COLGLEN were back on their travels on Saturday, May 30, to what is arguably shinty’s most famous ground, the Dell.
Kingussie were the opponents, with a quarter-final place in the Camanachd Cup at stake.
With the recent Premiership meeting between the two sides in Glendaruel being such a close contest, in which the Badenoch men only snatched victory in the final minutes, Kingussie manager Ronald Ross was expecting another tight game, and it would turn out to be just that as ColGlen pushed last year’s finalists all the way.
With the two Andys, MacVicar and Tyre, surprisingly starting in the forward line ColGlen stretched the Kingussie defence early on and keeper Bob McGregor had to make an early save. Then as Murray McClymont sent a long lob sailing on goal, Andrew MacVicar gave McGregor no space and blocked his clearance. Mayhem ensued in the area, and Neily McNaughton latched onto the ball at the back post scoring a cracking goal from an impossibly tight angle to put the Glen one up on the ten minute mark. Both teams had further chances during the remainder of the first-half, and ColGlen keeper Scott Symons made a couple of excellent saves himself to keep his side ahead at the interval.
The second half would prove a more physical affair as both teams put in plenty of robust challenges, and Glen man Jamie MacVicar found his name in referee Donjee Macleod’s notebook, with a yellow card issued for a late swing. The earlier drizzle also increased to a steady downpour making conditions slippery, resulting in a number of full force collisions.
Three minutes into the second half Kingussie’s Dylan Borthwick took advantage of a gaggle of players placed between himself and Symons’ goal to thread a low ball through into the back of the net to draw level.
Symons would however go on to play to play a blinder. The Glen stopper pulled off a series of remarkable saves, showing what a remarkable goalkeeper he is becoming.
The ColGlen forwards would still have their chances up front, although as Kingussie turned the screw the backs had to defend like their lives depended on it. Despite the fast pace of the game, the Glen players matched Kingussie’s fitness levels, and as the clock ran down, Ronnie MacVicar was more than happy for his players to regroup before going into extra-time.
Once again Kingussie did what they do so well and scored the winner with seconds remaining. After some back and forth, Kingussie’s Roddy Young shoved a silky pass past Scott MacVicar to Savio Genini, who turned and back-handed his shot on target sealing the win for the home team.
And so, it was another agonisingly cruel end for ColGlen who had come so far on the day, although MacVicar was ‘extremely proud’ of how his men had competed against a team who are consistently regarded as one of the giants of the sport. Despite a great team effort, Scott Symons, who is sponsored by McPhail Arb & Access, was deemed to be ColGlen’s man of the match.
The Glen will have the opportunity to continue their momentum this Saturday, June 6, at the Clachan when they take on Lochaber in the Premiership.
