Four W M Donald MacTavish Cups on the trot for Kings of the North

On June 14^th, Kingussie defeated Lovat 2-0 to lift the W M Donald MacTavish Cup for the fourth year running.

The newly refurbished Bught Park, Inverness opened its metaphorical doors for the first time since UK Levelling Up Funding saw the facilities upgraded. The occasion, the W M Donald MacTavish Cup Final between Kingussie and Lovat. The holders overcame Lochaber in the semi-finals and were top of the league and unbeaten in all competitions going into the final, Lovat by contrast found themselves in the relegation zone, albeit they defeated second placed Fort William 2-0 in their semi-final. A hotly contested final, and a hot day, though the crowds flocking to Bught Park were not blessed with sunshine, the clear skies of Friday were replaced with a dark cloud, the good news for both sides was that the rain that was promised came in brief showers rather than the anticipated deluge and when Steven MacLachlan threw the ball high into the air to start the game the pitch was slick but the conditions fair.

Kingussie got their first shot an target on the minute mark, a Savio Genini ball skipping past the Lovat defence and into the path of Roddy Young, however, the forward’s low shot was confidently dealt with by Ronan MacMillan. 6 minutes later and it would be Lovat’s turn to generate a half-chance a ball from Bailey MacKay came through the centre to Greg Matheson, he flicked the ball inside and hit a bouncing shot at Kingussie stopper Rory ‘Bob’ McGregor, the keeper expertly stopping and clearing in one fluid motion.

On the 29^th minute, McGregor was called into action again, Graeme MacMillan attempting to control the ball with his chest on the edge of the D, the control didn’t stop the ball but instead turned it goal bound, the keeper reaching out a low left hand which saw the ball bobble up and start heading towards his top right corner, but a big right palm sent it clear of the danger zone and kept the game at 0-0.

The battle of the keepers would continue, and the best save of the half would come on the 35-minute mark, Iain Fraser driving with the ball from the centre, finding Young with a nice scoop pass – Kingussie’s top scorer drilling a low shot across goal with venom which was well saved by MacMillan’s outstretched stick. 9 minutes later it was the same combination, Roddy Young with a well hit shot from the edge of the D, MacMillan with a great stop with the stick, this time low to his left.  That was the last major action of a first half that would see both managers fairly pleased with what they saw, Kingussie making more chances, but Lovat carrying plenty threat when the ball would break to one of their forwards.

The second half settled into a similar rhythm as the first, half with chances exchanged but the more clearcut landing the way of Kingussie: first Lovat’s Matheson flashed a shot wide, then Ruaridh Anderson hit the outside of the post from the right wing, Thomas Borthwick forced MacMillan into a smart save with his feet before Young did the same thing.

In the 74^th minute, the deadlock was finally broken, Thomas Borthwick’s free hit to Genini on the left flack was controlled by the forward who then pushed the ball outside his marker to create the angle and fired a low shot into the far corner beyond the outstretched MacMillan.

In the battle between Young and MacMillan it would be the former who had the final say, the forward collecting the ball from Anderson on the right wing before lifting his shot into the top right corner and sealing a fourth successive MacTavish Cup victory for Kings.

For Lovat, a performance that they can have pride in, they turned the final into a battle but just weren’t able to get over the line against a more experienced side. Craig Mainland was awarded the Tom MacKenzie Medal for Man of the Match in what will be some personal solace for him.

For Kingussie, a 12^th trophy out of the last 13 available and a first for Thomas Borthwick as Captain, the full-centre receiving the MacTavish Cup from sponsors W M Donald at the end of the game and lifting it high into the air – the club’s imperious run continues and as they sweep up yet another trophy, the question becomes, can anyone stop them?