A sun kissed Balgate was host to Strathdearn final between Skye and Fort William. With Lovat and Caberfeidh playing out a match with 8 goals prior to the main event, it wasn’t just sun on the forecast, but goals! The forecast did not disappoint on both fronts, and referee Donji MacLeod started proceedings as the last of the few hundred strong crowd filed into the park.

The first chance went to Fort William 8 minutes in as Lewis Morrison had a good shot saved by the Skye keeper. 3 minutes later it was the Fort keeper called in action for the first time, Iain MacLellan having his shot saved before the shot from the corner was put over the bar. Shortly after it was Skye who followed up with a shot of which hit the post, and thus the tone for a high octane game was set!

Fort William began to pepper the Skye goal with shots – 18 minutes in Bryan Simpson’s shot went wide, but he made no mistake as he scored from close range on 21 minutes. Soon after it could we’ll have been 2, Dan Nixon having his shot well saved by the Skye keeper before the rebound was put over the bar.

Tensions started to flare ahead of halftime as Iain Macinnes was shown a yellow card for a push on Duncan Stevenson that saw him collide into the ad boards, before a minute later Lewis Morrison caught Nui Nicolson with a strong swing which forced the first change as Leo Templeman took his place.

Skye would equalise on the stroke of half time with a well taken finish from wing forward Archie MacDonald pulling the islanders level. A tense and edgy first half thus ended with a stalemate as the teams went into the changing rooms.

The second half kicked off with chances for both sides, both well saved by the keepers. Skye continued to put pressure on, before Lewis Morrison won Fort a corner when his shot was blocked before following up with another shot shortly after, this one going well wide.

Fort took the lead after the hour with a well driven shot by Lewis Morrison beating the Skye keeper. At this point the momentum was with Fort, as Bryan Simpson nearly added another 15 minutes later, however his shot was blocked.

Against the run of play, it was Skye who equalised from a free hit, Iain Graham sending the travelling Skye support into raptures after rescuing the game for the islanders, and just like that it was extra time in what would be a true test of fitness in the blazing heat.

The nerves were starting to show for both teams as it turned into a scrappy game – with Jack Layton putting a low driven shot wide 10 minutes in. The best chance came for Fort William as the ball broke to Jack Kearny who was in space, however, his shot had too much power behind it and went over the bar much to the frustration of the Fort faithful.

This frustration wouldn’t last long, as a stramash in the goalmouth ended with Dan Nixon sticking the ball into the back of the net to restore the lead for Scott MacNeil’s men.

The volume was cranked up, with Skye nearly hitting back shortly after, however Ali Stewart stuck the ball wide and the two sides went into half time with Fort holding a slender goal lead.

The second half kicked off with a shot from Range from Skye’s Jack Latton, however this didn’t trouble the Fort keeper as it was well wide. With Skye throwing everything they had it, Jack Latton was again the man shooting, his next shot being much closer as it narrowly went wide.

Struan Stephen could well have won it for Fort late on with a well hit shot, however it was over the bar and Fort’s celebrations would have to wait. By this time the time wasting was underway from Fort, with Greig Kelly being cautioned by the referee for throwing the ball away before a shy.

No bother for Fort however – with the last hit of the match Jack Kearny pounced on a well saved shot to make it 4-2, and just like that Fort William were champions!

Mark Grant lifted the trophy infront of the jubilant Fort faithful, with the trophy heading back to An Aird for the 2nd time in 3 years. Fort William awarded a joint man of the match to Greig Kelly & Duncan Stevenson for two strong performances.

Many thanks to Lovat Shinty Club and John MacRitchie for hosting the match and providing a delicious food offering for spectators. Commiserations must go to Skye, who fought right until the very end and can take many positives from the match ahead of the tail end of the season.