The island side, their ranks again depleted by work and holiday commitments, conceded three first half goals - one of them a penalty - and despite creating some clear cut chances throughout the game, they never found the back of the net.

Fort William won the toss and chose to play with the strong wind at their backs in the first half, though Bute won the throw-up and almost opened the scoring in the first few seconds, Stewart Strathie and Robert Walker teaming up to create a great opportunity, only for Strathie's shot to agonisingly hit the post.

But Bute's firm hold of the opening minutes soon dissipated; the home side quickly grew in confidence, and opened the scoring after 15 minutes after a quick three-man move which saw the Fort half-back fire the ball up to the midfield, who passed it on to Gary Innes for the forward to open the scoring.

And it was Innes who doubled the hosts' lead when he went down inside the D, his marker David Zavaroni appearing to slip on the tricky surface and bringing down the Fort man as he fell; Bute keeper Kevin Queen was given no chance with the penalty.

Bute kept persevering and created a couple of decent chances; the best opportunity fell to Walker, who was given a clear shot on goal after a Fort defender lost possession, but his shot narrowly missed the target - and the An Aird side made Bute's task even harder when Brian Simpson added a third before half time.

The wind had died down by the time the second half started and Bute were keen to put their stamp on the game from the outset - and again they almost scored an early goal, Strathie's long-range strike forcing Fort's Scott McNeil into a good save, one of several decent stops by the home keeper to preserve his clean sheet.

Walker also created a few chances up front for Bute, but the arrival of substitute Victor Smith on the field for the home side all but ended Bute's hopes of coming back into the match.

Smith put away his team's fourth with his first touch of the ball with 20 minutes left on the clock, and the islanders' miserable afternoon was completed when he netted his second and his team's fifth late in the day - sending Bute home to think hard about their remaining league matches against Kingussie, Kyles, Oban Camanachd and Inveraray.

* Bute play their last home game of the 2009 season when Kingussie visit the Meadows this Saturday, October 17. The throw-up is scheduled for 2.30pm.