2015 RBS MacTavish Cup Final …………. 4 Days To Go! | |
09 June 2015 Newtonmore played three Marine Harvest Premiership sides on their way to the 2015 RBS MacTavish Cup Final against Glenurquhart at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 13 June 2015. Newtonmore’s route to the final is as follows:
Saturday 28 March 2015 RBS MacTavish Cup – First Round Newtonmore 4 Lovat 1 Holders Lovat are out of this year’s RBS MacTavish Cup after they were beaten 4-1 by Newtonmore at the Eilan. There was a mid-morning pitch inspection at the Eilan and had it been deemed unplayable, the tie would have been reversed to Balgate. However the Blues’ pitch was given the green light and the match went ahead as originally scheduled. It was a bitterly cold day and there was a strong wind blowing across the park which made for difficult conditions for both sets of players. Norman Campbell returned in defence for ‘More after missing last weekend’s defeat to Inveraray. Steven MacDonald recovered from an injury picked up in that game but Jamie Robinson, Calum Stewart and Scott Campbell missed out and there was also no place in the starting line-up for Fraser MacKintosh. Danny MacRae was still out. Lovat were along usual lines with long term injury victim Graeme MacMillan out but Lorne MacKay had recovered from injury to start. Newtonmore had the better of the early exchanges and they went ahead after 33 minutes. ‘More full centre Cameron Binnie pushed forward from the middle of the park and it was a delighted Binnie who fired the ball home from around the penalty spot to make it 1-0. When Paul MacArthur added a second on 41 minutes, things looked ominous for the holders. It was another goal from midfield with MacArthur first to react when Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald had made a save and the wing centre knocked the ball into the empty goal. The home side almost doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time but Stuart MacDonald made a brilliant save to keep out a terrific effort from buckshee forward Rory Kennedy. Newtonmore replaced Scott Chisholm with Craig Ritchie on 51 minutes. Lovat were finding it difficult to threaten the ‘More goal but when Kevin Bartlett found Greg Matheson from a corner on the hour mark, Matheson’s drive rose just over the bar. Greg Matheson scored his first goal of the season to get Lovat back into the game on 66 minutes. Matheson collected possession and sent a blistering drive over goalie Michael Ritchie’s head into the net. It was a really good goal and it gave Lovat hope. Kevin Bartlett, who was well-marked for most of the game by the speedy Andy MacKintosh, had a half-chance to level the game but he lost the ball on a bobbly surface. Lovat defender Drew Howie limped off with 15 minutes remaining. Jamie Matheson came on with Michael MacKenzie initially going to full back with full centre Craig Mainland taking over there later in the game. Newtonmore had by far the more efforts on goal throughout the match and when Glen MacKintosh was given too much space on 87 minutes, he steadied himself before scoring to ensure Newtonmore would be in the next round. When referee Deek Cameron pointed to the penalty spot in the final minute, Glen MacKintosh stepped up to score his second goal of the game to complete a deserved 4-1 win.
Saturday 18 April 2015 RBS MacTavish Cup – Quarter Final Newtonmore 3 Lochaber 0 Newtonmore are through to the last four of the RBS MacTavish Cup after they beat Lochaber 3-0 at the Eilan. There was a slight easing of Newtonmore’s injury list as Jamie Robinson and Scott Campbell returned and they both made appearances from the substitute’s bench. Michael Ritchie was back in goal and Neil Stewart retained his place in the starting line-up after scoring on his first start the week before. Glen MacKintosh was the provider as Fraser MacKintosh fired ‘More into a 37 minute lead, crashing the ball into the roof of the net from outside the D. Fraser MacKintosh got his second 9 minutes after the restart when Cameron Binnie released Neil Stewart down the flank and he showed some great wing-play before pulling the ball back for MacKintosh to score. Neil Stewart then helped himself to number three as he scored from the edge of the D on 73 minutes. There were a couple of injury scares during the match. Lochaber goalie Calum MacDonald required a trip to hospital after being knocked unconscious following a collision whilst ‘More’s Cameron Binnie took blows to the hand and face. Newtonmore face Kinlochshiel or Kilmallie in the semi-finals.
Saturday 16 May 2015 RBS MacTavish Cup – Semi Final Kinlochshiel 1 Newtonmore 2 Newtonmore are through to the RBS MacTavish Cup Final after they beat Kinlochshiel 2-1 in their 3pm throw up at Kirkton. Kinlochshiel were without forward Keith MacRae who has been hampered by hamstring problems this season and he will be sidelined for a couple of weeks. An injured Scott Campbell remained amongst the ‘More absentees as did captain Cameron Binnie. It was first-blood to ‘Shiel as Gordie MacDonald put them ahead on 27 minutes. However Glen MacKintosh scored on 43 minutes to level things up at the break. Evan Menzies put Newtonmore into a 2-1 lead on 64 minutes but’ Shiel came within a whisker of levelling when Gordie MacDonald hit the post late in the game. Newtonmore now await the outcome of the second semi-final between Skye Camanachd and Glenurquhart which takes place at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree in a week’s time.
Admission for the 2015 RBS MacTavish Cup Final between Newtonmore and Glenurquhart is £10 for Adults, £5 Concessions and U12s go free if accompanied by an adult. |