Kyles Athletic Lift 2013 Artemis Macaulay Cup | |
18 August 2013 Kyles Athletic won the Artemis Macaulay Cup for the eleventh time when they beat Newtonmore 4-3 in a superb final at Mossfield. Kyles Athletic manager Norman MacDonald had Scotland U17 defender Zac Coley back from holiday to bolster his squad and Coley started on the bench with Cameron Keith given the nod in defence. MacDonald has also seen the likes of Andrew King and Callum Miller return from injury in recent weeks as his side looked to add to their Glasgow Celtic Society Cup success. Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh was clearly disappointed last weekend when it became clear that he would be without Rory Kennedy after the Scotland U21 captain required surgery on a shattered finger sustained in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup win over Fort William. Oban lad John MacKenzie started in Kennedy’s place. There was a concern over Cameron Binnie who suffered a hand injury during the game but he started in defence. The game came just in time for Kyles pair David Zavaroni and Andrew King as both will be suspended for next week’s Orion Group Premiership meeting with Inveraray. It had been very wet in Oban overnight but the weather brightened up ahead of the 2pm throw up. Kyles Athletic won the toss and opted to play into the wind in the first half. Newtonmore made the brighter start and Kenny MacDonald had to scramble the ball away for a corner after a touch from Danny MacRae and he then palmed away a Jamie Robinson shot from distance. ‘More continued to press and Danny MacRae hit the crossbar when a Paul MacArthur corner came right across the D. Newtonmore were getting closer and they took the lead after 8 minutes. Kyles’ keeper Kenny MacDonald had to come off his line to foil Paul MacArthur after a cross-field ball from Steven MacDonald found the ‘More wing centre in space. MacArthur played the ball across to Danny MacRae and, with the keeper out of goal, MacRae steered the ball past two defenders into the top corner of the net to make it 1-0. However Kyles responded in the best possible way and they drew level just 4 minutes later. Roddy MacDonald came deep to collect possession and he released Sandy MacKenzie who surged forward and chipped the ball to Thomas Whyte who had completely lost his marker, Andy MacKintosh. Whyte raced goalwards and rounded Michael Ritchie to score from a tight angle to make it 1-1. Kyles were starting to find gaps in the ‘More defence and Michael Ritchie saved well with his foot after Dunkie Kerr surged forward and found Roberto Zavaroni who shot for goal. Ritchie then came off his line to foil Roddy MacDonald after a great flowing Kyles move. Michael Ritchie then made a great save above his head to deny Thomas Whyte after 20 minutes. There was controversy on 24 minutes when John MacKenzie got on the end of a Danny MacRae pass and fired a great shot into the net. However goal judge John MacGregor already had his flag raised for a Glen MacKintosh shove on Andrew King so the goal didn’t count. A Steven MacDonald shot from the right whistled across the Kyles’ goal on 28 minutes as it was Newtonmore’s turn to enjoy some pressure. Kyles may have been happy to get to the half time interval on level terms given that they were playing against the elements but they took the lead on 38 minutes. Sandy MacKenzie was fouled on the Kyles right and Roberto Zavaroni knocked the free hit to Roddy MacDonald who got a yard on his marker Cameron Binnie and he leathered the ball past Ritchie to make it 2-1. A Glen MacKintosh shot from distance went just the wrong side of the post a couple of minutes before the break so Kyles went into the interval with a one goal lead. A couple of minutes into the second half, Kenny MacDonald showed great agility to get his foot to a John MacKenzie shot which seemed destined for the bottom corner of the net. Newtonmore equalised on 48 minutes when Danny MacRae controlled a half clearance from Kyles defender Calum Miller and Kenny MacDonald misjudged MacRae’s snap-shot which went low into the corner at the keeper’s left post to make it 2-2. Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh made the first substitution of the afternoon seconds later with Scott Chisholm replacing John MacKenzie in attack. Steven MacDonald was yellow carded on 57 minutes for having too much to say to referee Colin MacDonald and meanwhile Kyles boss Norman MacDonald made his first substitution with Grant Irvine coming on for Sandy MacKenzie. Kyles got their noses in front on 62 minutes and it was a goal created by two former Bute players. Roberto Zavaroni held off Norman Campbell and David Zavaroni nipped in and dribbled the ball into the D before knocking in past Michael Ritchie to put the Tighnabruaich men 3-2 ahead. There was a flashpoint seconds later as referee Colin MacDonald threw the ball up between full centres Jamie Robinson and David Zavaroni to restart the game. The referee judged that Robinson did not try to play the ball from the throw up and he sent off the Newtonmore captain. Michael Russell came on for Paul MacArthur for Newtonmore. Newtonmore defender Ackie MacRae was lucky to escape a booking just seconds later when he chopped down Roddy MacDonald on the Kyles right. Michael Ritchie made a superb save under the bar from a great Dunkie Kerr drive as Kyles sought to make their one man advantage count. ‘More substitute Michael Russell was booked for a show of dissent on 65 minutes. The tide seemed to be turning against Newtonmore but the men from the Eilan showed great fighting spirit as Fraser MacKintosh found Glen MacKintosh in space with a free hit on the right and MacKintosh sent a great shot from distance into the top corner of the net to make it 3-3 with 67 minutes played. Kenny MacDonald again showed great reflexes as he saved with his foot from Glen MacKintosh a minute later. Newtonmore made their third substitution as Chris Sellar came on for Fraser MacKintosh with 20 minutes remaining. Kyles went back in front on 72 minutes when Roberto Zavaroni played in Roddy MacDonald and he jinked to make space before turning and sending a blistering drive into the roof of the Newtonmore net from a tight angle to make it 4-3. The match was now flowing from end to end and it looked as if Newtonmore had levelled on 74 minutes when Danny MacRae dispossessed Calum Miller outside the D and the Newtonmore talisman slotted the ball past Kenny MacDonald. However goal judge Lachie Wood flagged referee MacDonald’s attention and MacRae was told that he was being penalised for a kick in the lead up to the goal. The Newtonmore bench were furious and television replays showed that there was no kick. Calum Miller was booked for a late challenge on Chris Sellar on 82 minutes. Kyles went for the killer fifth goal and Norman Campbell used his body to block a Thomas Whyte shot and Robbie MacLeod set a drive wide of target. Kyles took Roddy MacDonald back to full centre and Newtonmore pushed Norman Campbell forward as heavy rain started to fall on the Mossfield pitch. Roberto Zavaroni should have made it 5-3 when Grant Irvine found him in space at the edge of the D but he sent his shot a fraction wide of Michael Ritchie’s right post. A Robbie MacLeod drive rose over the bar although Norman Campbell seemed to be fouled in the lead up. There was almost a dramatic finish to the final as Steven MacDonald lofted a stunning ball from wide on the right into the Kyles goal area 3 minutes into injury time and the ball dropped on the top of the crossbar. Referee Colin MacDonald’s final whistle signalled the Kyles celebrations and they have now added the Artemis Macaulay Cup to the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup which was won earlier in the season. Roddy MacDonald was deservedly named man of the match before Kyles captain Robbie MacLeod lifted the famous trophy which heads to Tighnabruaich for the eleventh time. It was a cracking final and it has raised expectation even further for the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between the sides which takes place in just four weeks time. Kyles Athletic from: Kenny MacDonald, Calum Miller, Donald Irvine, Cameron Keith, Andrew King, Dunkie Kerr, David Zavaroni, Roddy MacLeod (captain), Sandy MacKenzie, Thomas Whyte, Roberto Zavaroni, Roddy MacDonald, subs Zac Coley, Rupert Williamson, Grant Irvine, Colin MacDonald, Matthew MacColl Manager – Norman MacDonald Coach – James Perlich Newtonmore from; Michael Ritchie, Norman Campbell, Ackie MacRae, Andy MacKintosh, Cameron Binnie, Steven MacDonald, Jamie Robison (captain), Paul MacArthur, Glen MacKintosh, Danny MacRae, John MacKenzie, Fraser MacKenzie, subs Scott Chisholm, Blair MacKintosh, Michael Russell, Chris Sellar, Rory Kennedy Manager – Paul John MacKintosh Match Referee – Colin MacDonald Goal Judges – John MacGregor, Lachie Wood
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