Skye hauled themselves back into promotion contention after producing
arguably their best performance of the season to beat Beauly at Kyleakin on
Saturday.
The 3-1 victory leaves the islanders a point behind the Braeview
Park side, having played a game less, and with second bottom Aberdeen
University the only other team yet to visit Portree, a victory in their
penultimate fixture with fellow promotion hopefuls Kinlochshiel this weekend
would surely be enough to clinch Skye a play-off spot against south
runners-up Kyles Athletic.
With heavy rain ruling out the prospect of any action in Portree, the new
south Skye field played host to its first senior shinty encounter but the
home side soon settled in the more unfamiliar surroundings. Ally Morrison's
team started with the stiff breeze at their backs and remained camped in the
visitors half for most of the first period. The hosts new-look centreline of
brothers Aonghas and Gilleasbuig Macdonald along with teenager Jamie
Macdonald ‹ who did a sterling job at wing centre against the experienced
Steven "Murph" MacLean ‹ were on top from the outset and Skye were quick to
threaten. Beauly keeper Steven Lymburn made a couple of early blocks to deny
Gilleasbuig Macdonald in the opening ten minutes but Skye were forced to
make an early change after full forward Stevie Morrison got the ball full on
the nose following a Beauly defender's clearance. The bloodied and
clearly-shaken forward, who was helped from the field following some
treatment from Beauly midfielder and trained paramedic Innes Simpson, was
replaced by Iain Nicolson.
However, Skye continued to press and took the lead in the 14th minute
albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Aonghas Macdonald sent a long
ball in from midfield and Lymburn was caught out when the wind assisted
effort crept in at his near post.
The home side continued in search of more goals and Beauly, without the
threat of the suspended Barrie Macdonald, seemed short of ideas up front.
Angie Murchison did have to make one stop with his chest midway through the
half, but in the main Skye's defence dealt comfortably with the visitors'
attack with Steven Morrison in excellent form at buckshee back. With the
prospect of playing into the wind in the second half however, Skye knew that
more goals would be required and the vital second arrived shortly before the
interval. Gilleasbuig Macdonald was the architect with a shot that Lymburn
did well to save, but Nicolson was first to anticipate the loose ball and
stab home the rebound from inside the area. Alan Palmer and Nicolson came
close to extending the advantage at the start of the second half as Skye
continued in search of more goals, but it was the visitors who hauled
themselves back into the game in the 63rd minute. Allan MacLeod's loss of a
contact lens left the Skye defence effectively a man short, and Sean Stewart
found space to drive the ball home through a ruck of players and raise hopes
of a fightback. Willie MacRae then came on to replace MacLeod, who had an
otherwise flawless game at wing-back, for the last half an hour. Both teams
had chances in the closing stages with Ally MacLennan hitting a shot into
the side netting for Skye while at the other end Murchison made another
decent stop to keep out an effort from Beauly's Danny Marshall. It took
until the final minute for Skye to make the points certain though, when the
islanders won a free hit 25 yards from goal. Palmer laid the ball back to
the advancing Kerr Gibb and the young substitute ‹ a replacement for Kenny
MacLeod who was forced off with a hand knock ‹ sent a sweet backhand shot
soaring into the roof of Lymburn's net to put the shine on a polished Skye
performance.
Skye's best form had clearly arrived when they needed it most following a
disappointing performance against Caberfeidh a fortnight ago. The return of
John Angus Gillies at full back settled a defence in which Steven Morrison
was outstanding while Aonghas Macdonald and Ally MacLennan both put in fine
performances in midfield and at the heart of the attack. Jamie Macdonald
too, showed that he has a bright future in the game with a determined
display at wing centre in what was his first start for the senior team. The
result sets up a potentially mouth-watering clash at Kirkton this Saturday
and while Morrison was hopeful that Kenny MacLeod and Stevie Morrison would
both have recovered in time, Skye will definitely be without David Nicolson
who is now off to Australia for the winter months.