ON Saturday, Caberfeidh and Beauly met in a semi-final tie in this season's Balliemore Cup competition at Balgate, Kiltarlity, and provided 90 minutes of sheer entertainment.
Both teams were up for the game and from the start the action was fast and furious when first the one and then the other team burst through the respective defences.
Early on, a strong rising shot from Jamie Maclennan was taken high up by Cabers keeper "DJ" Mellis. The save settled the Cabers team and their faithful, for everyone seemed to understand what they had to do in supporting colleagues on breaking for goal. One could not fault anyone as far as fitness was concerned, for they were full of running from beginning to end, with excellent support from colleagues.
Team captain Kevin Bartlett led by example, his caman-handling was excellent and the others were not far behind him in reproducing the slickness of his movements and dexterity of his touch.
Stewart Maclennan, who was in charge of the Caberfeidh team, used the "rolling substitute" rule to perfection when a defender took a nasty knock on the head. He was taken off, treated, and resumed play. Liam Mutch stood in for the brief period of his absence, and later played an established role and finished in style.
Stewart Krzyzanowski opened the scoring when he took advantage of a mistake in the Beauly defence and was quickly on to the ball, to score in the 40th minute.
Ruaridh Macleman notched the second in the 55th minute, when he burst through on the right and slammed a low shot into goal. Controversy arose when the counter was disputed. However, on consultation with the goal-judge, the referee ruled the goal stood - the ball had entered the goal before exiting through a hole in the net.
In the 62nd minute Barrie Macdonald reduced the leeway, but in the 71st minute a spot of first class stick-work by Kevin Bartlett put Cabers 3-1 to the good. In the 83rd minute midfielder Ian MacColl put the icing on the cake with Cabers' fourth goal.
The game drew to a close with Cabers on the attack, holding up the ball and denying their opponents possession.
The Balliemore Cup final has been set for Portree on Saturday, July 23, when Bute or Lochaber meet Caberfeidh. It is 10 years since Caberfeidh last won the trophy after a five season sequence of success.
Other results on Saturday:
Artemis MacAulay Cup second round Kilmallie 0, Newtonmore 6; Kingussie 4, Lovat 1.
Strathdearn Cup quarterfinal Glengarry 3, Kingussie 2; Caberfeidh 1, Glenurquhart 2.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division Fort William 9, Glenorchy 0.
Marine Harvest North Division One Kinlochshiel 3, Strathglass 0.
Marine Harvest North Division Two Newtonmore 4, Lovat 1.
Marine Harvest North Division Three Lewis 3, Ardnamurchan 1.
Fixtures for the coming weekend, starting at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated, are:
Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final Fort William v Kingussie, at The Bught Park, Inverness.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup second round replay Lovat v Glenorchy (noon).
Artemis MacAulay Cup second round Kyles Athletic v Bute; and Oban Camanachd v Glasgow Mid Argyll (4.30pm).
Scottish Hydro Premier Division Glenurquhart v Newtonmore (noon); Inveraray v Kilmallie.
Marine Harvest North Division One Caberfeidh v Kinlochshiel (noon); Skye v Strathglass.
Marine Harvest North Division Two Kinlochshiel v Glengarry; Kilmallie v Lovat; and Newtonmore v Glenurquhart.
Marine Harvest North Division Three Aberdeen University v Caberfeidh; Ardnamurchan v Lochbroom; Lewis v Beauly; and Strathglass (noon).
