The Scottish Hydro Premier Division title race took what could turn out to be a significant twist on Saturday 5 November 2011.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Kyles Athletic 3 Inveraray 3
Kyles Athletic switched their home match against Inveraray to Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Yoker pitch as maintenance work is being carried out on their Tighnabruaich ground. The title challengers were stunned when Inveraray ran into a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes thanks to goals from Garry MacPherson and Russell MacKinlay. A Roddy MacDonald goal 5 minutes from the break got Kyles back in the game and a Robbie MacLeod effort on the hour mark made it 2-2. Inveraray are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and they regained the lead on 66 minutes when referee Ted MacDonald awarded them a penalty which Garry MacPherson converted. However Marine Harvest National Player of the Year Roddy MacDonald hit his second goal of the game on 71 minutes to make it 3-3 and a share of the points. Inveraray should now be safe unless Lovat and Oban Camanachd both beat Kilmallie, with Oban needing to win by several goals.
Kilmallie 0 Newtonmore 6
Scottish Hydro Premier Division reigning champions Newtonmore ran out 6-0 winners against Kilmallie. The match was switched from a water-logged Canal Parks to the Dell, Kingussie. An early Glen MacKintosh brace put ‘More two up but they had to wait until 20 minutes from time for their third goal which was scored by Steven MacDonald. Glen MacKintosh completed his hat-trick just made it 4-0. A David Cheyne shot made it 5-0 on 77 minutes and a Danny MacRae effort on the stroke of full-time made it 6-0 which means Newtonmore and Kyles Athletic are now level on goal difference.
Newtonmore lead Kyles Athletic by a point at the top of the table. The men from the Eilan have played a game more and their final match is against Kyles Athletic in a fortnight. A win for either side will secure them the title. A draw will leave Kyles trailing the reigning champions by a point going into their final game against Kingussie.