A battling performance was not quite good enough in Saturday's match against title-chasing Newtonmore as the visitors won 1-0 and means Bute and/or Inveraray can suck them into that dreaded second relegation spot.

Glenorchy are already down, but it's now a three-way battle for survival at the foot of the table, with Lochaber's season now over.

Ninth-placed Bute, who have three games left, would have to bridge a four-point difference to drag Lochaber down, while eighth-placed Inveraray are two points behind Lochaber, also with three games to go.

The former Scotland manager admits it was be a bitter pill to swallow if the Spean Bridge side did take the plunge, but he remains hopeful that their efforts have been enough.

Fresh from helping the club's under-17s seal a national six-a-side title, including a 4-0 final triumph over Fort William, Ferguson feels his senior side have given their all this term.

He said: "We have done all we can and we now await the outcomes elsewhere. We have a four-point lead over Bute and we hope that will be enough to keep us up.

"We have a young squad at Lochaber and they have all done tremendously well this season and it would be great for them to continue their progress in this league. Our players have pushed above their weight this year with some terrific results and we just hope it's enough."

Inverary host Newtonmore in what could be a dramatic match this Saturday.

Newtonmore's David Campbell tries to block Lochaber's Sean Nicolson during Saturday's Premier League shinty match, won 1-0 by the visitors at Spean. Iain Ferguson, The Write Image

The More are level on points with Kingussie, but trail their neighbour by four goals, so Lochaber will hope Newtonmore are in scoring mood.

Lochaber will also be looking for Oban Camanachd to do sink visitors Bute.

No matter where Lochaber play their shinty next year, Ferguson has vowed to stay at the helm.

He explained: "I have been coaching the juniors over the last 10 years and I have really enjoyed that, but next year I will just focus on the seniors. We now face a nervous finish where results are out of our hands, but I will be here next season no matter what."

Looking back at the 1-0 loss against Newtonmore, Ferguson was proud of his team and felt they could well have grabbed a point for their sterling efforts.

He said: "We had two or three good chances and, had we taken one, we could have taken something from it. Our whole defence worked like Trojans, especially Angus Morrison."

sports@lochaber-news.co.uk

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