STRACHUR-DUNOON were beaten by Kilmory Camanachd on Saturday in a tough and highly competitive South Two encounter at MacRae Park.
A damp MacRae Park set the tone for a tense contest, with little separating the two sides during the opening 45 minutes as both teams created good opportunities at either end.
However, it was the home side who went into the break with the advantage. A lapse in concentration in the middle of the park allowed a soaring pass to find the marauding Sandy Leiper, who slotted home to put Kilmory in front moments before the half-time whistle.
Strachur-Dunoon made a couple of tactical changes at the break and started the second-half excellently, putting the Mid Argyll men on the back foot with strong tackling and clever passing.
The sustained pressure eventually paid off when a ball found Sandy Paterson in space down the right channel. Despite Euan Gilmour’s best efforts to make a last-ditch tackle, Paterson managed to get his shot away in time and hammered home the equaliser.
From that point onwards, the game was up in the air, with both sides enjoying big chances up and down the park as the atmosphere on the sidelines intensified.
Sadly for Strachur-Dunoon, despite having opportunities to take the lead, it was the home side who found the crucial second goal. Ruaraidh Buchanan was found in space and did excellently to slot his effort into the bottom corner.
That proved to be the beginning of the end for the Blues, as the visitors dropped their heads and allowed a now rampant Kilmory to play free-flowing shinty and close the game out.
Kian Crawford put the game to bed with a wonderful looping effort from distance, before a defensive mistake gave Niall Shaw the opportunity to slot home from close range with what was effectively the final hit of the game.
The final scoreline perhaps does not reflect what was a mostly positive performance from Strachur-Dunoon in a game which proved an excellent watch for the neutral, but the home side showed why they are currently the league’s in-form team by taking their chances when required.
One of the positives for Strachur-Dunoon was the performance of full-back Kyle MacMartin, who stood out as he marshalled the defence throughout the 90 minutes.
Kyle, sponsored by Cowal Car Components, picked up the team’s Man of the Match award.
Strachur-Dunoon thanked Kilmory for hosting the fixture and for their excellent hospitality.
The Blues will be keen to put Saturday’s result behind them and turn their attentions to this weekend in another massive fixture in the South Two title race.
They take on Stirling Camanachd at The Haws on Saturday, with a 12-noon throw-up.
