The game was tied at three goals a piece after Newtonmore equalised on the 70th minute. A Bute foul on the edge of the D with five minutes to go gave Newtonmore the chance they had been looking for - the Highland team taking a quick free hit setting up forward Glen McKintosh to score his second of the game.

Controversy though surrounded the goal as Bute claimed Newtonmore had taken the hit before the whistle, an action referee Duncan Kerr had reprimanded Bute for earlier on in the game. Despite their appeals, the goal stood and Newtonmore went ahead.

The game in the worst possible way for Bute, the home side conceding two goals in quick succession in the first half. But a trio of well-worked goals that got them in front was not enough as Newtonmore's quick breaks allowed them to claw back into the game.

The game started half-an hour late as heavy traffic on the way down had meant the Highland side missed their scheduled ferry over.

But there was no delay in the game getting underway though, as both teams produced a thrilling and action-packed match from the opening whistle.

The earlier clear-cut chances fell to Newtonmore from quick breaks in the midfield but Bute were ever present and building up good movement.

Bute keeper Kevin Queen was called upon straight away, Newtonmore's Glen McKintosh causing problems with a shot/lob from the halfway line, palmed away by Queen and a shot on goal moments later saved by the Bute keeper - all in the first few minutes.

The home team, not to be outdone, looked confident on the ball and missed opening the score in the 14th minute. Great movement off the ball freed Robert Walker up whose run down the left wing allowed him to pass the ball to captain Hector Whitelaw who was unmarked - but his shot was blocked at the last second.

A minute later the visiting team's Danny McRae was picked out from a shy and fired away a shot for the game's first goal. Their second came only three minutes later after Bute conceded a corner and forward David Cheyne took advantage of a scramble in the D to fire it into the net.

Bute quickly regained their composure and went on the attack, eager to reestablish themselves in the game. Pressure from the midfield soon paid off as Iain McDonald sailed a pass into the D, which Walker was quick to tap in after it slipped past the defense. Stewart Strathie went on and scored their equaliser only thirty seconds later after the throw-up, Robert Zavaroni firing it in from a corner for the forward to level the game.

The remainder of the half saw two Bute players, Iain McDonald and Donnie McDermid, both require treatment following clashes with Newtonmore sticks. Queen too was almost taken out of the game after a late challenge from a forward knocked him to the ground after he had cleared the ball.

The Bute keeper was involved in the last action of the half after giving away a penalty for a kick in the D when trying to clear the ball. Cheyne's shot sailed over the bar though to the relief of the keeper.

The second half saw Queen make a couple of good saves from the onset after MacKintosh fired a couple on target. The islanders went on the attack and extended their lead after brilliant work from their forwards allowed captain Whitelaw to pass the ball to Walker, whose mid-air tap to the right of the D set his shot up perfectly and left keeper Michael Ritchie rooted on the spot on the 58th minute.

The fast paced game slowed a little as Bute took a step back in defense allowing Newtonmore more possession. The game was turning into a hard contest, with many a Bute player being fouled as the Highland side battled to regain the lead.

They seized their opportunity after a long bout of possession and missed opportunities, McKintosh slotting Newtonmore's equaliser past Queen on the 70th minute.

Newtonmore then went ahead with the contested goal which will no doubt be talked about for some time.

A last minute free hit for Bute in the dying minutes of the game proved fruitless as the shot was blocked and the final whistle went moments later to the dismay of many of those in attendance.

* Bute's first team are playing away to Inveraray in the second round of the MacPhee and Partners Macaulay on Saturday, July 11.

* Bute's second team are once again scheduled play Glenorchy at home on Saturday, July 11, after being postponed last weekend - the visitors had not been able at that time to assemble a full squad to face the home side.