Shinty: Victor Smith hat-trick takes Fort William up to third

Victor Smith netted a hat-trick to help Fort William move up to third place in the Mowi Premiership following a 5-2 win against Caberfeidh.

Alexander Macmillan and Smith’s first two goals had Fort three up before Gavin McLaughlan replied.

Smith completed his hat-trick in the second half and although Seamus Henderson pulled another goal back, Archie MacKinnon sealed victory a minute from time.

Fort keeper Paul MacKay also saved a Blair Morrison penalty in a pleasing day’s work for Fort manager Scott McNeil.

He said: “All the boys played well, and Victor’s getting better every week.

“We’ve not been getting the full potential out of him as he’s struggled with injury, but he’s been getting specialist treatment which has made a difference.

“He strikes the ball really well and there’s more to his game than the goals alone. Padraig McNeil started and linked-up well with Victor and his distribution was good.”

Title race tightens

Kingussie cut Newtonmore’s lead to four points with a game in hand after beating Skye 6-0.

Lee Bain scored from the right within a couple of minutes and Dylan Borthwick added a second at the back post following Ruaridh Anderson’s corner.

Borthwick converted a penalty just before the break and Calum McLay showed great determination to add a fourth.

Substitute George Taylor Ramsay rasped a fifth into the roof of the net before Anderson finished low to the keeper’s right.

Kingussie manager Ronald Ross said: “It was an outstanding performance against a Skye side pretty much back to full strength and on a heavy pitch.

The movement up front and the inter-linking play was really good, and we’ve been working on that.

“The shinty was excellent and it’s difficult as Skye have internationals in their defence.

“I thought Calum McLay and Kieran Macpherson were very good and Iain Fraser adapted well.

We’ve James Falconer, Savio Genini and Thomas Borthwick to come back and they could play for any team.

“Lee Bain, Dylan Borthwick and Roddy Young picked up injuries and we’ll see how they settle.”

Lochaber hit nine at Kyles

Stuart Callison scored six times, one a penalty as newly promoted Lochaber go sixth after winning 9-3 at Kyles Athletic.

Ben Delaney grabbed a hat-trick whilst Scott Macdonald scored twice for Kyles and Luke Thornton the other.

The wet weather in the west has played havoc with Kinlochshiel’s league programme with their latest fixture, against Col Glen, falling to an unplayable Rèaraig pitch.

Kilmallie will meet Lovat in the Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup Final after coming from behind to beat Inveraray 2-1.

Ross Montgomery gave Inveraray an early lead but second half goals from Martin Stewart, following a corner, and Shane O’Rua, into the top corner of the net, sent Kilmallie through.

Glenurquhart dig deep at Beauly

Despite playing for 82 minutes with just 11 players, Mowi National Division leaders Glenurquhart won 3-2 at Beauly.

Glen full centre Ali MacKintosh was sent off after only eight minutes by referee John Angus Gillies for a late swing which caught his opposing number Finlay MacLennan above the knee.

There was a flurry of bookings before the match settled and Glenurquhart took the lead when Alfie MacLeod ran in to score.

Neale Reid turned his marker to add a second before the break but Beauly’s storming start to the second half saw Conor Ross move the ball to the right before scoring low into the net whilst David Maclean made it 2-2 soon after with a similar goal.

Alfie MacLeod, Charlie Macleod and Neale Reid worked tirelessly in the Glen attack, and they got their reward 18 minutes from time when Alfie MacLeod’s brilliant strike from near 30 yards out flew into the top corner of the net, to keeper Ryan MacKay’s left, to win the game.

Lovat beat Oban Celtic 10-0 for the second time this season.

Marc MacLachlan grabbed a hat-trick, Graeme Macmillan and Danny Kelly both bagged braces whilst David Hill’s own goal, Sergio Thomson and Joe Embleton made up their tally and they remain two points behind leaders Glenurquhart but with two games in hand.

[Source: Press and Journal]