The MOWI Game of the Week this week is Fort William’s trip to Mossfield. Oban Camanachd are fresh off the back of a 3-0 opening day win against GMA, while Fort William’s return to the Premiership saw them held 2-2 by Kyles. We spoke to Fort Captain Calum Shepherd ahead of the big game…
Calum – you’ve just been named Fort William Captain, how much pride/pleasure are you feeling about that?
Yeah I’m really happy to be named Captain this year. I’m taking over from two long spells as captain by James Tangey and Arran MacPhee respectively, they were both really strong leaders of the squad and hopefully I can follow their example. We will need leadership from all of our senior players if we are to have a successful season.
2-2 last weekend against Kyles was a good return to the MOWI Premiership for Fort – how did you feel the game went?
We started the game really strongly and had plenty chances in the first fifty minutes. Unfortunately we were missing some key defenders therefore Arran MacPhee had to play as half-back which obviously took away from our goal-scoring edge so we were only able go a couple goals ahead. Kyles made some changes and really put us under pressure for the later part of the match and ultimately pegged us back to 2-2. Probably a point dropped from being in such a strong position but can’t complain too much about a point against a solid team like Kyles.
What are the ambitions for the squad this year – you guys have obviously just been promoted – is the goal to stay in the league or are you setting your sights a bit higher?
As a newly promoted team we have to first set our sights on getting enough points on the board to stay in the division. That being said, we know we are an improving team and wont go into any game this season not thinking we are able to win. If we hit our stride and have strong players available week to week a mid-table finish is achievable.
Oban Camanachd this weekend – what do you think of them? What sort of strengths do they have?
Oban Cam put us out of the Camanachd Cup last year in a really tight game. They had Daniel Cameron and Daniel Sloss in their defence that day and I cant remember either of them putting a foot wrong. Although we had a foothold in the game we were limited to few clear cut chances so this time around we will need to be creative in the forward line and midfield if we are to win the game.