The Shinty Round Up. | |
11 October 2009 Two titles were decided on Saturday 10 October 2009 whilst another side took a huge step towards a return to the top flight. Kingussie narrowed the gap at the top of the Scottish Hydro Premier Division with an 8-4 win over Inveraray at the Dell. The Kings went in to the game knowing that they needed to keep winning their league matches to keep the pressure on leaders Newtonmore and they were boosted with John Hutchison’s return from suspension. They also had Ronald Ross to thank once again as his double hat-trick took his tally for the season to an incredible 81 goals which doesn’t include 4 in the abandoned Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup game against Kyles Athletic. There was little sign of the goals avalanche during the first period. Kevin Thain gave the home side the lead in only 3 minutes only for Inveraray’s Scott Robertson to equalise 5 minutes later. Ronald Ross restored Kingussie’s advantage on 13 minutes only for Robertson to score his second a minute later to leave the sides all square at the break. A double from Ross in just 3 minutes – he found the net on 49 and 51 minutes – completed his hat-trick and made it 4-2 to the Kings and Ryan Borthwick made it 5-2 just a couple of minutes later. Inveraray fought back with a Neil Andrews goal on 55 minutes to make it 5-3. However the visitors had no answer to Ronald Ross and he scored 3 more goals on 66, 79 and 84 minutes to seal the points. Alasdair Munro netted for Inveraray 3 minutes from the end which made the final score 8-4. Kingussie are now 3 points behind Newtonmore with a game in hand and it looks as if the title destination will be settled when the sides meet at the Dell in what will probably be the last league match of the season. Inveraray remain in relegation difficulty and they have 4 home matches remaining to maintain their to flight status. Leaders Newtonmore were idle after their match against Lochaber was called off as the Glenurquhart’s match against Kyles Athletic was also postponed as the Tighnabruaich pitch was unplayable. The match of the day in Marine Harvest North Division 1 didn’t disappoint as Lovat ran out 6-3 winners over Kinlochshiel at Balgate. This was a potential banana skin for Lovat but the victory means that they have overcome a major hurdle on their way to both the title and a return to the game’s top division. This was an open affair with some cracking goals and Shiel showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers as they really had a go. Indeed with a bit of luck they could have scored a couple of early goals. However Raymond Rennie settled the home side’s nerves with the opening goal after just 5 minutes. Keith MacRae leveled for Shiel 10 minutes later only for Greg Matheson to continue his good scoring run with a 20 minute goal to give Lovat a 2-1 interval lead. A couple of Fraser Gallagher goals on 55 minutes and 65 minutes stretched Lovat’s lead although 2 goals in 5 minutes from Paul MacRae on 70 minutes and 75 minutes reduced Lovat’s advantage to 4-3. Lovat secured the points with a James MacPherson effort 5 minutes from the end and a Jimmy MacKenzie penalty on 88 minutes to complete a 6-3 win. Lovat have 2 matches left against the leagues bottom 2 clubs, Kilmallie went top of the table by beating Strathglass 6-1 in their final league match of the season at Canal Parks. The home side raced into a 2 goal lead with strikes from Trevor Jackson after 8 minutes and John Stewart just 3 minutes later. Stewart went on to complete his hat-trick with goals after 31 and 34 minutes to give Kilmallie a comfortable 4-0 half time lead. Liam MacDonald made it 5-0 on 72 minutes and Trevor Jackson added his second 5 minutes from the end. Rupert Williamson netted a consolation for the visitors a couple of minutes later. The win guarantees Kilmallie second place in the table and they will have to wait and see if Lovat slip up in their remaining 2 games. The bottom 2 clubs Lochcarron and All the interest in Marine Harvest South Division 1 was focused on Oban where Lochside Rovers clinched the title with a win over derby rivals Oban Celtic. Rovers ran out 5-2 winners with goals from Johnnie Will, David McCuish, a Lewis Cameron double and David Lafferty. Kenny Wotherspoon and Alan Miller replied for Celtic. They now become the first junior side to win a senior league. Lochside also clinched the Royal National Mod Cup as this match doubled up for both games. The home side took the lead on 17 minutes through captain Johnnie Will. A turn and shot from veteran David McCuish on 37 minutes gave Oban Celtic keeper MacNab no chance to make it 2-0. Substitute Lewis Cameron made an immediate impact at moments into the second half when he drifted in at the back post to make it 3-0. The youngster also scored Lochside’s fourth to put the match out of sight. Oban Celtic were now playing for pride and Lee Askew and Lee Carmichael both went close before substitute Kenny Wotherspoon blasted a shot goalwards which Lochside keeper Robert Dunnings got to but could not keep out of his net. Lochside’s David MacCuish had an effort ruled out for offside before David Lafferty collected a loose ball and shot into to the net to make it 5-1. Alan Miller shot through a ruck of players in the closing minutes to make the final score 5-2. Lochside have now completed their league programme with 10 wins, a draw and just one defeat from their 12 fixtures. The matches between Kilmory and Glasgow Mid Argyll and between Inveraray and Tayforth were postponed. Glenurquhart clinched the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title following their victory over Caberfeidh at Castle Leod. The Glen made it back to back titles – they won Marine Harvest North Division 3 last season – with an exciting 4-3 win triumph Stewart Krzyzanowski tried his best to spoil the party with a goal after 22 minutes but Calum Fraser leveled on 29 minutes. Fraser notched his second on 36 minutes and made it 3-1 just 7 minutes later to complete his hat-trick. However full forward Alan Ross pulled a goal back for the home side with a goal right on half time which reduced the deficit to a single goal. It looked like the champagne was going to have to be put on ice for the second week in a row when Ian MacDonald made it 3-3 with a 65 minute penalty. However young Ewan Brady settled Glenurquhart nerves, and celebrated his inclusion in the Glengarry travelled to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel and returned with both points following a 4-2 win. Steven Cameron scored twice for Glengarry and Stewart Gregory and Martin Cameron got the others. In the only match to go ahead in Marine Harvest South Division 2, The match between Kyles Athletic and Ballachulish at Tighnabruaich was postponed as was the game between third place Glenorchy and second bottom Strachur at Dalmally. In Marine Harvest North Division 3, Strathglass were unable to raise a team for their trip to Farr to play Boleskine so the home side were awarded the points. |