ABERDOUR bounced back from their Macaulay Cup exit to maintain their unbeaten league record at Col Glen last Saturday.

Lisa MacColl’s team were given a harsh lesson by one of shinty’s big guns when they were beaten 8-0 at Kyles Athletic, but returned to a much more level playing field against their South Division One rivals at Glendaruel.

The West Fifers were without key players Alex Mitchell, Tom Abbott, Jack Mitchell and Craig Grant for the Macaulay Cup clash and MacColl travelled with just 12 players as John Martin Philips and Craig Girvan joined that quartet on the sidelines.

The game turned out to be a scrappy encounter played on a soft pitch and, with both teams battling for the opening goal, Aberdour’s Roddy MacColl came closest to breaking the deadlock early on as he rattled the Col Glen post.

They weren’t to be denied for long, however, and opened the scoring before half-time, when Chris Bowerman followed up to fire home the rebound after MacColl’s strike had been well saved by the home goalkeeper.

Col Glen were much improved after the break and dominated for long spells, and they equalised when Connor Kennedy collected the ball in space and found the net.

The home side enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but they struggled to trouble Aberdour goalkeeper Tom Bowerman, who was well protected by his defence, as the visitors settled for a well-earned point in light of reduced personnel.

The draw keeps Aberdour second in the table, two points adrift of leaders Lochside Rovers having played two games less, and two clear of third-placed Oban Celtic.

Meanwhile, there was more disappointment for Aberdour’s young second team as they went down to a two-goal defeat against Oban Lorn at Silver Sands.

Craig Callaghan’s youngsters remain bottom of South Division Two as David Martin’s double either side of half-time – the second a penalty – saw them lose their sixth game from six. They are without a win in all competitions so far this season.

They will attempt to secure that elusive first victory of the year this afternoon when they travel to Dunoon Camanachd in the first round of the Bullough Cup, while Aberdour’s first team are also in cup action as they make the trip to Kilmallie in the Camanachd Cup. Throw-up in both of the games is at 2.30pm.