Mowi Premiership
Skye Camanachd 1
Oban Camanachd 0
Skye Camanachd beat Oban Camanachd 1-0 in their 1pm throw-up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Full back Ryan Harrison returned for Skye after missing the previous week’s defeat to Kinlochshiel, whilst Ross Nicolson completed his two-match ban. Ross MacKinnon was a late withdrawal after failing to recover from a knee problem.
Oban Camanachd travelled without Scott McKillop, Blair MacFarlane, Ross MacMillan and Scott MacMillan. Daniel Cameron answered the call and played with strapping on his broken thumb, whilst Andy MacDonald started in defence after playing for Lochside the previous week.
The earlier throw-up allowed the Oban squad an earlier departure to return to Oban to attend former teammate Gary McKerracher’s 30th birthday party.
A firm breeze blew down the pitch making this a classic game of two halves. Skye had the elements in the first half, and they went close following three separate free-hits, with Dan MacDonald playing in Ruaraidh MacLeod each time.
However, on the third attempt, MacLeod was caught on the knee by Daniel Madej inside the ‘D’ and referee Iain Kennedy awarded Skye a penalty. Ross Gordon struck the spot-hit well enough, but Cammy Sutherland got his left thigh to the ball before clearing for a corner.
Skye’s Ryan Harrison was forced off after pulling his hamstring whilst chasing Matthew Sloss. Cameron MacKay came on with John Gillies going to full back and William MacKinnon to full centre.
Oban Camanachd came more into it and Evan MacLellan’s corner went invitingly across the face of goal but none of the visiting forwards able to get a touch. Lewis Cameron played a smart one-two with Matthew Sloss but saw his effort saved with his feet by Skye keeper Ryan Morrison.
With the contest moving into first half stoppage time, and just when it looked as if Oban Camanachd might get to the break on level terms, John Gillies won possession from Lewis Cameron on the Skye right and Ross Gordon touched on his long ball forward. Louie MacFarlane tried to clear but Gordon took possession and released Kenny Cushnie and he found Dan MacDonald who had made space at the front of the ‘D’. MacDonald flicked the ball in the air as he moved to the left of the ‘D’ before slotting it across Cammy Sutherland and into the net.
Oban Camanachd had the wind advantage in the second half but there was a booking for Daniel Madej for chopping down Ruaraidh MacLeod as he raced goalwards.
The visitors began to take a grip of the game though and a Matthew Sloss strike from a central position came off the base of Ryan Morrison’s right post.
Ryan Morrison then saved with his foot from Malcolm Clark before doing well to parry Malcolm Clark’s effort, from Evan MacLellan’s hit-in on the right, as the ball was dropping under the crossbar.
In between Clark’s attempts, Oban Camanachd’s Daniel MacCuish was sent off by referee Iain Kennedy for violent conduct following a clash with Skye’s James Morrison.
Cammy Sutherland saved well with his hand from William MacKinnon as Skye tried to give their defence some respite.
The visitors went back on the attack and every Skye defensive clearance was roared on by the home support and Oban Camanachd spurned a couple of late set-piece opportunities before the final whistle.
Speaking after the game, Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: “It was a bad time to lose a goal, just before half-time, as I thought we’d managed the first half really well when we knew we’d be under the gun with the wind. In the second half, I thought we could take advantage, but we missed that wee bit of quality and composure up front. To come here and concede just one goal, I’d have taken that before the game as I’d have thought our forwards would do the rest, but it wasn’t to be.
“I don’t think the sending off changed too much as Skye panicked a bit as to where to play the spare man.
“I won’t use the injured players as an excuse, it is what it is, and I thought the boys who came in did well. Evan MacLellan was good on the wing, just doing the simple things, and Andy MacDonald, Daniel Cameron and Daniel Sloss are all playing on for the team with injuries so we were stretched, but I can’t fault the boys for their effort and application. Fair play to Skye who put their bodies on the line and worked hard but I think we deserved to take something out of the game.”
It was a second goal in three games for match-winner Dan MacDonald who said: “It’s tough in the Premiership and it won’t get any easier but that’s two good wins at home. We want to make Portree a fortress, so no-one gets it easy here.
“When the chances come your way, you have to take them. That’s my job and I’ve managed it in two of our three games so far.”
This Saturday, Oban Camanachd, who are sponsored by TSL Contractors, play Caberfeidh in the league at Mossfield.
Gareth Evans was unsure if he’d have players back for that game. “Daniel MacCuish will be suspended so that’s not good,” he said. “If we want to be competing for trophies, we need to be all-in. I understand that it is hard for the boys, especially with families, when you are working away during the week. The bottom line is that we’ve dropped points to Lochaber and Skye so that’s not a good start to our season as the games are only going to get harder, so we have to manage this period. We want to challenge for the league as we don’t just want to be known as a cup team.”
Skye travel to Blairbeg to play Glenurquhart, also in the league.
Kyles Athletic 1
Kinlochshiel 1
Kyles Athletic and Kinlochshiel shared the points following a 1-1 draw at the Playing Field, Tighnabruaich.
Kinlochshiel, with Arron Jack in for the injured David Falconer, took the lead on 14 minutes with John MacRae scoring from the edge of the ‘D’.
Kinlochshiel created more chances in the first half and had a penalty claim for a “kick”, but John Whyte was on top form in the home goal, so the visitors had to settle for a one goal lead at the break.
Kinlochshiel lost full centre Donald Nixon around the hour mark with a thigh problem, although his withdrawal was mostly precautionary.
Just when it looked as if MacRae’s goal might be enough, the game moved into the final minute and a mis-hit Kinlochshiel free-hit in the Kyles half was gathered by the hosts and they countered, playing the ball down the wing. When the ball came into the danger area, Kinlochshiel keeper Josh Grant came out to clear, but the ball fell for Luke Thornton who stroked it into the net.
Kyles Athletic player/coach Roddy Macdonald said: “That was really tough. Conditions were difficult with a soft pitch and constant rain. Kinlochshiel dominated the first half and our keeper John Whyte was excellent. We came more into it with the wind in the second half and never gave up which was pleasing as that’s something we constantly drum into the boys. It’s a good point.”
Kinlochshiel manager Willie MacRae said: “It was a physical game, but we had plenty chances in the first half and should have been further ahead at that stage. Mistake after mistake on our part led to their equaliser although our defence was solid until that lapse.”
Mowi National Division
Fort William 2
Glasgow Mid Argyll 1
Fort William won again, this time beating Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) 2-1 at An Aird.
Fort William’s Cameron Grant was free of suspension but didn’t feature, whilst GMA’s Cameron McCue completed his two-game ban.
Cam Stephen gave Fort William the lead on 21 minutes, but Craig Anderson levelled on 37 minutes.
Lewis Morrison scored what proved to be the winner 10 minutes into the second half.
It’s a third successive league win for Fort William and co-manager Alan Knox said: “We are very happy so far with what’s been a strong start to the season.
“It was a very good performance on Saturday as we dominated large parts of the game and could have been out of sight at half-time. Being a bit more clinical and composed in front of goal is something we will address this week.
“We lost this season’s captain Victor Smith for a few weeks with a hamstring injury sustained pre-season, so we look forward to him returning in a couple of weeks.
“Cam Stephen returning from injury has been a massive boost for us and he had an excellent game against GMA.”
Oban Celtic 2
Bute 1
Oban Celtic went through their 2023 Mowi National Division campaign drawing seven and losing seven of their fourteen fixtures.
However, that elusive win was secured on Saturday when they beat Bute 2-1 at Mossfield.
After a goal-less first half, Kyle MacFarlane gave Celtic the lead on the hour and when referee Craig Scott awarded the Oban side a penalty on 83 minutes, David Hill kept his nerve to score from the spot.
Bute’s Scott Harvey hit a late counter a couple of minutes from time, but it was Oban Celtic’s day.
Col Glen 4
Kilmallie 2
Col Glen notched up their first league win of the season when they beat Kilmallie 4-2 at Glendaruel.
Kilmallie struck first through Shane O’Rua on 24 minutes but Sam Bulloch claimed his first goal since joining the side from Strachur-Dunoon on 39 minutes.
Auryn Kerr put Col Glen ahead with five first half minutes remaining but Kilmallie, who pushed Innes Blackhall forward, levelled on the hour and it was Blackhall who got the goal.
Col Glen weren’t to be denied though and late goals from Andrew MacVicar on 77 minutes and another from Sam Bulloch on 83 minutes completed the 4-2 win.
Inveraray 1
Beauly 3
League leaders Beauly made it three wins out of three with a 3-1 victory over Inveraray at the Winterton.
Beauly led through Jack MacDonald on 26 minutes, but Fraser Watt pulled Inveraray level five minutes before the break.
Beauly regained the lead through Finlay “Stork” MacLennan on 65 minutes and Euan McCormick sealed the 3-1 win five minutes later.
Inveraray manager Andrew Watt said: “I really feel for the boys as that’s two consecutive weeks now where they have given everything in terms of effort and come out on the wrong side of the result.
“Beauly are a strong team, and you can see their Premiership experience, however, we dominated large spells of the game, particularly the first 20 minutes of the second half.
“If the boys continue to put the same effort into games, we will start picking up results. We’re looking forward to a run of home games over the next few weeks.”
Mowi South Division 1
Lochside Rovers go two points clear at the top of the division after beating Ballachulish 4-0 in their noon throw-up which was reversed from Ganavan to the Jubilee Park to help with the referee shortage.
With Andy MacDonald on first team duty, Lochside included Craig MacMillan whilst Ross MacMillan played at full centre.
With a good-sized crowd gathered for the game, Lewis Buchanan got the opener on 10 minutes, with a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
It was Buchanan again on 20 minutes, this time taking a pass from Ross MacMillan and turning his marker before firing a great shot into the top corner of the net. Buchanan almost grabbed his hat-trick with a carbon copy effort soon after but it was thwarted by a good save.
Lewis Buchanan was forced off late in the first half when a trailing stick split his ear, despite him wearing a helmet.
Two goals either side of the break confirmed victory. First, on the stroke of half-time, Ruairidh Buchanan sent the ball high into the net from the left and then, a minute into the second half, Iain Duffy’s corner was flicked on, and Ross MacMillan ran forward from midfield before lashing the ball low into the corner of the goal.
Ross MacMillan and Craig MacMillan were both forced off with muscle injuries, with a patched-up Lewis Buchanan returning.
The game petered out after that with Lochside keeper Brian MacCallum dealing with anything Ballachullish threw at him.
Looking back on the game, Lochside assistant manager Duncan MacMillan said: “The boys played well with Lewis Buchanan and Jordan Kerr linking up well up front and when Lewis had to go off, his brother Ruairidh took up the mantle. We didn’t want to change the forward line, so we played Ross MacMillan at full centre and he was brilliant.
“Referee Craig Scott handled the game well.”
Lochside travel to Tighnabruaich to face the Kyles Athletic second team on Saturday.
Duncan MacMillan added: “Lewis Buchanan should be okay and hopefully we’ll have Logan Black back as he has missed our last couple of games.”
The Aberdour first team defeated the Kyles Athletic seconds 2-0 in their 3pm throw-up at Silversands, with David MacKenzie scoring on 33 and 43 minutes.
Kilmory won 7-1 against Ardnamurchan at Strontian. Ardnamurchan’s Herbie Paterson scored the only goal of the first half, but Nairn Jackson levelled a minute after the re-start. Doubles from Craig Taylor and Euan Gilmour, as well as efforts from Sandy Leiper and Bruce Johnstone, sent Kilmory out of sight.
Mowi South Division 2
The Aberdour seconds and Strachur-Dunoon drew 1-1 in their noon throw-up at Silversands.
Ciaran Burns put the home side ahead on 20 minutes, with Cairn Limbert levelling 15 minutes from time.
The Inveraray juniors won 5-1 against Uddingston at Stepps Playing Fields. Ally MacLennan scored for Uddingston, but Bryce Griffin, Evan Robertson, Zander Kilmurray, Findlay Mustarde and Ruaraidh Graham senior gave Inveraray victory.
The match between the Bute seconds and the Oban Celtic seconds at the Meadows was called off on Friday evening due to an unplayable pitch.
All throw-ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report states differently.
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.