Despite the scoreline, though, this wasn't an unmitigated disaster for the Bute team, who matched their opponents well in the middle of the park throughout the game and came up against an outstanding performer in the shape of Kingussie keeper Andrew Borthwick.

But Kingussie showed exactly why they are the most successful team in the history of world sport by combining a well organised defence with a deadly forward line and taking full advantage of the odd bit of good fortune here and there to put the game out of the hosts' reach long before half time.

Bute started the game in good heart after their recent improvement in form, though it wasn't long before the home defence was called into action, David MacDonald forced into a full-length dive to block a first-minute Ross shot before keeper Kevin Queen cleared the danger.

Ross thought he'd opened the scoring just a few seconds later after a fine passing move involving Kevin Thain and Fraser Inglis cut a swathe through the home defence, but referee Duncan Kerr disallowed the goal for an offside infringement by the Kingussie front man.

But Bute didn't sit back and wait for the Kingussie onslaught, and some good build-up work at the other end of the park set up James Craig for a shot which was beaten away by Borthwick at his near post.

The hosts showed no signs of being overawed in the early stages, determined defending keeping Ross and co at bay whenever Kingussie looked like threatening Queen's goal, but the tactic of sticking limpet-like to the visitors' forward line backfired in cruel fashion when the deadlock was broken in 19 minutes, John Gibson launching a high ball into the danger zone from wide on the left, some 40 yards from goal, the flight path deceiving Queen as the ball dropped out of the air and into the net.

The manner of the goal was as harsh on Bute as the goal itself, and there was a touch of good fortune about the visitors' second of the day six minutes later, Ross shrugging off David MacDonald and ignoring strong appeals for a push on the Bute defender before thumping the ball past Queen.

Ali Carmichael came within no more than a foot of pulling one back for Bute straight from the restart, but any lingering hopes the hosts might have had of salvaging something from the afternoon were crushed seconds later, again in cruel fashion, when Thain's corner from the right deflected off Iain MacDonald and ended up in the back of the net.

Brian Liddle saw a long-range shot beaten away by Borthwick and Carmichael came close for a second time as Bute tried to get something back before the interval, and Ross underlined his seemingly unlimited will to win when he earned a ticking off from the referee for protesting a little too loudly after having a penalty claim waved away by the man in black.

Ross, though, long ago learned to let his shinty do the talking, and his second of the day on the stroke of half time was unquestionably the best goal of the game so far, a crisp passing move again cutting the Bute defence to ribbons and setting up Ross for a simple finish to leave Bute trailing by four goals at the break.

With the game all but won Kingussie might have been forgiven for easing off the gas a little in the second half, but a corner in the first minute after the break demonstrated they were in no mood to ease up - particularly with places in the Camanachd Cup final up for grabs - and Ross didn't take long to complete his hat-trick, gobbling up the loose ball after a good block by Queen nine minutes after the interval.

David Whitelaw saw a fine effort from 25 yards blocked by another good Borthwick save, and Carmichael fired just wide of the left hand post as Bute refused to buckle, but as the game wore on a few errors, mostly born out of sheer frustration, began to creep into the hosts' play, and Ross added his fourth and Kingussie's sixth on 65 minutes with another simple finish after David MacDonald missed his clearance.

Number seven arrived just three minutes later, a quick counter-attack by the visitors ending when Thain gave Inglis the time and space to pick his spot in the back of the net.

Bute coach Barry Martin rang the changes to give some of his fringe players a run out, with Roberto Zavaroni coming on for Carmichael and Robert Ferguson replacing Liddle, and Zavaroni showed his eye for goal with a quick long-range effort which wasn't too far away after a short clearance by Borthwick.

Ferguson, too, gave the Kingussie defence something to think about with a couple of dangerous runs from out wide, but it was fitting that Ross had the last word on the day's action, rounding off the scoring seven minutes from time after a quick free hit was flicked on skilfully by Inglis.

The final whistle was greeted with a round of applause from the Bute supporters, partly out of admiration for the visitors but partly also acknowledging the home team's determined effort and refusal to throw in the towel.

* Bute's senior side will be keen to bounce back as quickly as possible from their Kingussie defeat - and they'll get the chance straight away this Saturday, September 6, when Kyles Athletic visit the Meadows.

The Tighnabruaich team have made quite a mark in their first season back in the top flight, with high points on their way to mid-table security including home and away wins over Fort William.

But Bute will be out for a measure of revenge after losing both matches between the sides so far this season, a 3-2 home defeat in the Celtic Cup back in April and a 5-3 reversal at Tighnabruaich in the sides' first league meeting of the campaign in June.

Throw-up at the Meadows is at 2.30pm.

* Bute's second team bring down the curtain on their South Division Two campaign this Saturday when they travel to Yoker to take on Glasgow Mid Argyll.