Skye Camanachd 0 Fort William 5. | |
01 May 2010 Skye Camanachd lost 5-0 to Camanachd Cup holders Fort William in the first round of the MacTavish Cup at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 1 May 2010.
First team manager Aonghas MacDonald welcomed captain Steven Morrison back into the side. However he was without the talents of defender Jamie MacDonald who had a university exam in Glasgow on the day of the game. Shockie MacLennan reverted from buckshee back to the centre line whilst Iain Nicolson returned to defensive duties. Gilleasbuig MacDonald moved from midfield to attack and Dougie Rankin returned to the forward line. Youngsters Danny Morrison and Martin Bruce joined Neil MacVicar, Alan Palmer and Aonghas MacDonald on the bench whilst Jordan Murchison and Willie MacRae dropped out of the squad.
The visitors, with the wind at their backs, almost got off to a dream start when they broke down the Skye right after just 2 minutes. Victor Smith and Steven Morrison jostled for possession and when the Skye player’s caman slipped from his grasp, it left Smith clean through on goal. However as Jamie Gannon rushed from his line, the Fort veteran could only shoot into the side net.
Skye responded with a series of attacks which included Fort keeper Paul MacKay saving with his foot from Allan MacKinnon and Gilleasbuig MacDonald shot wide of target.
Fort William danger man James Clark broke down the right on 11 minutes but good tackling from Iain Nicolson forced him to shoot wide.
Skye keeper Jamie Gannon did well to palm clear a 25 yard looping Bryan Simpson effort after 12 minutes but the visitors took the lead a minute later.
Referee John MacPhee awarded a soft free hit to Fort William 20 yards from the Skye goal and as the ball was rolled to James Clark, he sent a blistering drive which gave Gannon no chance.
Paul MacKay brilliantly tipped a 30 yard scorcher from Somhairle MacDonald over the bar a minute later.
Fort William should have gone 2-0 up after 15 minutes when a ball across goal from the right found Victor Smith in space at the back post. However he failed to hit the target when it looked easier to score.
A long ball forward from Duncan Rodger on 18 minutes found Bryan Simpson and he punished the Skye defence for standing off him by crashing the ball into the net.
Skye might have been two down but they continued to press the Fort William goal. Dougie Rankin played in Allan MacKinnon after 21 minutes but his effort on goal was well saved by MacKay with his foot. Dougie Rankin shot wide from the resultant corner.
Gilleasbuig MacDonald shot wide of target from a corner after 36 minutes and 3 minutes later a Skye move which started from an AB Connor clearance, ended when MacKay saved with his feet from a Somhairle MacDonald shot.
Skye were awarded a free hit 20 yards from the Fort goal just 6 minutes from the break for a foul on Allan MacKinnon which left him with a cut head. The ball was slipped to Dougie Rankin but he failed to find the target.
Ruthless Fort William punished Skye for these missed chances 4 minutes before the break. James Clark fired in a low corner from the left which was missed by the Skye defence and Gordie MacKinnon ran in to make the half time score 3-0 to the visitors.
Skye started the second half on the offensive and MacKay again saved well with his feet from Somhairle MacDonald after 47 minutes.
However the home side went further behind on 49 minutes. A shy from the right from the impressive Gary Innes lobbed into the danger are and Bryan Simpson swept the ball into the net to make it 4-0.
Alan Palmer replaced AB Connor for Skye with Shockie MacLennan dropping into defence.
Neil MacVicar replaced Iain Nicolson who was suffering with a tight hamstring and Danny Morrison came on for Allan MacKinnon in attack.
Fort William enjoyed the bulk of the pressure for the remainder of the game but they only had one further goal to show for their efforts thanks to some determined defending by Steven Morrison and Iain Nicolson and a couple of fine stops from Jamie Gannon.
The final goal came in the 84 minute when Duncan Rodger was allowed to burst through the Skye defence to make it 5-0.
Fort William now go through to a semi final against neighbours Kilmallie on Saturday 29 May 2010.
Skye were not at their best, particularly in the second half, and they missed the presence of Jamie MacDonald and John Moir in defence.
The pace of top level shinty is undoubtedly quicker than what North Division 1 has to offer but the catch 22 is that to improve; you need to be in the top league to experience this on a weekly basis.
However there are several Skye players – including Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison, Iain Nicolson and Somhairle MacDonald - who would be at home in any top flight team.
Skye continue in cup action next weekend when they travel to Balgate to play Lovat in the Artemis Macaulay Cup.
Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), AB Connor, (Alan Palmer), Ian Nicolson, (Neil MacVicar), Allan MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan, Kenny Campbell, Kerr Gibb, Somhairle MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon, (Danny Morrison), Dougie Rankin, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, subs Martin Bruce, Aonghas MacDonald (not Used)
Match Referee – John MacPhee
The Match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan. |