ABERDEIN CONSIDINE SUTHERLAND CUP QUARTER FINAL | |
30 November 2006 Skye sealed their place in the last four of the junior shinty championship of Scotland after a hard-fought nine goal thriller at Tighnabruaich on Saturday. The last time these two sides met in cup competition, Willie Cowie grabbed a hat-trick yet still finished on the losing side following Kyles' penalty shoot-out win in the Camanachd Cup semi final six years ago. This time however, playing for Skye's reserves, the veteran forward enjoyed better fortune with another treble which proved the difference between the two promising sides on the day. And while Skye will be taking nothing for granted against semi-final opponents Glenorchy, the fact that both Newtonmore and Fort William were avoided in the last four draw now undoubtedly presents Davie MacVicar¹s side with an excellent chance of taking Skye to their first Sutherland Cup final in 18 years. Despite a couple of late call-offs from some of the younger members of the team, the islanders travelled South with a strong squad at their disposal with the experience duo of Cowie and Willie MacRae in attack along with player manager MacVicar returning to the full centre berth after shaking off a recent injury. And it was Skye who were first to threaten when Cowie shrugged off a challenge on the byeline to cut the ball back for Malcolm Moir at the edge of the area. The youngster couldn't connect with the pass however, allowing Kyles to clear the danger on this occasion. But the islanders early pressure would eventually bring its reward in the tenth minute. Cowie flicked on a long balk from the right wing and this time Moir made no mistake with an emphatic finish from close range. The lead was short lived though, and the hosts drew level five minutes later. Skye wing back David Grant sustained a head-knock in the build up, allowing Kyles' John Blair to rifle the ball low into the far corner at the second attempt. Grant's injury temporarily left the islanders with 11 men, but the Skye defender was soon back in action to see Skye forge ahead for a second time. Again Cowie was at the heart of the move, and while his initial shot was blocked by Kyles keeper John Whyte, Willie MacRae showed a neat touch to flick the ball beyond a defender before slotting home from the edge of the penalty area. Kyles response was swift though and Blair again restored parity, rushing on to Skye keeper Danny Morrison's clearance and volleying the ball first time into the top right-hand corner of the net. The game continued to swing from end to end with full centres MacVicar and Kyles' Tom White ‹ with well over half a century's worth of experience between them ‹ enjoying a fascinating tussle in the middle of the park. But it was Skye who regained the initiative shortly after the hour mark. Once more John Whyte did his best to keep the ball out with a superb reflex block from Gary Roberts. But there was little the Kyles custodian could do about the follow up which Cowie swept high into the net from ten yards. Kyles battling qualities were soon back in evidence though and the match was levelled for a third time before the interval. Skye's defence couldn't clear their lines from a goal mouth scramble and this time Dallas Turner was on hand to flick home following a desperate melee in the Skye goalmouth. There as little to separate the sides, but with Cowie's first goal of the match indicating he was now finding his range after a couple of near-misses, the signs had started to look ominous for the hosts. And so it proved when the Skye full forward's 20-yard effort from the right deceived Whyte and crept in at his far post ten minutes after half time. Five minutes later and Cowie extended the advantage with his and Skye's best strike of the game, rocketing a waist high shot in at the near post from around 15 yards. Blair thrashed home a fourth for Kyles with ten minutes remaining, ensuring a nervous finish for the islanders ‹ but Skye held out with young goalkeeper Danny Morrison making a vital save in the dying seconds to turn a low drive round the post and secure the islanders' place in the semi-final draw. |