore captain Jamie Robinson served the first game of a two match ban following his red car in the Artemis Macaulay Cup Final last weekend and Scott Chisholm started in his place and took the captain’s armband. Injury ruled out Rory Kennedy and Steven MacDonald took up a place on the bench. Kingussie took the lead with just over 2 minutes played. Glen MacKintosh turned his marker and was allowed to run at the heart of the Kingussie defence. Craig Dawson saved MacKintosh’s shot, low at his right post but the ball flew up in the air and Danny MacRae reacted first to knock the rebound into the net. Craig Dawson made a tremendous save from a Chris Sellar drive moments later. Newtonmore doubled their advantage on 17 minutes when a Chris Sellar free hit caught the Kingussie defence on their heels and Glen MacKintosh took advantage to fire home. Newtonmore’s Ackie MacRae had to leave the field for treatment to a cut head – bizarrely caused by team mate Michael Ritchie’s caman – and Blair MacKintosh came on in his place. The change didn’t affect Newtonmore’s rhythm though and Glen MacKintosh played in Danny MacRae on 22 minutes and he slotted the ball low into the net to get his second and ‘More’s third goal. There seemed little danger when Fraser MacKintosh collected a Danny MacRae pass on the left on 26 minutes but MacKintosh looked up and drove the ball high into the net to make it 4-0. Danny MacRae hit the post from another Chris Sellar free hit on 33 minutes and although Fraser MacKintosh put the ball in the net from the rebound, it was ruled out by referee David Mitchell for pushing. Michael Ritchie was tested on 37 minutes when he had to palm away a Thomas Borthwick shot following a Fraser Munro free hit. Kingussie’s Lee Bain, who was delayed because of work commitments, came on for Chris Holleysong with 6 minutes of the first half remaining. Kingussie were starting to enjoy a period of pressure and Lee Bain played a one-two with Rory MacGregor but he pushed the ball past the post when he seemed sure to score. John MacKenzie came on for Chris Sellar for the visitors. The Kingussie goal survived a scramble following a corner in first half stoppage time and there was still time from Craig Dawson to block a John MacKenzie effort. Ackie MacRae returned to the action in place of Michael Russell at the start of the second half and Newtonmore’s John MacKenzie and Kingussie’s Rory MacGregor both went close. Glen MacKintosh made space for himself on 59 minutes before firing the ball past Craig Dawson to make it 5-0. Kingussie veteran Kevin Than replaced Rory MacGregor with an hour played and Steven MacDonald replaced Paul MacArthur moments later. Kevin Thain passed up a good chance on 63 minutes following some bustling play from Lee Bain. Newtonmore’s Cameron Binnie collected the game’s only yellow card on 68 minutes for a trip on Thomas Borthwick as the Kingussie man broke down the left wing. Fraser Munro shot wide from the resultant free-hit. Fraser MacKintosh nipped in to make it 6-0 from a John MacKenzie corner on the left on 79 minutes. Kingussie’s Louis Munro scored a consolation goal 5 minutes from time after good lead up play from Kevin Thain. Craig Dawson saved well from Fraser MacKintosh moments later. Ally Walker replaced Daren Hanlon for Kingussie for the closing minutes whilst Paul MacArthur came back on at full back in place of Norman Campbell.
Kyles Athletic 1 Inveraray 2 Inveraray did the league double over Kyles Athletic with a 2-1 win in their 3pm throw up at Tighnabruaich. Kyles were without suspended pair David Zavaroni and Andrew King. The former has a one match ban whilst the latter is suspended for two games – both for a points accumulation. Zac Coley returned to the Kyles defence in Andrew King’s place and Rupert Williamson also started. Manger Norman MacDonald also threw a surprise by leaving out forwards Roddy MacDonald and Tomas Whyte with, no doubt, the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final against Newtonmore in mind. Things were going to plan for the home side when John Whyte put them ahead on 16 minutes with the only goal of the first half. However Inveraray player / co-manager Garry MacPherson drew parity when he made it 1-1 on the hour mark. The winning goal came 7 minutes from time with Lewis MacNicol the hero for the visitors. The win removes any relegation fears Inveraray may have had but Kyles still have work to do to cement their top division status.
Lochaber 2 Fort William 1 Lochaber came out on top in their 2pm derby meeting with Fort William at Spean Bridge. Lochaber had Neil MacDonald free of suspension but Ben Delaney was missing as was |Martin Johnstone who was on holiday. Duncan Rodger was back in the Fort William line up. Kevin Ferguson also returned for Lochaber and he put them ahead after just 4 minutes. However Fort William drew level on 22 minutes with Duncan Rodger getting the goal and it remained that way until the interval. Scott Paterson won the game for Lochaber with a 79 minute strike which could be a fatal blow to Fort William’s hope of beating relegation.
Oban Camanachd 1 Lovat 4 Lovat beat Oban Camanachd 4-1 in their 2pm throw up at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd have already accepted that they drop into the national second tier next season and they are building up their squad with that in mind so there was a place for Scotland U17 forward Sean Morgan. Lovat manager Allan MacRae was without defender Drew Howie who served a one match ban for a points accumulation but Callum Cruden returned after serving a two match ban. Martin Mainland was still injured. Greg Matheson has been playing at full centre for Lovat in recent weeks but he started in attack and he gave Lovat the lead after 8 minutes. Greg Matheson went on to complete his hat-trick with second half goals on 57 and 67 minutes. Sean Morgan pulled a goal back on 74 minutes but Kevin Bartlett rounded off the 4-1 win with an 81 minutes strike.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 2 Beauly 2 Strathglass gained a creditable point with a 2-2 draw with Beauly in their 2pm throw up at Cannich. Sean Stewart got the visitors off to a great start with a goal in the opening minute. Scott Douglas levelled for Strathglass on 20 minutes and the sides remained on level terms until the hour mark when Jack MacDonald put Beauly back in front. However Strathglass were not to be denied and Robert Geddes drew them level for a second time on 75 minutes. This was a tough encounter and whilst Beauly were wasteful in front of goal, Strathglass made the most of their chances. The sides meet again, also at Cannich, in a fortnight’s time.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 8 Oban Celtic 0 Mark Bain gave league leaders Glasgow Mid Argyll a 7 minute lead in their 1.30pm throw up with Oban Celtic at Yoker. Craig Anderson scored his 30th goal of the season just 4 minutes later to make it 2-0. Three more goals in a four minute burst put GMA out of sight. Mark Bain got his second on 18 minutes and Craig Anderson got his second a couple of minutes later. Euan Forsyth made it 5-0 on 20 minutes. Mark Bain got GMA’s sixth on the stroke of half time to complete his hat-trick. Oban Celtic rallied in the second half although GMA did add two more goals in the closing stages. Nick Lavin, last weekend’s match winner against Bute, made it 7-0 on 85 minutes and Mark Bain got his fourth a couple of minutes later to make it 8-0. GMA are just two games away from clinching the title.
Bute 12 Strachur 0 Robert Walker scored seven times as Bute ran riot, putting twelve goals past Strachur in their 3.30pm throw up at the Meadows. Strachur were without keeper Ewan MacDonald who started a two match ban so Stewart Nairn took over in goal. Robert Ferguson gave Bute a 14 minute lead and Gordon MacMillan added a second on 20 minutes. Robert Walker made it 3-0 on 22 minutes and Robert Ferguson’s second made it 4-0 a couple of minutes later. Robert Walker got his second on 32 minutes and Robert Walker completed his hat-trick on 36 minutes. Robert Walker then went nap and he notched a double hat-trick with goals on 38, 43, 46 and 57 minutes to take the score into double figures. Bute boss Graham Fisher took the chance to introduce some of his young substitutes and there was no further scoring until 86 minutes when Robert Walker got his seventh goal of the afternoon to make it 11-0. John MacCallum rounded off the haul of a dozen goals with a strike a minute from time. The big win did not make much inroads on GMA’s goal difference advantage given that the Glasgow side also had a big win.
Taynuilt 2 Glenorchy 2 Taynuilt came from two goals down to earn a draw against Glenorchy in their 2pm throw up at the Playing Fields. Conor Sartain put the visitors ahead on 18 minutes with the only goal of the first half. Graeme MacKechnie made it 2-0 on 56 minutes but the home side had the chance to get back in the game a minute later when referee David Stafford awarded them a penalty. Alan Duffy took responsibility and he stepped up to score from the spot. Stuart Scott got the equalising goal on 72 minutes for Taynuilt who had Stuart Gillies sent off.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Newtonmore 5 Kinlochshiel 0 Newtonmore stay out in front at the top of the table following their 5-0 win over Kinlochshiel in their 1pm throw up at the Eilan. The ’Shiel defence found Newtonmore’s Calum Stewart to be too hot to handle and he bagged a first half hat-trick with goals on 35, 37 and 44 minutes. Calum Stewart got his and Newtonmore’s fourth 10 minutes into the second half and a 69 minute Sam Richardson strike rounded off a 5-0 victory.
Glengarry 1 Lovat 1 Second place Lovat dropped a point in a surprise 1-1 draw in their 3pm throw up with Glengarry at Craigard. The visitors were short of players and manager Graeme MacMillan made a substitute appearance as did coach John MacRitchie. Glengarry’s Scott MacDonald was missing as he starts a four match suspension following his red card against Skye Camanachd a fortnight ago. The goals came late in the game with Martin Cameron putting Glengarry ahead after 72 minutes and Thomas Fraser levelling just a couple of minutes later. The Balgate side return to the same venue next weekend to face Kinlochshiel in the Strathdearn Cup Final.
Aberdeen University 2 Skye Camanachd 4 Skye Camanachd came from two goals down to beat Aberdeen University 4-2 in their 2pm throw up at Balgownie. Skye Camanachd second team manager Murdo Morrison was unavailable so captain David Grant looked after the side. He was without suspended duo David MacInnes, who starts a two match ban following his red card against Glengarry, and Andrew Banks, who serves a one game ban for a points accumulation. Defender DJ Gilpin and forward Paul MacKinnon returned to the side and there was also a place for Jordan Murchison. U17 keeper Raymond Gillies took over in goal, making him the seventh goalkeeper to represent the Islanders first and second teams this season. Mark Fraser steered the ball into the net on 17 minutes to give the Students the lead. John Sweeney produced a great finish to make it 2-0 just 10 minutes into the second half and that’s the way it stayed until 13 minutes from time. Jordan Murchison hit a quick-fire double with goals on 77 and 79 minutes to level the game. Angie MacDonald put Skye in front for the first time in the match when he made it 3-2 on 85 minutes and Paul MacKinnon sealed the win with a goal a minutes from time. Jenna Beaton made a late substitute appearance for the Islanders, making her the second ladies player after Sarah Corrigall, to represent Skye at senior level.
Beauly 8 Fort William 1 Beauly were too strong for Fort William as they ran out 8-1 winners in their noon throw up at Braeview Park. Sandy Elrick followed up his two goals against Kinlochshiel last weekend with a goal after just 2 minutes from a Martin Davidson pass. Beauly full forward Martin Davidson added a double on 11 and 32 minutes to make it 3-0. Sandy Elrick got his second on 42 minutes and Robbie Brindle added a fifth on the stroke of half time, after Fort William keeper Garry MacKay had saved from Ewan Campbell, to leave Beauly in control. Fort William rallied and there was 78 minutes gone before Robbie Brindle got his second to make it 6-0 after Sandy Elrick had seen his shot saved. Martin Davidson completed his hat-trick a couple of minutes later as he blasted the ball home to make it 7-0. Sandy Elrick completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes after good lead up play from Liam Symonds. Davie Duncan’s 85 minutes goal was just a consolation for Fort William.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Kyles Athletic 1 Ballachulish 1 The top of the table noon clash between Kyles Athletic and Ballachulish finished all square at Tighnabruaich. John MacDonald was free of suspension and started for Balla’. After a goalless first half, John MacDonald put the visitors ahead on 65 minutes. However a Brandon Wilson strike on 81 minutes made it 1-1 and means that Kyles will have to wait and see if Balla’ can win their final three matches – away to Bute and Aberdour and at home to Inveraray - which would see the sides level on points at the top of the league. Ballachulish would have the better goal difference but the title would be decided by a play-off according to league rules.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Lochcarron 7 Inverness 0 Lochcarron go second in the table following their 7-0 win over Inverness in their 2pm throw up at Battery Park. Alan MacKenzie, Gregor Cushnie twice, Kenny Cushnie, Alasdair Shilaker, Kenny Murray and David Bauermeister all counted for the home side.
Kilmallie P Strathspey Camanachd P The 2pm throw up between Kilmallie and Strathspey was postponed because of a bereavement.
Lewis Camanachd W/O v Lochbroom There was disappointment for Lewis Camanachd as their final home match of the season against Lochbroom did not go ahead as the visitors were unable to raise a team.2pm. Lewis were awarded the points. |