10/10 performance for Newtonmore in MacTavish Juvenile Cup Final
The traditional pre-cursor to the W M Donald MacTavish Cup Final, the Juvenile Final between the north’s best U17 sides saw Newtonmore take on Glenurquhart at Bught Park Inverness. Glenurquhart dispatched Beauly 7-1 in the semi-finals, while Newtonmore scored 40 goals on route to the final, so it promised to be a high scoring occasion.
Jamie MacPherson got the game started and it took Newtonmore just 3 minutes to open the scoring, James Coyle getting a great block in and pushing the ball wide where Archie Bloor was on hand to rifle a shot into the roof of the net.
Glen tried to force their way back into the game, Alfie MacLeod collecting the ball on the left flank and firing from 30 yards, his shot though was confidently dealt with by Cameron Mitchell. Five minutes later and Glenn MacDonald tried the same trick from the right flank, again though, Mitchell proved equal to it. MacLeod must’ve thought the third time would be the charm when he hit a delightful strike from the edge of the D across the keeper, but somehow Mitchell got a palm to it and forced it behind for a corner. Newtonmore ahead, but the Glen pushing hard.
Joe Coyle came close to doubling ‘More’s advantage, Jacob Bain picking up a ball in the centre and playing it into James Coyle, he drew the defender out and played it into the space left for his brother, who took a touch and half swung beyond Rory McWhirr, but also beyond the post.
Perhaps frustrated by that missed opportunity, six minutes later, Coyle would collect the ball 40 yards out, beat his man and drive down the right touchline before cutting inside and knocking the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
A minute later and he was at it again, McWhirr made a good stop from a 30-yard James Coyle strike before the post denied Josh Stewart, but Joe was there to secure his brace. It was a case of scorer turned provider as Joe picked the ball up on the left flank and flicked the ball infield, James intelligently using his body to roll his man and fire in Newtonmore’s fourth. ‘More would add a fifth on the brink of half-time, Joe rolling a delightful ball into Bloor’s path on the right and the wing-centre doing the rest.
Newtonmore picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and it was James who became the third Newtonmore player to secure their brace, this time with a wicked strike after rising highest to control a corner 25 yards from goal.
Anyone with siblings will know that competition comes naturally, and when Joe rolled his man after a great ball from Stewart and pushed it into the far corner to be the first one to complete his hat-trick there was a wry smile from him. Four minutes later, he added his fourth Bain playing the ball into his feet in the centre of the goal, Joe flicking it back away from goal to create the angle before rifling in again. Four became five when he dribbled into the box and pushed past McWhirr, the shot coming off the post but fortuitously landing at his feet for an easy tap in.
James Coyle would provide the glitter on the cherry on the icing on the cake 3 minutes from time completing his hat-trick with a great finish from the left and so it ended 10-0 to Newtonmore who lifted the MacTavish Juvenile for a second year in a row. The honour of the Sandy MacKay Man of the Match went to Matthew Sloss.
