Memory Lane – Season 1989 / 90 – Part 36 | |
01 January 2011 Macaulay Cup Semi Final Beauly 1 Skye Camanachd 5 A second half power-play performance from Skye Camanachd finally saw off a spirited Beauly side in their MacTavish Cup semi final in front of a large crowd at the Bught Park, Inverness. Skye went into the match on the back of a four week lay-off which was mainly down to the wintery weather however they were quick off the blocks at the start to the game. The game was only moments old when a first time effort from Willie Cowie was turned away for a corner by Beauly keeper Garry MacDonald. Then Willie MacKinnon fought hard for possession wide on the touchline. He cut inside before forcing MacDonald to make a good save, right on the goal line. Beauly keeper MacDonald was in constant action and he stood firm to block a rocket shot from Cowie with his chest. Next up was Skye wing centre Andy MacLean who went close as he surged forward from midfield before collecting a loose ball and shooting just past the post. All this action in the Beauly goalmouth came within the first 9 minutes of the game! Beauly responded and Sandy MacKay took a waste high ball first time but saw his effort go narrowly past the upright. Skye were back on the attack moments later when cousins Willie Cowie and Willie MacKinnon played a one-two which allowed Cowie sight of goal and his shot crept just past MacDonald’s goal. The game was now swinging from end to end and Beauly now enjoyed some pressure with the formidable Sandy MacKay causing the Skye defence problems. This early action seemed sure to bring an opening goal and it came from Skye after 13 minutes. A ball out of defence was played forward to Willie Cowie. The Skye striker controlled the ball and turned before smashing a fantastic shot into the net for what was a brilliant opening goal. Cowie almost doubled Skye’s lead moments later but he shot over the bar following an intelligent flick from John MacRae. There were some terrific battles going on all over the field. In particular the duel between Beauly captain and buckshee back Roger Cormack and Skye’s Willie Cowie and the battle in the middle of the park between Beauly’s Stephen MacLean and Skye’s Caley MacLean caught the eye. Beauly’s Sandy MacKay spurned a good chance when he missed the target after finding himself in space in front of goal. Beauly’s Calum Bain just failed to finish a superb move when he shot into the side netting of the Skye goal. Skye held onto their slender 1-0 lead until the break but as so often was the case this season, the Islanders exploded into action in the second 45 minutes. Within just 60 seconds of the restart, Skye doubled their lead. Willie MacKinnon and John MacRae took on the Beauly defence and MacRae shot home from close range to make it 2-0. Skye laid siege on the Beauly goal and keeper MacDonald blocked a Peter Gordon shot with his chest although it is likely that he knew little about it. Then Willie MacKinnon went desperately close to finishing off a superb passing move between the Islander’s forwards. Skye finally saw off Beauly with two more goals in a two minute burst. First Willie Cowie sent a blistering drive into the net from 25 yards out for his second strike of the game. Then Skye went 4-0 ahead when Caley MacLean played a good ball forward to Willie Cowie. John MacRae found space in behind the Beauly defence and Cowie found him with a sublime ball. MacRae rattled the ball past MacDonald at the second attempt and Skye were heading for the final. The game went flat for a period of time and the next real chance fell to Beauly but John “Bodach” MacKenzie in the Skye goal blocked a good effort from substitute Martin MacLean at the foot of his post. Then Skye lost possession from a corner on 70 minutes. Beauly broke quickly and found Sandy MacKay 25 yards from goal. MacKay fired a shot from the right which flew into the far corner of the net to make it 4-1 and gave MacKay a goal that his play deserved. Skye’s Caley MacLean was dominant for most of the second half and he sent one speculative 40 yard lob just over the top of the Beauly goal. On 75 minutes, Caley MacLean sent a free hit from the left into the Beauly goal-mouth. The ball was picked up by Peter Gordon on the Skye right and he blasted one of his trademark shots into the net to complete the scoring and put Skye 5-1 in front. With the tie won, Skye manager Ross Cowie introduced substitutes John Finlayson and Davie Pringle for a late run out. In the end Skye will be happy with the victory and in particular their second half display. There were times during the game when the Islanders were guilty of being over-elaborate with the ball but when they did play a direct route to goal, they were a joy to watch. Skye now return to the same venue to face old foes Kingussie in the MacTavish Cup Final. Beauly from; Gary MacDonald, Iain MacLean, Allan MacDonald, Roger Cormack, James Cruickshank, Calum Bain, Stephen MacLean, Vince Tillman, Iain Flynn, John MacColl, Jamie MacLennan, Sandy MacKay, subs Martin MacLean, Allan MacKay Skye Camanachd from; John MacKenzie, Duncan MacDougall, Ewen MacKinnon, Donnie MacDonald, Willie MacRae, Ally MacDonald, Caley MacLean, Andy MacLean, Willie Cowie, Peter Gordon, John MacRae, Willie MacKinnon, subs John Finlayson, Davie Pringle |