Skye Camanachd 3 Strathglass 1. | |
18 April 2010 Skye Camanachd beat Strathglass 3-1 in their first home match of the season at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 17 April 2010.
First team manager Aonghas MacDonald was boosted by the return of Allan MacLeod and Allan MacKinnon into the starting line up. Alan Palmer and Jamie MacDonald, who was hampered by a hamstring strain, started on the bench.
Strathglass travelled without the injured pair Robert Geddes and Les Fraser and they started with two wing forwards – Josh Fraser and Aaron Redpath – who had participated in an U14 competition at Drumnadrochit in the morning.
Skye started strongly and in the opening minute, Somhairle MacDonald sent a sweet drive towards the top right corner of the goal which Strathglass keeper, and player / manager, Brian MacKay did well to turn onto the woodwork and away to safety.
Skye forward Allan MacKinnon received a sore blow to the upper ribs during the early exchanges which left him moving gingerly for a while.
However Strathglass were also keen to make their mark on the game and Jamie Gannon had to look lively to make a double save from full forward Garry Reid. The second stop was a good block with his feet and he turned the ball for a corner.
Skye threatened down the Strathglass left after 11 minutes when Kenny Campbell broke free. Allan MacKinnon failed to get a shot on target from the resultant cross but when the ball fell for Dougie Rankin; his effort flew into the side netting.
Skye produced a well worked free hit after 20 minutes when Kenny Campbell found Dougie Rankin who sent a neat flick to Allan MacKinnon but his shot rose over the bar.
Skye keeper Jamie Gannon dealt well with a bobbling effort after 23 minutes and a good run and shot from Somhairle MacDonald was deflected wide 5 minutes later.
Skye were becoming increasing frustrated by decisions given by referee John MacPhee and Allan MacLeod was booked for voicing his concerns when the visitors were awarded a free hit for a challenge on Garry Reid on 31 minutes.
Jamie Gannon deflected a Strathglass corner from the goal area on 34 minutes but the home defence struggled to clear the ball.
Just a minute later, an Allan MacKinnon daisy-cutter was stopped with his feet by Brian MacKay and cleared for a corner.
The visitors took the lead 2 minutes from the interval when a corner from the left was missed by the Skye defence and Josh Fraser fired the ball into the net to give his side a first half lead.
Skye opened the second period on the offensive and Somhairle MacDonald shot over after 52 minutes.
Skye leveled on 54 minutes following a sweeping move. Allan MacKinnon played a pass to Kenny Campbell and he dummied the ball to allow Somhairle MacDonald enough space to slip the ball past MacKay.
Campbell and MacDonald linked well again just 4 minutes later with the latter shooting wide.
Kenny Campbell made a great run down the visitors right on 63 minutes. His cross found Somhairle MacDonald whose effort was cleared of the line.
There was a major turning point in the game on 66 minutes. Skye’s Shockie MacLennan and Strath’s Ali MacAdam clashed in midfield and MacAdam took a late swipe with his caman at the Skye player right under the nose of referee John MacPhee. The outcome was a red card for MacAdam, leaving the visitors a man short.
Strathglass pulled a forward into the centre line to replace MacAdam, leaving Skye defender Iain Nicolson as a “free man” and this proved significant. Nicolson is also of course an accomplished forward and Aonghas MacDonald took the opportunity to push him further up field.
Skye continued to press the Strathglass goal but a combination of good defending, especially from Donald Fraser, and some wasteful finishing from the Skye forwards kept the game all square.
The Skye forwards were playing with a sense of desperation and “bunching” round the Strath goal didn’t help their cause.
Skye made the vital break-though on 84 minutes. Kerr Gibb fired in a corner from the left, Kenny Campbell diverted the ball into the danger area and Iain Nicolson swept it into the net.
With just minutes remaining Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald introduced Neil MacVicar in place of Kerr Gibb, who had played well throughout.
MacVicar’s first contribution was to play in another corner from the left and again the unmarked Nicolson was first to react as he slammed the ball past MacKay to make it 3-1 and generate a collective sigh of relief around Pairc nan Laoch.
Skye had good performances from Steven Morrison and AB Connor. Somhairle MacDonald was involved in everything positive whilst Ian Nicolson readily seized the opportunity to be the match winner when he was pushed forward.
Strathglass were well served by full back Donald Fraser who made countless clearances out of defence when Skye pressed in the second half and brothers Darren and Garry Reid who were a constant threat up front.
Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), AB Connor, Iain Nicolson, Allan MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, (Neil MacVicar), Kenny Campbell, Allan MacKinnon, (Alan Palmer), Somhairle MacDonald, Dougie Rankin, sub Jamie MacDonald (not used)
Match referee – John MacPhee
The Match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan. |