Kinlochshiel 2 Skye Camanachd 3. | |
22 August 2010 Skye Camanachd came from two goals down to beat Kinlochshiel 3-2 at Kirkton in Marine Harvest North Division 1 on Friday 20 August 2010. First team manager Aonghas MacDonald made 3 changes to his starting line-up from the defeat against Lochaber the previous week. Martin Bruce made his first start for the senior side at wing back in place of the injured John Moir. Allan MacLeod returned to the side in defence which allowed Iain Nicolson to push into the forward line. Kerr Gibb started in midfield in place of Kenny Campbell who was unavailable with Gilleasbuig MacDonald moving to full centre. Forward Allan MacKinnon was also unavailable. U17 players Jordan Murchison and Shaun Hedley came into the squad to join Stewart Grant and Aonghas MacDonald on the bench. In total, Skye were missing 8 first team regulars through a combination of injury and player unavailability. Kinlochshiel were without Zander Grant so David Falconer started in defence. Shiel were also without the services of long term absentees Calum MacLean and Crisdean MacRae. They made a positional change in defence with John Don MacKenzie moving to full back and Paul MacRae taking up the buckshee forward slot. Ian MacDonald started at wing centre and Fraser MacVicar in attack with Graham Morrison and Neil Fraser joining youngsters Donald Nixon and Duncan “Ach” MacRae on the bench. Skye started brightly, playing with the breeze at their backs, and Somhairle MacDonald looked particularly dangerous as he tormented the home defence with some direct running. A Somhairle MacDonald shot just whistled past Graham Kennedy’s post on 8 minutes. A minute later, Skye wing centre Kerr Gibb sent a great 25 effort just over the bar. ‘Shiel responded and John MacRae set up Finlay MacRae after 11 minutes but Skye full back Steven Morrison just managed to get his body in the way of the shot to deflect the ball over the bar for a corner. A couple of minutes later Keith MacRae shot over the Skye bar. A good Skye move started by full centre Gilleasbuig MacDonald saw Iain Nicolson play in Somhairle MacDonald and he found Danny Morrison who saw his shot deflected for a corner. Kinlochshiel took the lead after 16 minutes. Keith MacRae went on a run and played the ball forward to Finlay MacRae. He sent a neat pass to John MacRae who cut in from the left wing and slotted the ball past a helpless Michael Nicolson. The home side went 2-0 up from the penalty spot after 21 minutes. Skye passed up a couple of opportunities to clear the ball and there was a scramble in the visiting defence. Keeper Michael Nicolson was penalised for lying on the ball although he did seem to be bundled over. Finlay MacRae put the penalty to Nicolson’s right and Skye found themselves two down despite enjoying much of the game. Skye came close to reducing the deficit after 26 minutes when ‘Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy stopped a Somhairle MacDonald shot with his chest following a Neil MacVicar corner on the right. MacVicar fired the rebound on target but Kennedy saved with his feet before clearing for another corner. On 28 minutes, Michael Nicolson saved a John MacRae shot with his hand and cleared the ball for a corner after the ‘Shiel forward had been set up by Finlay MacRae. An accidental clash between Shockie MacLennan and Keith MacRae left the Skye defender requiring treatment to his knee. The last real chance of the half fell to Somhairle MacDonald on 35 minutes but keeper Kennedy deflected his effort for a corner. The heavy showers and swirling wind made conditions difficult for both sets of players and Skye went back on the offensive at the start of the second half with Danny Morrison hitting the side netting on the opening minute. Skye wing back Martin Bruce was booked by referee Graham Irving on 52 minutes for a late challenge which left ‘Shiel’s John MacRae requiring treatment. A couple of minutes later Skye were back in the game. ‘Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy was adjudged to have headed the ball clear and Somhairle MacDonald expertly dispatched the penalty. On 67 minutes Iain Nicolson and Graham Kennedy dashed for a ball on the Skye left. Nicolson won possession and squared the ball to Somhairle MacDonald. With Kennedy racing back to his goal and the home defence closing in to cover, MacDonald’s shot rose agonisingly over the bar. Skye could sense that equalising goal and Iain Morrison and Danny Morrison combined to create a shooting opportunity for Somhairle MacDonald but Graham Kennedy made a great save, tipping the ball over the bar. Skye drew level on 70 minutes. Somhairle MacDonald made a neat reverse pass to Neil MacVicar on the Skye right. The Skye wing centre looked up and assessed his options before unleashing a superb 30 yard drive into the top corner of the net. If that pleased the large travelling Skye support then 60 seconds later they went into raptures. Skye broke forward from the throw up and although forward Iain Morrison appeared to be fouled, referee Irving played a good advantage which allowed Somhairle MacDonald to play in Iain Nicolson and he finished in some style. Kinlochshiel took off forward Fraser MacVicar and put Neil Fraser on in his place after 78 minutes. Graham Kennedy made a good stop from an Iain Nicolson shot on 79 minutes. Kinlochshiel created a good chance from a free hit on 81 minutes and the ball was played to Keith MacRae in space but Michael Nicolson did really well to stop MacRae’s shot with his hand before clearing the ball for a corner. Home full centre Steven Callander saw a shot rise over the bar on 83 minutes. Skye put Jordan Murchison on in place of Iain Morrison and the youngster did well in his cameo appearance. The home support were willing their side to score but the Skye defence stood firm as Steven Morrison, Allan MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan and Martin Bruce continually tackled and harried their opponents to clear the danger. There was one last heart-stopping moment for Skye when Keith MacRae forced a brilliant save with his caman from Michael Nicolson and the keeper cleared the ball for a corner. The last chance of the game fell to Skye when great play from Danny Morrison gave him the chance to cross to Iain Nicolson but his shot went just over the bar. This was Skye’s first win over their rivals at the third attempt this season and they become the first away side to win at Kirkton this season. Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Steven Morrison (captain), Martin Bruce, Allan MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan, Neil MacVicar, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, Iain Nicolson, Iain Morrison, (Jordan Murchison), Danny Morrison, Somhairle MacDonald subs Stewart Grant, Shaun Hedley, Aonghas MacDonald not used Match Referee – Graham Irving |