Kingussie keeper Bob McGregor the hero in cup shoot-out against Beauly
It took penalties to separate W M Donald MacTavish Cup holders Kingussie and their bogey team Beauly at a tense Dell on Saturday.
The visitors - currently bottom of the Mowi Premiership - made a brilliant start with Louie MacLellan scoring after just a couple of minutes.
However, the Kings drew level just three minutes after the restart with Savio Genini on target.
Extra-time ensued and Kingussie led for the first time through Dylan Borthwick on 108 minutes, but Beauly battled back as Colin MacDonald made it 2-2 on 114 minutes.
With no further scoring, referee Jamie MacPherson took the tie to a penalty shoot-out, and Kingussie keeper Rory McGregor made the difference, hauling his side through to the quarter-finals.
He scored Kingussie’s first penalty before saving the next three Beauly spot-hits.
When Beauly blazed a retaken fourth penalty over the bar, it meant Dylan Borthwick’s conversion was enough to give the Kings a 2-0 triumph.
Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “We were pretty awful if I’m honest but still had a lot of possession without really threatening their keeper.
“I’ve said before that Beauly have been a bit of a bogey team for us and that was nerve-shredding again.
“We were able to take Cammie Bremner and Ryan Borthwick off the bench just 10 minutes into second half and both played well with Ryan really impressing.”
Lee Bain had missed out for the Kings with a calf injury suffered against Newtonmore the previous week whilst Fraser Munro was ruled out with a sore groin from the same game.
After featuring against ‘More, James Falconer has decided to stick with his decision to sit out this year because of injuries.
This weekend, Kingussie host Caberfeidh in the Mowi Premiership.
Newtonmore were scheduled to play Skye Camanachd in a W M Donald MacTavish Cup first round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday.
Skye have yet to play on their home pitch this season, and the game was in some doubt throughout the week.
Skye held an 8am pitch inspection on Saturday morning and the field was declared playable so Newtonmore set off on their journey west.
However, a heavy rain downfall across the west followed, leading to late postponements in Oban, Fort William and Invergarry, prompting a second inspection following which the tie was called off.
As Newtonmore were travelling just past Spean Bridge they got notice that the match was having to be called off.
The tie will now take place at The Eilan on Saturday 12 April.