Lochside Rovers came out on top in the Bullough Cup Final and Newtonmore stay top of the Scottish Hydro Premier League on Saturday 26 September 2009.
The Bullough Cup Final was switched to Tighnabruaich when Winterton was ruled unplayable. Marine Harvest South Division 1 runaway leaders Lochside Rovers probably see giving up home advantage to their Marine Harvest South Division 2 opponents Kyles Athletic. However it seemed that Kyles took inspiration from their first team’s fine performance in last weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final when they raced into a surprise 3-0 lead within the first 15 minutes. Ally MacKay got them off to a great start with a goal in only 3 minutes. A Gordon White strike made it 2-0 and Peter Mobeck sent the Kyles support into ecstasy when he made it 3-0 with only 14 minutes gone. A 3 goal advantage after 15 minutes was in contrast to their senior side last weekend who trailed 3-0 with 15 minutes left. This shook Lochside Rovers into action and Drew Walker pulled a goal back after 32 minutes to reduce his side’s half time deficit to 2 goals. Although Angus Finlayson found the net for Kyles in the second period, David McCuish scored after 52 minutes and Johnny Will levelled the match 11 minutes later. Neither side could find a winner in the final half hour so referee Innes Wood took the match into an extra time period. It was Johnny Will who became the toast of Oban when he completed his hat-trick with goals after 101 minutes and 112 minutes to win the cup and see off a brave Kyles Athletic effort.
The battle for the Scottish Hydro Premier Division continues with the top 2 sides taking maximum points and the goals advantage turning in Newtonmore’s favour once again. Indeed the 4 fixtures played in the top division amassed 26 goals as a treat for the shinty faithful on the touchlines.
Newtonmore continued their unbeaten league campaign when they demolished Inveraray 8-0 at the Eilan. The ‘More forwards were again prominent with David Cheyne and Danny MacRae each grabbing a hat-trick. Evan Menzies and Steven MacDonald completed the rout for the league leaders. Whilst ‘More remain top, Inveraray’s poor league form is in stark contrast to their cup form which saw them win 2 cups this season. They are now very much battling for top division survival.
Kevin Thain gave second place Kingussie a 2 minute lead against Bute at the Dell. The Kings were without James Hutchison, John Gibson, Gary Munro and keeper Andrew Borthwick in the leagues 1pm throw up but they didn’t let that affect them. Ronald Ross made it 2-0 after 14 minutes and although Robert Walker pulled a goal back after 65 minutes, Louis Munro restored the home side’s advantage with a 80 minute strike. Ross retired early requiring stitches to a knee injury. The Kings even introduced 15 year old Thomas Borthwick and he marked the occasion by making it 4-1 just 5 minutes from the end.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup runners up Kyles Athletic travelled to Spean Bridge to play Lochaber. The sides drew 2-2 when they met at Tighnabruaich earlier in the season but the boys from the South were in no mood to drop any points this time. Grant Irvine gave them the lead in the first minute and although Martin Johnson leveled 4 minutes later, a Matthew MacColl gave the visitors an interval lead with a 33 minute strike. A second half burst of 3 goals in only 3 minutes ensured that both points were heading for Tighnabruaich when Thomas White scored after 58 minutes and a double from Duncan Kerr in 59 minutes and 60 minutes repeated his feat of last weekend, and the scoring, to give Kyles a 5-1 win.
Fort William secured their first league win in 7 league matches when they returned to the scene of last weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup victory to take on Oban Camanachd at Mossfield. Oban were 3-2 victors when the sides met at An Aird in early August but this time they faced a rejuvenated Fort William side. Niall MacPhee and Gordie MacKinnon found the net but the man who grabbed the headlines once again was big James Clark with a hat-trick.
Kilmallie went top of Marine Harvest North Division 1 with a convincing 8-2 win over an under-strength Lochcarron side who had Scotland Head Coach Fraser MacKenzie in goal at Canal Parks. Scottish international John Stewart gave the home side the lead after 28 minutes and Peter MacIntyre doubled their advantage on 35 minutes. A Trevor Jackson strike a minute before the break gave Kilmallie a 3-0 half-time lead. MacIntyre added his second 3 minutes into the second half but a Finlay Stark penalty on 55 minutes reduced the deficit to 4-1. John Stewart added his second on 62 minutes and Fraser Matheson made it 6-1 on 70 minutes. Andrew MacKenzie pulled another goal back after 82 minutes but 2 goals in the last 4 minutes from Peter MacIntyre took his personal tally to 4 and took his side a point ahead of Skye Camanachd at the top of the table.
Kinlochshiel did the double over Inverness with an 8-2 win at Kirkton. John MacRae gave them a 3 minute lead and his brother Keith MacRae increased their advantage 3 minutes later. John MacRae scored Shiel’s third on 24 minutes and a second half double from Scotland international defender Paul MacRae, and strikes from Neil Fraser, Gordy MacDonald and John MacRae in the last minute to secure his hat-trick, completed an 8-2 win.
Caberfeidh completed what must be regarded as a very successful league campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Balliemore Cup winners Strathglass at Castle Leod. Veteran Robert Geddes opened the scoring for the visitors after only 4 minutes and Les Fraser made it 2-0 on 19 minutes. Geddes bagged his second 2 minutes into the second half to complete a 3-0 win.
There is just one match fixture in Marine Harvest South Division 1 and third place Kilmory were awarded the points when visitors Tayforth were unable to field a team.
Fort William travelled to the Eilan in Marine Harvest North Division 2 knowing that they needed to win to keep up the pressure on leaders Glenurquhart. The Fort were convincing 6-0 winners when the sides met at An Aird earlier in the season but they certainly didn’t have things their own way in this 12 noon throw up. In the end, first half goals from David Wilde and Chris Sellar gave the home side what was a surprise 2-0 win.
Glenurquhart missed out on the chance to clinch the title when their match at Invergarry against Glengarry was postponed as the field was unplayable.
Kilmallie and Skye Camanachd met in another noon throw up at Canal Parks. The home side got off to a great start when they scored straight from the throw up. Robby MacFadyen did the damage as he fired a Nick Lavin pass over Skye keeper Ian Munro’s head to open the scoring. Skye began to settle into the game after this but were dealt a severe blow when defender Martin Bruce received a nasty accidental blow to the face on 8 minutes. It was an injury which later required 15 stitches but would have been much worse had he not been wearing a helmet and visor. Bruce had to be replaced and a Skye team that was already short on defenders had now lost their buckshee back who had been tasked with marking Kilmallie danger man Liam MacDonald. A couple of minutes later, Skye were level. A free hit taken by David Grant in the wing back position was played in to Danny Morrison at full forward and he expertly controlled the ball and laid it into the path of 16 year old Ian Morrison who evaded his marker and rifled home from the edge of the D. Skye found themselves in arrears again when a misplaced clearance from defence went straight to Liam MacDonald who sent a glorious 30 yard drive into the roof of the net. Skye started the second half brightly and following a Stewart Grant shy into the Kilmallie area, young Ian Morrison was flattened by his namesake Johnno as he went to control the ball. Referee Kerr had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. David Grant came up from full back to dispatch a text book penalty low to the keepers left. Skye were being urged on by the impressive Ian Nicolson from midfield but were to suffer another setback when defender Jamie Nicolson had to leave the field with a dislocated thumb. Player manager MacVicar was forced into play at full forward with Ian Morrison dropping back to fill Nicolson’s wing back position. Skye continued to create chances but were unable to capitalise and it was Kilmallie who scored a fourth goal just 5 minutes from time when Robbie MacFadyen fired home past an unsighted Ian Munro. Kilmallie had the last word with 14 year old Martin Munro sending a sweet drive beyond Ian Munro from 15 yards to make the final score 5-2 to the home side.
After a goalless first half in a relegation battle between Kinlochshiel and Caberfeidh at Kirkton, Iain Campbell gave the home side the lead 3 minutes into the second period. Steven Isles made it 2-0 on 67 minutes and Ronan Taylor made it 3-0 on 76 minutes. Thomas Copley pulled a goal back for the visitors 3 minutes from the end for a final score of 3-1 to Shiel.
Second place Kingussie had an 8-4 win over fourth place Lovat at the Dell. Martin Dallas and Davie Borthwick bagged doubles whilst Thomas Borthwick scored his second of the day and Rory Borthwick, Fraser Munro and Greg MacRae scored the others. Charlie Mainland scored for the visitors as did Greg Matheson who helped himself to a hat-trick.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 runaway leaders Taynuilt enjoyed a 6-0 triumph at third place Strachur. Willie Gillies scored 4 and Willie Neilson a double. This win takes Taynuilt within touching distance of the title.
Col Glen crossed the water to play Bute in Rothesay but went down in a 7 goal thriller. A double from Tom MacMillan and goals from Jamie Dunn and Roddie Murrells gave the home side a 4-3 win.
Glenorchy beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 2-1 at Dalmally.
Beauly clinched the Marine Harvest North Division 3 title with a 3-1 win against Lochaber at Spean Bridge. Beauly only required a draw to clinch the title but goals from Connor Ross, Danny Marshall and David MacLean cancelled out Patrick Toal’s effort for the home side. The Marine Harvest North Division 3 title was presented to a delighted Beauly squad by the match referee John Angus Gillies from Skye who is also a manager for league sponsors Marine Harvest.
Ardnamurchan travel to the Highland Capital to play Inverness but goals from Kenny Loades on 70 minutes and Neil Robertson 10 minutes later gave Inverness a 2-0 win.
Lochcarron were unable to raise a team for their clash with Strathglass at Cannich so the points were awarded to their opponents.
The match between Aberdeen University and Boleskine was postponed.