The resounding goalspree kept alive the Caol side's North Division One title hopes, although Lovat – who face Glass on Saturday – are still seen as the team most likely to walk off with that ticket into the Premier Division.

Kilmallie manager John Morrison insists Strathglass put more into last week's match than the scoreline suggests and hopes their players will be out to restore pride – and sink Lovat to blow the championship chase wide open. He said: "To be fair to Strathglass, they were a few boys short last week. Conditions were very heavy and I felt, because of that, whoever scored the first goal would have an important advantage.

"However, the field held up really well and we went on to score some good goals with some very good shinty, so we were delighted, Cannich's never an easy place to go.

"I know that unless Lovat fade badly, they should win the title, but Strathglass will be out to prove a point this weekend. We will be looking for a favour, although our priority is to ensure that we win our very difficult fixture against Kinlochshiel. Lovat have still to play Skye as well, so having been top for much of the season, Skye could have a say. A few sides are still in with a chance."

Morrison fears that, while they will give everything in their final three games, they may be a fraction away from title glory and he is in no doubt that results at Caol have been costly.

He stressed: "We are sitting second, but Lovat have the games to try and catch up on. We only have ourselves to blame of the position we are in and if we don't go up then it's because we didn't do enough. Our results at home have let us down. We have won seven out of eight away from home, which says it all.

"I think the length of the grass at Canal Park is terrible. It needs to be shorter, which would help us to get the ball down and move it quicker. We have spoken to the (Highland) Council about it, but it hasn't quite happened. I know they have got plenty of other things to do, but a wee bit of help could have made a difference. I must stress though, I don't blame the council for us dropping points at home, that all comes down to our performances."

The Kilmallie boss admits Saturday's league opponents, Kinlochshiel, are one of the last teams he fancies facing this weekend and knows his side must be in top form to get the win.

He said: "They have won their last four games on the bounce, so this is a really tough one. They have taken points off all the other contenders and they'll be coming here to try and finish us off. They still have an outside chance, so they will be very tricky opponents. We know we have to win our last few games to have any chance, so we will have to be at our best to get the victory."

Ewan Stoddart is likely to miss out through work commitments this weekend, while Ian Robertson is awaiting x-ray results after a recent on-field facial injury.

Kilmallie should be boosted, however, by the return of Peter MacIntyre.

Fort William, who have no first-team match this weekend, dented Kingussie Premier Division title hopes when they drew 4-4 at a match switched to The Dell due to the local Lochaber downpours.

Fort manager Drew McNeil feels the result will give his side confidence against of the Scottish Hydro Electric Camnachd Cup Final against Kyles Athletic a week on Saturday in Oban.

He said: "They had the lead four times and we came back four times. It just shows you what you can do when you have a stronger squad available. When the score was 3-3, we could well have gone on to win the match, but the boys were bouyant going into the match and were the same afterwards. This will do us no harm ahead of the final."

Fort's reserves head to the Bught Park in Inverness this Saturday to battle it out with Lovat in the Strathdearn Cup Final (2.30pm throw-up).

Lochaber, who saw their their Premier League fixture away to Glenorchy postponed last week, are off to Rothesay this weekend to take on Bute.

An away win could be a brutal blow for nine-placed Bute, while the Spean Bridge club drive on towards mid-table.

Ardnamurchan picked up their second walkover win of their North Division Three season on Saturday when hosts Kincraig were unable to field a team.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's home clash with Strathglass reserves, manager David Robertson said: "Obviously, we would prefer to win the game, but we are just one of a few teams in this league who have picked up points due to opposition teams not being able to field a side.

"Saturday will be our last home fixture of the season and we are determined to give one big effort to try and win this match."

Glengarry, who have no fixture this weekend, were impressive winners in North Division Two last Saturday when a Steven Cameron treble and strikes from Martin Cameron and Stuart Gregory saw them win 5-0 at home to Kilmallie's second string.

Ballchulish return to action in South Division One with a home match against Kilmory.

sports@lochaber-news.co.uk

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