DEFENDING champions Newtonmore returned to familiar territory at the top of the Marine Harvest Premiership after they produced a powerful second-half display at Kiltarlity to beat hosts Lovat 4-0.
The first half had seen saw the Badenoch side struggle somewhat and but for the consistent vigilance of defenders Steven MacDonald and Andy Mackintosh – allied to the tendency of Lovat’s international frontmen Lorne MacKay and Kevin Bartlett to overplay the ball – the home side might have opened the scoring early on.
In the end it was the visitors who went ahead when they were awarded a free hit close to goal. In such situations the More forwards can usually work a chance and a little slip from winger Neil Stewart found full-forward Glen Mackintosh with enough time and space to smash home the opener.
Lovat lifted their performance, pushing forward energetically for the rest of the opening period, but apart from an attempt by centre Danny Kelly – somehow kept out by More keeper Owen Fraser – they had nothing to show for their first-half efforts.
Whatever the Newtonmore bosses said in the dressing room at the interval, the side that came out for the second period seemed transformed and shortly after the restart youngster Iain Robinson doubled his side’s advantage when, after another well-worked free hit, he rounded Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald and finished from a tight angle.
Newtonmore’s third came soon afterwards when Glen Mackintosh set up half-forward Chris Sellar with a straightforward finish from the edge of the D.
That effectively finished off Lovat and although they pulled Bartlett back to counter Newtonmore’s dominance in the midfield, they still struggled to compete.
The final word went to to Robinson – who had earlier hit the post – as he signed off with an excellent individual goal just before the final whistle.
Newtonmore lead the Premiership by virtue of their superior goal difference which keeps them just ahead of four other clubs all on seven points.
Among them are Badenoch neighbours Kingussie who managed a 4-3 home victory over Glenurquhart courtesy of a last-minute strike from Thomas Borthwick.
The result was a bitter disappointment for the Glen who had taken a 3-1 half-time lead through strikes from David Smart, Neale Reid and Fraser Heath against one from Kingussie veteran James Hutchison.
Playing into the wind in the second half, Glenurquhart struggled to match the pace of the younger Kingussie side and further strikes by Hutchison and Rory MacGregor brought the teams level by the 65th minute.
Glen held on grimly but were undone a minute from time when an unmarked Borthwick smashed the ball home from 15 yards to steal both points for Kingussie.
Kings are joined in the top group by Kyles Athletic, who had a 2-0 home win over a Skye team that took to the field minus defender Stevie Morrison who became ill on the journey south. Roddy Macdonald and Gordon Whyte scored the Kyles goals, both of them inside the last 10 minutes.
Kinlochshiel, also on seven points, looked to be on track for top place, having taken an early lead against Lochaber thanks to a Jordan Fraser strike. However, a Lachlan Campbell goal five minutes from time rescued a point for the visitors.
The remaining side in the top group Oban Camanachd, were not in Premier action at the weekend. They did, however, book their place in the next round of the Gregor Cameron Celtic Society Cup courtesy of a 4-0 away win over Col Glen. Also through are Glasgow Mid Argyll who defeated Oban Celtic 5-1.
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