The greeny plastic pasture of Aviemore welcomed us and Grantown Grammar School for our first game of the season. The sun shone, the breeze blew kindly and the troops were eager for the whistle to signal the start of the game.

A Champions League format is the proposed way for going forward this year after a competitive soccer sabbatical last year. Our grouping matched us with the most southerly of the Highland schools: Grantown Grammar, Lochaber and Inverness High Schools.

The foundations for the year ahead were laid by our dearly departed Mr Brown but to pass on his wisdom Mr GuardiolAsh kept grip of the reins and the boys were salivating. It didn’t take long for Kingussie to place a foot on the ball and take control. Within 15 minutes the net had bulged and was nothing our pressure did not merit. Argyle Allan finishing off a swift movement via the commanding Dermot McKenna playing the ball out of defence to our ever improving Argyle Allan who triangled a neat one-two with the influential Bailey Allan before rasping a 40, well more like 20, yarder home. Any early match shoogliness was shaken off after a whipped corner was bulletted in at the near post from the imposing Scott MacDonald. The buoyant crowd went bananas.

The boys were well in command and a Franz Beckenbauer style 60 yard diagonal pass was met again by the dainty foot of Argyle and his deft touch tallied up another goal. “Ya Beauty!” were the crowd’s hollerings. The visitors persistence paid off when a rare moment of haphazardness in the middle of the park was seized upon and the deficit reduced to two. Before the half-time whistle did a little ‘peep’ Sean Hirst pressed accelerate, churning up the rubber crumb from the halfway line he left the defence looking at the soles of his feet as he restored the three goal cushion cushion for the team in red and white.

A sweeping move from back to front exploited the space and the tireless Oliver Walker slotted home to finish off an Esteban Cambiaso style goal. Nothing less than his effort and attitude warranted. Walker was involved again in the final Kingussie goal as his wing work down the left played in Argyle whose shimmying feet danced by defenders and unleashing a lovely finish. Grantown managed to reduce the lead but it was not the commencement of a remarkable comeback.

Tackles, second balls, headers, crosses were all being won by Kingussie and some of the football was a joy to watch. The tireless energy was exactly what was asked for and we look to improve over the next round of games.

Our next fixture sees us taking on Grantown in what promises to be a tougher encounter and in the meantime we will be working on cheesin’ grins for team photos.

Effort, Attitude and Respect - we will get success.

Callum Douglas, Gregor Maka, Dermot McKenna, Cole Macallum, Fergus Masson, Callum, Scott, Scott MacDonald, Bailey Allan, Bobbie Russell, Argyle Allan, Sean Hirst, Fergus Sherlock, David Coyle, Oliver Walker, Nathan Ross - be proud. Work Harder.