Having been thumped 3-0 at Fivepenny in the cup, all eyes were on the maroons' first league encounter at Barvas on Saturday, where they took on an in-form West Side team.

The West stunned the visitors, going ahead through skipper Dan Macphail, but Lochs were level just before half-time, David Kinnaird registering on the score-sheet.

The second half belonged to Lochs, who cemented their victory with further goals from David Kinnaird, Andy Murray, and Robert Mackenzie.

At Sgoil nan Loch on Monday, Lochs hosted United, in what could easily have been another banana skin for the champions.

They were almost in front after 30 seconds, when Andy Murray blasted a shot wide of Martin Macphee, and four minutes later Murray sent a header forward which was met by David Kinnaird, but he shot high and wide.

In a blistering start, Lochs were battering the United defence, and when Don 'Lava' Macleod rose to knock down a perfect ball across goal, David Kinnaird headed over when scoring seemed the much easier option.

A rasping John 'Uig' Morrison drive was well held by Macphee, and at the other end, veteran United midfielder Iain Maclennan fired a shot high.

Not putting these chances to bed unsettled Lochs, and as such allowed United to grow into the game.

On 20 minutes Liam Coleman shot high, and then Roddy Morrison saw his fine turn and shot saved by Ally Mackenzie in the Lochs goal.

Kinnaird again saw an effort go wide on the half-hour mark, and the hugely impressive Lochs right-back Robert Mackenzie looked on in anguish as his scorching drive from the edge of the box crashed back off the United crossbar.

The half-time whistle blew with the score goal-less, but a fired up home team went ahead nine minutes after the restart.

A looping ball into the box was headed goalward by Andy Murray, and David Kinnaird was on hand to crash the ball home from close range.

Two minutes later and the champions doubled their lead, when a pin-point David Macmillan corner was met superbly by the head of Don 'Lava' Macleod, and his powerful header flew past Macphee.

The floodgates had been opened, and it looked as though Lochs could score at will, such was the incessant flow of pressure into the United box.

Macphee failed to gather what appeared to be an innocuous pass-back and Don 'Lava' Macleod stuck out a leg only to see his effort nick just past the post.

On 64 minutes David Kinnaird picked up on the 18-yard line, and he had all the time in the world as he slotted the ball home under the body of Macphee for 3-0.

Minutes later Robert Mackenzie unleashed a powerful effort which produced the save of the match from Macphee, who dived superbly to his left and clawed the ball out for a corner.

But he had no chance three minutes later, when another Lochs attack saw Alex Maciver send a cross into the danger area, and Andy Murray prodded home with his head from six yards.

Four goals up and with 20 minutes to play, Lochs were turning on the style that had seen them all but obliterate their opponents so often last term.

John 'Uig' Morrison, having another superb match, drilled a shot into the arms of Macphee, and skipper David Macmillan flashed a header wide.

John 'Uig' was once more thwarted by the fingertips of the young United keeper, but there was nothing he could do with ten minutes left, when a Darren Mackinnon corner from the left evaded all and sundry in the United box, nestling in the far corner of the net.

Alex Maciver saw a devilish effort ricochet off the United post and out for a goal-kick, while substitute Donald 'Nomie' Macdonald provided the only other moment of note in the match, when in injury time he drove a shot from 20 yards into the arms of Macphee.

United manager Manus McGee said after the match: "I felt we held our own in the first half, but we didn't take the chances we created and against a side like Lochs you have to do that.

"We lost a soft goal early in the second half, and from then on it was damage limitation.

"I felt that we continued to try to play football, and as long as we do that then I will be happy.

"I have always said that Lochs are the standard all other teams must set themselves against."

At Fivepenny, Ness went down by two goals to one to Carloway.

After a goal-less first half, Gordon 'Tago' Maciver struck ten minutes after the restart, and Kenny 'Dokus' Macdonald added a second on the 70-minute mark.

Ness scored a consolation strike through Willie Macrury with only two minutes left to play.

Back maintained their 100 per cent record with a 3-0 win over Point at Garrabost.

On form captain Kevin 'Bloxy' Murray had the blues one-up before half time, and Chris Macleod and Murray again scored in the second half to cement a convincing win over their Broadbay rivals.

At Goathill, Aths had a storming start, going 2-0 up against West Side in the first 30 minutes.

The goals came via Kenny 'Wang' Macleod and a Siarach own goal, and looked to have the Aths on easy street.

However, West Side were back in the game on the hour mark, albeit in almost comical fashion.

On receiving a through ball from Dan Macphail, Peter Mackenzie contrived to hit the bar, and from the rebound then the post, before knocking the ball over the line at the third time of asking.

Mackenzie doubled his tally ten minutes later, when after a lovely one-two with Colin George Morrison he slotted the ball past the despairing Colin Macritchie.

In the ABC Cup 2nd round, Back staged a last minute away drama to get through at the expense of Carloway.

Back had taken the lead through Chris Macleod on the 40 minutes mark, the striker latching onto a well-delivered cross from Jason Coles.

Kenny Maclennan had the home side level just before half time.

The Broadbay Blues again went ahead on 70 minutes, when Iain Campbell regsistered, but with quarter of an hour to go the match was level again.

Kevin 'Bloxy' Murray received his marching orders after handling on the line, and from the resultant penalty Chris Macleod netted.

As extra time loomed, Euan 'Moley' Macleod pounced on a loose ball at the far post to score from close range and leave Carloway shattered.

Back now face Athletic at home in the semi-final.

In the other second round encounter, United were comprehensively beaten at home by Point.

The Rudhaich went ahead in the first half through Steven Liddle, and the same player netted shortly after the restart.

The match was over when Anthony Maciver popped up to score Point's third on the night, setting up a semi-final clash at home to West Side.

Results
ABC Cup –
2nd Round
United 0 Point 3
Carloway 2 Back 3

League
West Side 1 Lochs 4
Ness 1 Carloway 2
Point 0 Back 3
Aths 2 West Side 2
Lochs 5 United 0

Fixtures
Friday May 2
Lewis and Harris Select v Ross County
(In aid of Bethesda, Goathill, 6.45pm)

Monday May 5
ABC Cup – Semi Final
Back v Aths
Point v West Side

Wednesday May 7
League
Lochs v Carloway
Aths v United

Jock Stein Cup 1st Round
Harris v Ness