Shinty: Oban Camanachd hold on for victory at Fort William as Kingussie leave it late at Col Glen

Oban Camanachd have put two early defeats to Newtonmore behind them to go third in the Mowi Premiership following their 1-0 win at Fort William.

Connor Howe claimed the winner just before half-time, exchanging passes with Lewis Cameron before finishing well from a tight angle on the right.

Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “It brought back memories of the fixture here last season when the Fort scored during stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw.

“I feared that might happen again but to be fair to the boys, they defended strongly, kept calm and saw it out well. I don’t think either side played to their maximum but we’re happy with the two points.”

Oban full back Gary McKerracher was a standout.

It took two goals during the final three minutes from Roddy Young and Thomas Borthwick before Kingussie eventually saw off Col Glen 2-0.

Col Glen might not have anything tangible to show from the encounter but gained respect in spades for their performance.

Manager Ronnie MacVicar said: “My goodness, we certainly gave them a fright, and our support were terrific.

“I thought Kingussie were running out of ideas and we should have cleared the ball ahead of their first goal. Their second was a consequence of the first as our heads dropped a bit.

“Our keeper Scott Symons made some miraculous saves and I though 17-year-old Auryn Kerr was magnificent against Ruaridh Anderson.

“I was trying not to think about getting a draw as the clock was running down and I’m not saying we’d have won if we’d had a full team, but I do wonder.”

Kingussie boss Ronald Ross added: “All credit to Col Glen, they were well-organised defensively and gave everything.

“We had chance after chance in the second half but just couldn’t put the ball in the net. It looked like it was going to be one of those days when we were not going to score but fair play to the team who kept going to the end.”

Victory for More

League leaders Newtonmore won 3-0 against Caberfeidh.

Duncan MacPherson won possession before Brodie MacBean shot low into the corner of the net, to the keeper’s left, from 20 yards for the opener.

MacBean then flicked on a hit-in from the right, deceiving keeper Kevin Bartlett who went on to save Iain Robinson’s penalty before Robinson made it 3-0 with a fine shot on the turn from the left.

More manager Peter Ross said: “I thought our Steven Macdonald and their Blair Morrison were the game’s two outstanding players.

“We lost Matthew Sloss in the warm-up. He’d been carrying an injury, and I’ve said before that he must be the most fouled player in the game and deserves more protection.”

There were mixed fortunes for two west coast sides as Kinlochshiel won 3-1 at Kyles Athletic whilst Skye lost 2-0 to Lochaber.

Shiel skipper Ali Nixon put his side ahead early in the second half, but Ross Macrae levelled just after the hour. However, John MacRae’s penalty and Keith MacRae’s strike gave Shiel both points.

In Portree, Iain Fyfe in the first half and Max Campbell late on saw off a sorry Skye side still in search of their first league win of the season.

Lewis Tawse and Graeme Macmillan both scored four as Lovat won 9-0 at Inverness in the first round of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup. Marc MacLachlan got the other.

Treble for MacLeod

Alfie MacLeod’s hat-trick helped Glenurquhart win 6-2 at Kilmallie. Fraser Heath’s brace and Christopher Mack also counted as Lewis Birrell replied twice.

Ewan Donnan scored twice as Inveraray progressed 4-0 at Bute’s expense. Ruaraidh Graham Jnr and Coll MacKay also scored.

Oban Celtic defeated Ardnamurchan 7-2. Gabriel Tidser’s hat-trick and goals from Kieran Gallagher, William MacEwan, Duncan MacEwan and Scott Dempster wiped out Alan Palmer’s double.

Glasgow Mid Argyll were given a walk-over when Strathglass couldn’t fulfil their fixture.

[Source: Press and Journal]