Ally Ferguson's Premier Division team were tested against North Division One's Kinlochshiel on Saturday, being held 1-1 and then beaten 3-1 on penalties.

Ferguson told the LN: "From our point of view, we had to make a number of changes, with the juniors playing away in the morning. We got off to a good start against Kinlochshiel when Lachlan Campbell scored after five minutes.

"Kinlochshiel put in a gritty, determined performance and scored on 40 minutes.

"The game finished 1-1. We were going to play extra-time, but Kinlochshiel had something on at night, so we went straight to penalties. Their keeper made a really good save and we lost 3-1, but it was a good match and Kinlochshiel have a good balance about them and will certainly be a team to watch this season."

Lochaber did have something to celebrate, however, as their under-17s clinched their place in the WJ Cameron Cup Final by winning 2-1 at Newtonmore.

Ferguson explained: "This was a terrific result for the boys against a very good Newtonmore side. Pat Toal scored for us and then Ben Delaney scored a penalty to make it 2-0. Newtonmore pulled one back and it was a bit nip and tuck late on, but they did well to get the victory."

The Lochaber starlets will meet either Fort William or Beauly in the final, which is expected to take place next month.

Lochaber's second string, meanwhile, host their Kilmallie counterparts on Saturday.

Kinlochshiel's John Don MacKenzie (front) is hotly pursued by Lochaber's Lachlan MacKenzie in the 1-1 Glenmore Cup match, which the Shiel won on penalties. Iain Ferguson, The Write Image

Fort William's friendly fixture away to Lochcarron was rained off last week, but manager Drew McNeil is looking forward to meeting Kilmallie for the right to retain the Torlundy Cup.

He said: "This will be a game where anyone who can comes along to watch. I expect all our players will be available because, for me, this is a competitive game. There's no way that either side will want to lose this.

"We usually play annually for the Torlundy Cup, with home advantage, but we decided to take the game to Kilmallie and we'll have to be right on our game to get a result. With one week to go until the new league season, we couldn't have a better match to test us."

Fort's Premier Division season starts on March 7 away to Oban Camanachd, while Kilmallie's North Division One campaign on the same day begins at Caberfeidh.

North Division Three side Ardnamurchan needed a late double in their 5-3 friendly win against South Division Two newcomers Ballachulish at Strontian.

Ard player/chairman David Robertson explained why it was such a good work-out.

He said: "We had a full squad to choose from and we used a rolling substitution system. Both teams were evenly matched and it was 3-3 until the last 20 minutes. JD MacMaster and Alan Nairn both scored twice and our other goal came from Ewan Mowat."

sports@lochaber-news.co.uk

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