Craig Morrison fired his third double in successive games to help Caberfeidh end Kingussie’s long-standing unbeaten home record.
The champions and Grand Slammers were stunned 3-0 as Scotland boss Garry Reid continued a sizzling start to his club managerial career.
Morrison said: “Last year I missed the first three games through suspension, so I’m now six goals ahead of schedule.
“Traditionally we make a slow start to the season but we’re much stronger and fitter now and the team’s looking good.”
The 27-year-old plumber struck in the second and 65 minutes with sub Gavin MacLauchlan netting in 58 minutes to leave Kingussie scrambling to recollect their last home loss.
“I think it might be as far back as 2018,” said manager Ian Borthwick. “And it’s years longer than that since we lost by three goals at The Dell.
“We’d more of the ball but Craig Morrison is class, you allow him a sniff and it’s in the net. Credit to Cabers, they are a class outfit.”
Inverness High School PE teacher Gavin Campbell was singled out by Garry Reid for his success as fitness coach.
“My priority was to get the players fitter and sharper and Gavin’s worked wonders in that respect,” he commented.
“The players have given great commitment in training in the past eight weeks and now feel more confident stepping on to the pitch. Results like this make all their effort worthwhile.
“We played well against Kingussie, though we rode our luck at times. Craig Morrison again showed he knows where the goals are.
“Gavin MacLauchlan was left out of the starting lineup and responded perfectly by hitting a beauty in to the top corner of the net when he came on.”
Reid added: “Two wins and a draw is an excellent start – but Kingussie will be out to turn us over when they come to Strathpeffer in the Cottages.Com MacTavish Cup next weekend.”
Internationalist Blair Morrison, Cabers’ new skipper, marshalled their defence extremely well.
Cabers are joint top with Newtonmore on five points and have rattled in eight goals to their rivals’ six. The Castle Leod combine finished sixth last season but are showing the kind of form which suggests they can reach higher this year.
Rory MacKeachan, who was working, was a Kingussie call-off. Manager Borthwick admitted: “The result was a sore one but it gives us a reminder that we’ve to work hard if we’re to keep winning trophies.
“The cup tie at Castle Leod gives us the perfect opportunity to show we’re better than we were on our own pitch.”
MacDonald inspires More to victory
Steven MacDonald’s comeback sparked Newtonmore to five points from three games and triggered hopes from their fans that their four-year trophy famine could come to an end this season.
Back from suspension, MacDonald was outstanding at full centre in his team’s 1-0 win over Kinlochshiel at The Eilean.
“We just deserved to win a cracking game – really good, hard old-fashioned shinty,” said co-manager Norman MacArthur.
“We should have been three up at half time but Shiel came back at us and they could’ve had second half goals.
“Steven was the best player on the park – we look much better when he’s in the team. Rory Kennedy was fantastic in a defence which has only conceded one goal.”
The winner came from a penalty, firmly despatched by Craig McIsaac seven minutes from time after a double swing from Shiel’s Conor Cormack.
In the final minute, the Wester Ross side’s Jonny MacAskill was sent off after his stick hit the back of home skipper Conor Jones’ legs. It was the first red card of the Premiership season and Jones received a yellow card.
Shiel manager Willie MacRae said: “No arguments about the red card but their player should also have walked. We had 65 per cent of play but in the end we didn’t trouble keeper Kenny Ross enough.”
Inveraray’s Ross Montgomery became the first National Division red card, sent packing in 65 minutes at Strathglass. But early goals from Allan MacDonald and Campbell Watt, with Steven Hyslop pulling one back, gave the Argyll men their first win of the season.
Oban Celtic made it two points from two outings when they drew 0-0 with Glen Urquhart at Mossfield.
Glengarry’s Scott Bremner became the North First Division’s first early bath when he was sent off in a 1-1 home draw with Beauly.
There were 14 matches postponed due to rain-damaged pitches.
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