THE same wet weather which saw the postponement of Saturday’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup final between Kingussie and Lochside Rovers at Fort William also caused the top Marine Harvest Premiership game of the day between Kinlochshiel and Kyles Athletic to be switched at short notice from Balmacara to Tighnabruaich.
The match ended tied 2-2 but initially the 182 mile dash from Wester Ross to Argyll did not seem to faze the Kinlochshiel squad who took an early lead through wing centre John Macrae, scoring from distance to put the north side 1-0 up inside five minutes.
Kyles fought back to have the bulk of first half pressure but excellent Shiel defending saw them reach the midway point with their lead intact. Shortly after the restart Jordan Fraser put Shiel two up when he picked up a lay-off from half-forward Keith Macrae and pushed past keeper John Whyte before tapping the ball home from close range.
Kyles though always have a “never-say-die” attitude on their own turf – and when manager James Perlich pushed the experienced Roddy Macdonald into the forward line from his initial defensive role the stage was set for a Kyle’s revival. Eventually it came, with the Kyles forwards linking up well to set up Grant Irvine to open their account in the 82nd minute.
Kyles were now well on top, but the ‘Shiel defence managed to hold the line until a Sandy Mackenzie strike in injury time finally beat keeper Scott Kennedy and deprived his side of both points.
Shiel manager Johnstone Gill can however take comfort from the fact that the away point gained means his side still lead Kyles by two points in the race for the Premiership title, though they have played one game more than the Tighnabruaich side.
Title holders Newtonmore – five points off the front runners – still kept their own title challenge on track with a 6-0 win over bottom side Kilmallie.
Also in the Premiership a hat-trick from top scorer Greg Matheson ensured Lovat won both points in their 4-3 home victory over neighbours Glenurquhart.
The Lovat front man opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a low strike which deceived Glen keeper Stuart Mackintosh and the home side remained well on top until teenager Oliver Black equalised against the run of play in 28 minutes.
A nicely worked free hit then saw James Macpherson put Glenurquhart ahead – and when Matheson had a penalty attempt saved, the visitors managed to reach half time maintaining their lead.
Though a snap shot from Lovat’s Danny Kelly levelled the score early in the second period, Macpherson’s superb finish in 58 minutes again restored the Glenurquhart lead.
The loss of full-back John Barr to his second yellow card of the afternoon changed the dynamic of the match however, and led to Matheson’s late double which eventually saw the Glen lose both points.
The defeat now leaves Glenurquhart third from bottom in the Premiership and in clear danger of relegation.
Meanwhile a 4-2 win for Lochaber against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker sees them move above Glenurquhart for the first time this season. Connor Sweeney (2), Ian Fyfe and Neil Macdonald were the Lochaber scorers.
Marine Harvest National Division side Skye maintained their promotion challenge with a 4-2 away victory away at Beauly though they had to overcome a two goal deficit after Jack Macdonald and Daniel Lamont had given the home side a first half advantage.
The result preserves Skye’s position as second in the table, one point behind but with a game in hand over leaders Caberfeidh who had an emphatic 6-1 away victory at Oban Celtic.
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