ABERDOUR coach Lisa MacColl believes her side are showing great promise after a spirited showing against National Division Caberfeidh on Saturday.

The West Fifers, who play their league shinty one level below their opponents, gave the Highlanders a real run for their money in their Balliemore Cup quarter-final clash in Strathpeffer before losing 3-1.

In a tough assignment against a side just one point off the top, Angus Thorburn came agonisingly close to giving the Silver Sands team a shock early lead as they took the game to their opponents.

Their good early work was undone after just 10 minutes when Callum MacCulloch took advantage of a defensive lapse to score but, just seven minutes later, Aberdour were level when Thorburn fired into the top corner.

Caberfeidh regained the initiative in the 24th minute through Liam Symonds and, although he grabbed his second and the hosts’ third after the interval, MacColl said: “I went into it with an open mind and it was important for the players not to worry about them but to focus on what we do. I think we gave them a fright in the first five or 10 minutes with the amount of chances we had.

“After half-time they came out and were a bit sharper, cleverer and reacted to the ball a split second quicker but that comes with the experience of playing a level up. They were skilful but the guys stuck to the task, were never out of the game and were tenacious. There were positives to take and it was a good gauge of where we are.

“One of the biggest issues we have is our ability to clear from defence and where we make passes; if we improve then the ball wouldn’t be coming straight back at us.

“If we can take those things into games at our level then I think it’s quite promising for us.”

Meanwhile, Aberdour seconds enjoyed a second successive victory as they won by the odd goal in five at Glasgow Mid Argyll in South Division Two.

Kevin Latimer put the home side in front after only four minutes before Craig Girvan doubled the advantage just before half-time, only for Lewis Miller to immediately pull a goal back.

Miller’s second drew GMA level in 72 minutes but Chris Bowerman netted the winner for Aberdour just three minutes later.

MacColl added: “They lost to GMA in Aberdour by a goal so they’ve turned the tables and Craig (Callaghan, seconds coach) is delighted. They’ve got a mix of younger guys and older ones who are just turning their hand to shinty. It’s important in keeping their confidence up and all their work is coming together now.”

Aberdour are back in league action on Saturday as they travel to Glenorchy in South Division One, while the seconds are also on the road as they head for Bute. Throw up for the seconds is midday before the firsts get under way at 2.30pm.