Newtonmore 2 Skye Camanachd 5. | |
18 May 2010 The Skye Camanachd second team had their first league win of the season when they beat Newtonmore 5-2 at the Eilan in Marine Harvest North Division 2 on Saturday 15 May 2010.
Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie MacVicar made 6 changes to the squad which beat Lewis. Ian Morrison, Martin Bruce, Andrew Banks and Willie MacRae were all on first team duty and Ross Graham, Angie MacDonald and Ally MacLeod were unavailable. Neil MacVicar and Danny Morrison, who are both one game away from being cup tied for the Aberdein Considine Sutherland and Strathdearn Cups, were recalled. Darryl MacIntosh, recently transferred from Lewis Camanachd, made his debut in midfield and Michael Nicolson taking over in goal. Calum Gibb and Scott MacLeod, members of last years U17 London Shield winning team, were among the substitutes.
Skye, who started with 7 teenagers in their line up and 3 on the bench, opened brightly without putting Newtonmore keeper Dougie Gray under any real pressure.
The opening goal arrived on 22 minutes following a foul on Davie MacVicar by Newtonmore full back Brian Cheyne. MacVicar took the free hit and lofted the ball into the area. The ball was cleared by the ‘More defence but only as far as MacVicar who played it in to Danny Morrison. Morrison controlled the ball before sending a thunderous back hand drive into the roof of the net.
As has so often happened to Skye this season, the lead was short lived and Newtonmore were level within a minute. Ackie MacRae played in David Wilde who turned his marker to fire low into the left hand corner of the Skye net.
The proved to be only a temporary set back as Skye were soon on the offensive again with Dougie Gray saving well from an Ally MacDonald shot.
With Skye starting to exert a grip in midfield a second goal arrived on 29 minutes. This time Jordan Murchison and Davie MacVicar combined to set up Danny Morrison who finished in style with a blistering effort from the edge of the D.
Ally MacDonald and Danny Morrison both went close to extending the Skye lead before half time while Skye keeper Michael Nicolson saved well from Paul MacKintosh.
Skye had the better of the first half but only had a one goal advantage to show for their efforts.
Skye started the second period with a slight wind advantage and they capitalised on this by continuing to threaten the Newtonmore goal.
Skye player / manager Davie MacVicar was forced to leave the field with a hamstring strain and was replaced by 15 year old Calum Gibb. Ally MacDonald moved to full forward with Gibb taking over at wing forward.
The substitution didn’t disrupt Skye’s control of the game and they went 3-1 up in the 52 minute. This time Neil MacVicar found Danny Morrison who drifted off his man and sent another scorching drive past Gray in the Newtonmore goal.
Newtonmore continued to probe for openings but couldn’t find a way past Michael Nicolson who saved well from Wilde and Chris Sellar mid way through the half.
With around 25 minutes to go Skye went 4-1 up when MacIntosh went charging up the right wing and played a superb diagonal ball to Ally MacDonald who fired a lovely back hand drive across goal and into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.
When Chris Sellar scored with 15 minutes remaining, it looked like being a nervous finish for Skye.
However the Islanders wrapped up the game 2 minutes from time when the impressive MacIntosh went on a charge up the right wing before firing a blistering 35 yard drive that took a wicked deflection off full back Brian Cheyne, leaving Newtonmore keeper Gray stranded.
With a comfortable 3 goal cushion, manager MacVicar had time to introduce substitutes Scott MacLeod and Daniel Morrison for Jordan Murchison and Ally MacDonald.
This was an impressive and confident Skye team performance where there were no failures. However hat-trick hero Danny Morrison deserves a special mention as he looked particularly sharp in front of goal.
Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, David Grant (captain), Ian Grant, Shaun Hedley, Scott Martin, Darryl MacIntosh, Neil MacVicar, Stewart Grant, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, (Scott MacLeod), Ally MacDonald, (Daniel Morrison), Davie MacVicar, (Calum Gibb)
Match Referee – George O’Rourke |