Skye suffered a heartbreaking exit from the Sutherland Cup at Invergarry on
Saturday as a penalty two minutes from time sent Glenorchy through to their
first final in 24 years.
It was a game that the islanders had dominated however, and after
spending most of the second half camped in the opposition half, Skye were
left wondering how this one got away following the Dalmally side's late and
controversial penalty award. John MacPherson kept his cool to net his second
goal of the afternoon and give Glenorchy the victory but the Argyllshire
team's success was also hugely indebted to goalkeeper Ian Gibson who
frustrated the islanders with a string of fine saves throughout the 90
minutes.
Skye started brightly and Gibson was soon called into action to clear after
a nice early move between Willie MacRae and Keiron Roberts. The Skye
forwards continued to look the more threatening though, and the islanders
took the lead after 20 minutes. Malcolm Moir won possession in the
right-wing forward position before cutting the ball across to Keith
MacKenzie 25 yards from goal. Gibson managed to to dive across and get a
stick to the waist-high shot, but Roberts was in first to power in the
rebound and put Skye ahead. Davie MacVicar's side looked as though they
would build on the early advantage, but Glenorchy gradually brought
themselves back into the match and stunned Skye with two goals in a five
minute spell shortly before half time. First MacPherson prodded the ball
home after a goalmouth scramble and then the experienced John Smith made
space for himself before firing a rasping drive into the far corner to put
Glenorchy ahead.
Peter Gordon, who had featured for the Skye senior team against Lovat
earlier in the day, was introduced for the second half in a bid to bolster
the attack and he was immediately involved when he drove a snap shot just
wide of the post from 20 yards. Gibson was called into action several times
saving shots from Gordon, MacKenzie and Roberts before producing the stop of
the match on the hour mark. Another Skye attack had broken down at the edge
of the penalty area, but Davie MacVicar followed up and his long range
effort looked destined for the roof of the net, only for Gibson to palm the
ball up and over the crossbar. The second half continued to resemble
shooting practice for the Skye front line, and with youngsters Jamie
Macdonald and Iain Nicolson both having excellent afternoons in defence,
Glenorchy's advantage remained perilous. However it took Skye until just
under ten minutes to go to eventually level the tie. Again Gibson did all he
could to keep the Skye attack at bay, blocking Gordon's piledriver with his
chest. But this time Kerr Gibb ‹ who was another of Skye's' most impressive
performers on the day ‹ burst through to flick home the rebound and the
match seemed destined for extra time. And yet there was to be a late and
cruel sting in the tail for the islanders. Glenorchy staged a rare foray up
field and when Andrew Banks cleared amid a flurry of activity inside the
Skye penalty area, goal judge Dougie Cameron raised his flag for an
infringement. Referee George Hay had waived play on and there was little in
the way of protests from the Glenorchy forwards, but Cameron indicated Banks
had played the ball with his foot and the penalty was awarded. Macpherson
stepped up to hammer home the resultant spot-hit to signal the celebrations
among the large and vociferous travelling support to end Skye's cup dreams
for this year.