Skye Camanachd moved off the bottom of Marine Harvest North Division 2 with a 2-1 win over Beauly at Braeview Park on Saturday 5 June 2010.
Manager Davie MacVicar made 5 changes to his squad. Keeper Ross Graham was unavailable so Michael Nicolson took over in goal. Iain Morrison and Neil MacVicar were called up for the first team and injury ruled out Ally MacLeod. Darryl MacIntosh returned having being cup tied for last weekend’s Strathdearn cup tie against Lovat and Allan MacKinnon dropped down from the first team. Youth players Jordan Murchison, Daniel Morrison and Calum Gibb returned.
With skipper David Grant still injured and vice captain Ross Graham also absent, 16 year old Martin Bruce captained the team.
Skye were looking to emulate their U17 squad who beat their Beauly counter-parts 4-0 last Tuesday evening in the MacTavish Juvenile Cup.
Skye started with player / manager MacVicar in the buckshee forward position and Allan MacKinnon at full centre.
The game was played on a bright sunny afternoon and it proved to be an entertaining spectacle with play flowing from end to end.
Both teams were only inches away from an opening goal in the first 2 minutes. Ally MacDonald fired just wide from a tight angle for the visitors while at the other end; Michael Nicolson was relieved to see a Jack MacDonald shot go inches past the post after he stumbled while attempting to save MacDonald’s shot.
Skye resumed on the attack and Ally MacDonald and Angie MacDonald combined with the latter’s rasping drive finding the side netting.
As Beauly began to take a grip of midfield, Michael Nicolson came to Skye’s rescue with the first of several crucial interventions when he superbly tipped over a Danny Marshall drive.
Skye resumed the offensive they came within inches of an opening goal when Ally MacDonald and MacVicar combined to tee up Jordan Murchison whose flashing drive clipped the top corner of the crossbar on its way over.
This see-saw game continued and Nicolson again saved well from both Jack MacDonald and Danny Marshall.
Skye were still dangerous on the break and following good work by Stewart Grant, Jordan Murchison (who was to prove Skye’s most potent attacker) was denied by the legs of Beauly keeper Cameron MacKay.
Skye looked to gain control in the midfield area again and MacVicar and MacKinnon swapped roles resulting in Skye finishing the half strongly but still goalless.
As the teams turned round at half time the see saw nature of the game continued with both teams coming close to an opening goal right at the start of the second period.
Stewart Grant again played in Murchison and the young forward sent a crashing drive into the side net.
At the other end, Paul Brindle brought another terrific save from Skye keeper Nicolson.
Skye finally broke the deadlock on 62 minutes when a superb Darryl MacIntosh hit in found its way to Allan Mackinnon at the back post and he fired through keeper MacKay’s legs from a tight angle.
Skye almost doubled their lead straight from the throw up when Ally MacDonald set up Angie MacDonald on the edge of the D but the big forward steered his aerial shot wide of the target.
Moments later Beauly buckshee back Neil Rose was cautioned by referee John Sloggie for one foul too many on Allan MacKinnon.
With Skye beginning to take a grip on the game, player / manager MacVicar left the field to be replaced by Daniel Morrison who took up the wing centre position with Darryl MacIntosh taking over at full centre.
The Skye defence continued to be pressed by the lively Beauly attack but buckshee back Martin Bruce and wing back Shaun Hedley were continued to counter the offensives. On the one occasion that Marshall found himself clear of Bruce in the second half, Nicolson again came to Skye’s rescue with a superb save low to his right.
With MacIntosh and young Morrison looking impressive in midfield, it was no surprise when Skye doubled their advantage. MacIntosh played in Ally MacDonald who showed great strength in the tackle to set up Angie MacDonald who rifled a low backhand drive past the Beauly keeper with 72 minutes played.
The two goal cushion allowed manager MacVicar to introduce Calum Gibb for the last 15 minutes in place of Ally MacDonald.
The closing minutes proved nervy for Skye when Marshall pulled a goal back in 86 minutes following a defensive mix up.
Skye were temporarily reduced to 11 men in the 89 minute following an injury to Shaun Hedley. After some temporary repair work to a cut on the head, Hedley was able to continue and help Skye secure a valuable 2 points.
While the Skye defence played well against a lively Beauly attack in which Jack MacDonald and Danny Marshall were prominent, special mention must go to the impressive Michael Nicolson in the Skye goals, captain and buckshee back Martin Bruce, forward Jordan Murchison and Daniel Morrison following his appearance from the bench.
Another pleasing aspect of the game for Skye was that the closing line up contained no fewer than 6 of the U17 team which triumphed in Beauly on the previous Tuesday night.
Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Andrew Banks, Iain Grant, Shaun Hedley, Martin Bruce (captain), Darryl MacIntosh, Allan MacKinnon, Stewart Grant, Davie MacVicar, (Daniel Morrison), Jordan Murchison, Ally MacDonald, (Calum Gibb), Angie MacDonald, Willie MacRae
Match Referee – John Sloggie