The RBS MacTavish Cup and Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup ties all went to form on Saturday 16 April 2016.
RBS MacTavish Cup – Quarter Finals
Caberfeidh 1 Glenurquhart 5
RBS MacTavish Cup holders Glenurquhart saw off lower-league opposition as they defeated Caberfeidh 5-1 at Cannich.
Glenurquhart, fresh from their trip to New York a week earlier, got off to the perfect start when a Neale Reid double had them 2-0 ahead with just 3 minutes played.
The Castle Leod surface was bobbly in places and when a ball played across the edge of the D took an awkward bounce and was missed by a defender, Reid took advantage to smash the ball into the net to make it 1-0 in the opening minute.
A couple of minutes later, Reid turned and fired a shot goalwards which hit keeper Ewan Pilcher before going into the net off the post.
The Glen .took the 2-0 lead into the break and they also struck early in the second half with Neale Reid completing his hat-trick on 48 minutes. This time he collected possession before turning and bulleting a shot into the middle of the net to make it 3-0.
Andrew Corrigan made it 4-0 just 4 minutes later following a neat move forward. Neale Reid picked up the ball in the buckshee forward position and he found Fraser Heath on the wing. Heath played the ball in first time to Corrigan at the edge of the D and he turned before striking the ball low into the corner of the net.
Neale Reid rounded off a fine individual display on 60 minutes when he scored his fourth goal of the afternoon. Cabers’ keeper Pilcher failed to get distance on a clearance and Reid tracked back, away from goal, to collect the ball and he turned and sent a drive into the bottom right corner of the net.
A David Mellis goal on 78 minutes was only consolation for the homes side
Skye Camanachd 0 Newtonmore 4
Skye Camanachd and Newtonmore met in the only all-Premiership RBS MacTavish Cup quarter-final tie.
Skye boss John MacLeod was minus Shockie MacLennan and Iain Nicolson who were both working. Iain Murray sustained a broken finger in training on the previous Thursday. The Skye boss was also minus Will Cowie and the injured Ally “Spod” MacLeod. Chris MacLennan returned after playing for the seconds the previous weekend and there were call-ups for David MacInnes and DJ Gilpin.
Newtonmore boss Paul John MacKintosh had Paul MacArthur back after he missed the previous weekend’s 3-0 win over Lochaber in their Marine Harvest Premiership meeting at Spean Bridge. Norman Campbell took the field for last match for at least 6 weeks as he is scheduled to have knee surgery. Keeper Owen Fraser was free of his two match suspension so he took over from Michael Ritchie in goal. Fraser MacKintosh was missing whilst Jamie Robinson continued his comeback from injury with the second team.
Glen MacKintosh put Newtonmore ahead after 6 minutes when he controlled a Paul MacArthur shy before sending a 20 yard waist-high shot into the net to make it 1-0.
Skye had to make an early change with David MacInnes replacing Allan MacKinnon who had been carrying an injury going into the game.
Skye created some chances without really threatening keeper Owen Fraser but it was the visitors who doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when Evan Menzies collected a pass from Glen MacKintosh and, with little back-lift, he sent a 12 yard past Skye keeper Jamie Gannon.
Menzies then gave ‘More a 3-0 interval advantage with his second goal on 39 minutes. Drew MacDonald sent a corner to the back post where Menzies tucked the ball home.
Evan Menzies completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes following a great move and he picked up a reverse pass from Glen MacKintosh before sending the ball into the far corner of the net to seal the 4-0 win.
Newtonmore now face Glenurquhart in the RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals on Saturday 14 May 2016 in what is a repeat of the 2015 final.
Beauly 3 Lochaber 5
Lochaber had to fight all the way to see off Beauly; winning 5-3 in their 3pm throw up at Braeview Park.
Beauly boss Stephen MacLean was without the suspended Ryan MacKay who served a one game ban for passing the disciplinary points threshold. Play-maker Barrie MacDonald remained sidelined through injury.
Lochaber manager Ally Ferguson also had absentees. Brian MacDonald and Neil MacDonald were still out through injury whilst Donald MacRae was working and Zandz Ferguson remained unavailable. Keeper Callum MacDonald was unwell so second team goalie Bryn Whittaker took over between the sticks.
Beauly got off to the best possible start when Ross Forbes scored with just 2 minutes played.
The visitors settled into the tie though and Stuart Callison levelled from close-range on 19 minutes with Shaun Nicolson the provider.
Lochaber took a grip of the tie and Josh Grant made some fine saves in the home goal before he was beaten on 42 minutes by a superb Shaun Nicolson strike from well out.
Ben Delaney made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time when he combined with Stuart Callison to score.
Beauly fought their way back into the tie though and Conor Ross narrowed the deficit to a single goal on 65 minutes with Jack MacDonald the provider.
However the Spean Bridge side restored their two-goal advantage on 75 minutes when Ben Delaney grabbed his second to make it 4-2.
Again the home side showed their mettle and Calum Morrison made it 4-3 just a minute later.
There was to be no leveller though, despite Jack MacDonald hitting the post, and it was Stuart Callison who would get his second goal of the game on 81 minutes to round off the 5-3 triumph.
Strathglass 0 Kingussie 6
Hat-tricks from both Rory MacGregor and James Hutchison gave Marine Harvest Premiership side Kingussie secured a last-four spot with a 6-0 victory over Marine Harvest North Division 1 league leaders Strathglass at the Dell.
Both sides were missing defensive lynch-pins as George Phimister was ruled out through suspension for Strathglass following his red card against Bute last weekend whilst Kingussie continued to be without the injured Lee Bain.
Rory MacGregor spent the early part of the season in goals for the Kings, covering for the injured Craig Dawson. However Dawson’s return to the side the previous weekend has allowed MacGregor to feature outfield and he eased his side into the game with early goals on 2 and 11 minutes.
James Hutchison, continuing in his new full forward role, made it 3-0 a minute before the break.
Rory MacGregor completed his hat-trick on the hour mark.
James Hutchison did like-wise with strikes on 78 and 85 minutes to make it 6-0.
Kingussie will now play Lochaber in the RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals on Saturday 14 May 2016.
Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup – First Round
Glenorchy 1 Oban Celtic 7
The final Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup first round tie between Glenorchy and Oban Celtic went ahead at Mart Park at the fourth time of asking. This first round tie was postponed on each of the last three weekends because unplayable fields.
This was only Glenorchy’s second match of the season – following a league win over Col Glen on Saturday 19 March 2016 – and the lack of a run of matches has made for a difficult start to the season.
Oban Celtic’s resources have been stretched already this term and they went into the tie without four players from the side that beat Lochside Rovers in their last outing four weeks earlier. Neil Carmichael suffered a foot injury in that game whilst David MacInnes, David Graham and Alan Mackie were also missing. Last year’s top scorer Lee Askew also remained sidelined.
Oban Celtic made a very strong start to the game and had a number of attempts on goal before they took the lead on 14 minutes. A goal-hit from the Glenorchy keeper’s was taken out of the air by Daniel Madej who then played a through ball to Callum Fox and he had time to tee-up his shot before rifling the ball into the net.
Celtic continued to press and they went 2-0 ahead just 5 minutes later, Wing centre George MacMillan played a one-two with Fraser MacMillan before firing a low drive to left-hand corner of the Glen net.
The Oban side had the majority of the play at this stage and they got their reward a minute before the break when youngster Daniel MacMillan scored his first goal for his new club since his switch from Lochside Rovers. MacMillan’s low drive went into the net off the keeper’s foot to make it 3-0 at the interval.
Oban Celtic player / manager Kenny Wotherspoon made three changes at the break, bringing himself, Scott Burnett and Kieran Carnie on.
Glenorchy pulled one back on 61 minutes through Reece Cooke.
However this sparked Celtic back to life and they scored four more times before the end.
Kenny Wotherspoon made it 4-1 on 69 minutes whilst fellow substitute Scott Burnett added a fifth on 77 minutes.
Kenny Wotherspoon again on 88 minutes and Fraser MacMillan a minute later completed the 7-1 win.
Oban Celtic can now look forward to a visit to Yoker to play Glasgow Mid Argyll in the Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup quarter-finals this Saturday.
Glenorchy and Oban Celtic have to meet again in the first round of the Balliemore Cup at Oban.
Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup – Quarter Finals
Kyles Athletic 12 Bute 0
Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup holders Kyles Athletic over-powered Bute 12-0 in their noon throw up at Tighnabruaich.
Kyles were minus Roddy MacDonald who was on holiday. David Zavaroni, Roberto Zavaroni and Sandy MacKenzie were also missing. However Dunkie Kerr and Robbie MacLeod were back after missing the league win over Lochaber in their last outing a fortnight earlier.
Bute fielded a young side and they fell behind to a Dunkie Kerr goal on 17 minutes.
Scott MacDonald made it 2-0 on 22 minutes whilst Gordon Whyte added a third just 5 minutes later.
Dunkie Kerr got his second on 32 minutes to make it 4-0.
The goals kept flowing and Thomas Whyte added to the Kyles’ tally on 41 and 47 minutes with one of his strikes proving to be the goal of the game as he struck a fierce shot past the whole Bute defence into the top corner of the net.
Whyte’s double came either side of a 43 minute Innes MacDonald goal when the Scotland U21 international was first to react after the Bute keeper had made a good save with his feet and MacDonald sent the rebound high into the net.
Dunkie Kerr completed his hat-trick to put Kyles 8-0 ahead on 48 minutes.
Robbie MacLeod got in on the act with a 74 minute goal whilst Gordon Whyte got his second on 76 minutes to notch double figures.
Dunkie Kerr then became the day’s top scorer when he took his count to five goals with strikes on 77 and 87 minutes to make it 12-0.
Kyles Athletic will now face Col Glen or Oban Camanachd in the Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup semi-finals on Saturday 14 May 2016. The tie between Col Glen and Oban Camanachd was carried forward to this coming weekend as Marine Harvest Premiership leaders Oban Camanachd had their free-Saturday last weekend as they celebrated player Daniel Cameron’s wedding.
Aberdour 1 Inveraray 3
Two goals in the last 20 minutes gave Inveraray a 3-1 win over Aberdour in their 3pm throw up at Silver Sands.
Aberdour, who play in a league below their rivals, went into the tie without John Martin Phillips after a hand injury sustained in the Balliemore Cup win over Col Glen the previous weekend left him with broken knuckles.
Inveraray were minus four regulars, including David Robertson, as they attended the wedding of first team player David MacPherson.
Aberdour made the better start to the tie but Inveraray player / manager Ruaraidh Graham took an 18 minute chance to give his side the lead.
The goal boosted Inveraray and they went on to have the better of the first half without adding to their tally.
They were made to pay when Aberdour levelled thanks to a great shot from Angus Thorburn on 65 minutes.
The second half was end-to-end but it was Inveraray who went back in front thanks to an Allan MacDonald goal on 70 minutes.
Aberdour thought they had equalised for a second time when a Roddy MacColl strike pinged off the post.
Aberdour had lost two key defenders due to injury during the match and Inveraray sealed the win a couple of minutes from time when Lewis Montgomery took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the ‘Dour defence to score.
This was Aberdour’s first defeat of the season but they certainly shouldn’t be down-hearted as this was a close encounter and they competed well against higher league opposition.
The Inveraray squad went off to celebrate their win at their team-mate David MacPherson’s wedding evening reception.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup – First Round
Kyles Athletic 4 Fort William 0
The Kyles Athletic colts beat the Fort William colts 4-0 in their 3pm throw up at Tighnabruaich.
Ross MacRae gave Kyles the lead a minute before the break.
Gordon Whyte, who scored twice for the Kyles first team earlier in the day, made it 2-0 on the hour mark.
Two late goals put gloss on the victory. Fraser Williamson added a third on 84 minutes with Gordon Whyte getting his second on 88 minutes.
The Kyles Athletic colts now travel to play Caberfeidh reserves in the second round
Aberdour 1 Kingussie 8
An unplayable field at Silver Sands led to the postponement last weekend’s meeting between the Aberdour seconds and the Kingussie seconds but this weekend’s noon meeting went ahead with the Kings running out 8-1 winners.
Veteran forward Kevin Than scored four goals for the visitors. Youngster Roddy Young grabbing a hat-trick with another youth, Liam Borthwick, getting the other.
Kingussie travel to play Glengarry at Craigard in the second round.
Kinlochshiel 2 Aberdeen University 0
Aberdeen University’s Balgownie pitch was deemed unplayable for the second successive Saturday so the Students tie with the Kinlochshiel reserves was reversed to Kirkton.
Goals from Aedan MacRae on 25 minutes and Lewis MacVicar on 41 minutes were enough to put ‘Shiel through to the next round.
Skye Camanachd Ladies player Jenna Beaton made a first appearance for Aberdeen University as a second half substitute.
Kilmallie 0 Lovat 2
The Kilmallie colts lost out 2-0 to the Lovat colts at the Canal Parks
The goals came late in the tie and there was only 15 minutes remaining when a backhand strike from Daniel Stewart put Lovat ahead.
A superb Sam Ferguson strike 10 minutes from time confirmed Lovat’s place in the second round.
Lovat’s prize is an away tie against Kinlochshiel.
Kilmory W/O v Inveraray
Kilmory were given a walk-over when the Inveraray seconds were unable to raise a team for their tie at MacRae Park.
Kilmory now host Oban Lorn in the next round.
Marine Harvest Premiership
Fort William 0 Kinlochshiel 3
Kinlochshiel went second in the Marine Harvest Premiership when they beat Fort William 3-0 at An Aird.
Kinlochshiel stamped their authority on the match early in the game and they led 2-0 before Fort William had time to settle.
Keith MacRae got the opener on 4 minutes. The ball broke to MacRae just outside the penalty spot following a goalmouth melee and he first took a touch towards goal and then to his left before sending a waist-high drive into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The Kirkton side went 2-0 ahead just a couple of minutes later. A powerful Jordan Fraser shot was saved with his feet by Fort William keeper Paul MacKay and the ball broke to MacRae, running in on the edge of the D, and his first time finish beat the helpless keeper.
There was a touch of fortune to Kinlochshiel’ third goal on 53 minutes. Home defender Sean Cruickshank stopped a cross into the D with his feet but the ball spun into the air and looped over Paul MacKay and into the net
‘Shiel have now gathered six points from their opening five league matches – all away from home – and they now sit second in the table, ahead of third placed Lovat on goal difference although they have played a game more. Kinlochshiel will look to add to that total with their first home match of the season on Saturday when Lochaber visit Kirkton on league duty.
This was Fort William’s first home match of the season and they remain bottom of the table and they continue their search for a first league point.
Marine Harvest National Division
Inverness 1 Kilmallie 6
After a surprise draw with Bute in their opening league fixture, Kilmallie now go fourth in the table after they defeated Inverness 6-1 in their 1pm clash at the Bught Park.
Inverness were without Michael Price and Matt Rippon whilst James Cameron and Craig Nicholson were only fit enough for a place on the substitutes’ bench. David Campbell returned following suspension and he lined-up in defence along-side co-manager Drew Mcneil.
Liam MacDonald and Liam Cameron were missing for Kilmallie as was the injured Ryan Stewart. However Duncan Rodger and Steven MacAllister returned to the squad which beat Inveraray a week earlier.
Inverness went ahead on 6 minutes courtesy of a Charlie MacDonald goal.
However Kilmallie got their noses in front at the break thanks to a Duncan Rodger brace on 12 and 23 minutes.
Kilmallie’s Grant MacKenzie bagged a second half hat-trick with goals on 55, 57 and 63 minutes before substitute Bryan MacKay rounded off the scoring when he made it 6-1 in the final minute.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Beauly 1 Newtonmore 3
The Newtonmore reserves go second in the division after they beat the Beauly reserves 3-1 in their noon meeting at Braeview Park.
Newtonmore, who had Jamie Robinson in midfield as he continued his recovery from injury, went ahead on 9 minutes through Duncan Gorman.
The visitors doubled their advantage on 36 minutes when the ball ended up in the home net off Beauly veteran Roger Cormack.
Beauly full forward Martin Davidson beat Michael Ritchie in the ‘More goal to make it 2-1 on 51 minutes.
However David Cheyne confirmed the win when he made it 3-1 on 76 minutes.
Glenurquhart 2 Skye Camanachd 1
The Glenurquhart reserves edged out the Skye Camanachd reserves 2-1 at Blairbeg.
After a goalless first half, Cairn Urquhart gave the Glen a 57 minute lead. Calum Miller scored what proved to be a crucial second on 63 minutes.
Skye had Iain Nicolson in their ranks as his work commitments meant he was unable to travel to Portree for the club’s first team match and he netted 6 minutes from time to make it 2-1.
Glenurquhart saw out the rest of the game and the points take them to sixth spot in the league.
Skye are still searching for their first league point although all four of their league games so far this year have been away from home. They have their first home fixture of the season this coming Saturday against the Beauly second team.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Lochside Rovers 6 Col Glen 0
Lochside Rovers and Col Glen met at Ganavan in the only match in Marine Harvest South Division 1 and the Oban side took advantage to win 6-0 and top the table.
There was a flurry of early goals with Daniel MacVicar giving the home side the lead on 5 minutes and Scott Dempster making it 2-0 on 9 minutes.
When Daniel Sloss added a third on 15 minutes, Lochside were in control.
Lewis Buchanan on 54 minutes and a second from Daniel MacVicar on 63 minutes made it 5-0.
Robert Alexander added a sixth on 74 minutes to seal the win.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Lochaber 8 Lewis Camanachd 1
The Lochaber seconds beat Lewis Camanachd 8-1 in their 1.30pm throw up at Spean Bridge.
Keith Neville and Stuart Matheson each notched hat-tricks for Lochaber with Sandy Corrigan and Danny Delaney getting the others.
Paul Duke countered for Lewis,
The win moves Lochaber into third place in the table, behind Caberfeidh on goal difference.
Lochcarron 1 Caberfeidh 0
The Caberfeidh reserves missed the chance to go top of the table when they lost 1-0 to Lochcarron at Battery Park.
It looked like the sides would have to settle for a point apiece until Lochcarron captain Peter MacKenzie popped up to score what proved to be the winner with just a couple of minutes remaining.
Despite securing the two points, Lochcarron drop to third in the league because of Lochaber’s improved goal difference. Leaders Aberdeen University and Cabers are also on eight points although the Students have played fewer games than their rivals.
Boleskine 3 Strathspey Camanachd 2
Boleskine survived a second half scare to beat Strathspey Camanachd 3-2 at Smith Park. Neil Hope on 30 minutes and Andrew Young on 37 minutes had Boleskine two goals to the good at half-time.
However Strathspey rallied and Mark Murray on the hour mark and Mark MacDonald on 75 minutes levelled the contest.
It was left to Boleskine player / manager Jamie Matheson to grab the winner with just 3 minutes remaining.
With the teams above them also winning, Boleskine remain in fifth spot in the table.
Glengarry 7 Inverness 0
The match between the Inverness second team and Glengarry was reversed from the Bught Park to Craigard earlier in the week with the Highland Capital pitch already hosting the Inverness firsts clash with Kilmallie. Glengarry recorded their first win of the season when they beat the Inverness seconds 7-0.
Raymond Fraser scored twice in a minute on 16 and 17 minutes to settle the home side and Andrew Gilchrist made it 3-0 on 35 minutes.
Raymond Fraser completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time and he got his fourth goal of the game on 52 minutes with Scott Bremner also scoring within seconds.
Former Lochaber player Scott Patterson completed the 7-0 victory on 75 minutes and the win means ‘Garry climb two places to sixth in the league.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Tayforth 6 Dunoon Camanachd 0
The meeting between Dunoon and Tayforth was reversed from the Dunoon Stadium to Levenhall Links earlier in the week.
And it was league leaders Tayforth who go two points clear at the top of the table with a 6-0 win. All the goals came in the second half with former Glenurquhart player Ewan Menzies putting the home side ahead 5 minutes after the restart.
Ross MacGregor made it 2-0 on 58 minutes with Ewan Menzies getting his second a couple of minutes later.
Former Lochaber player Conor Sweeney then took centre stage as he grabbed a hat-trick with goals on 63, 72 and 89 minutes.
Oban Lorn W/O v Bute
Oban Lorn were awarded the points in their match against the Bute second team. The Islanders, who had two scheduled away matches on the day, were unable to raise a team. The Oban side now leap-frogs Bute into fourth place in the table.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available)
(Picture of the match between the Glenurquhart & Skye Camanachd second teams Courtesy of Donald Cameron)