Skye Camanachd 5 Fort William 3. | |
12 April 2011 The Skye Camanachd second team are through to the second round of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup after they beat Fort William 5-3 after extra-time at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 9 April 2011. Skye Camanachd manager Davie MacVicar and his assistant Murdo Morrison made three enforced changes to the starting line-up which beat Lochaber 5-1 the previous week. Stevie MacKinnon and John Gilles joined Neil John Campbell and Calum Gibb on the injured list whilst Darryl Macintosh was called up to the first team. Iain MacLellan also dropped onto the bench whilst Mark Mortimer was unavailable. Scott MacLeod had fully recovered from a leg knock so he came off the bench to start at buckshee back. Scott Martin started at wing centre to add some experience to the midfield, Stewart Grant started at full centre whilst Jordan Murchison came into the attack. Fort William were strengthened by the inclusion of Ewen Campbell in attack and Donald Walker in defence. Young Jack Fraser missed out as did another youngster, Aaron MacPhee, who was on holiday. Skye got off to the best possible start when they took the lead after just 2 minutes. Allan MacKinnon laid the ball off to Jordan Murchison and the youngster drilled the ball low, into the net to put Skye 11-0 up. Skye threatened again a minute later when Allan MacKinnon played the ball forward to David Grant. He set up a chance for Jordan Murchison but Fort William keeper Cal Brown saved Murchison’s shot with his foot and cleared the ball for a corner. Fort William’s Daniel Stewart made space for himself after 9 minutes but his shot went over the bar. Skye keeper Jamie Gannon had to look lively after 11 minutes to save from Ewen Campbell as Fort William looked to take advantage of the breeze at their backs. The visitors levelled after 16 minutes Fort William full centre Bobby McMillan collected a clearance from the Skye defence and his low shot took a slight deflection on the way past Gannon. Skye wing centre John MacKenzie drifted a shot goalwards after 22 minutes and Cal Brown had to chest the ball away before completing the clearance. Stewart Grant played the ball forward to Jordan Murchison whose quick pass gave Paul MacKinnon sight of goal and Brown saved his shot at the expense of a corner. Fort William fought back and Davie Duncan cut the ball back to Michael Slezas who shot over the bar. The last real chance of the half fell to the home side when David Grant pulled a clearance out of the air and shot narrowly over the bar. Skye had the advantage of the wind at their backs in the second half. However it was the visitors who threatened first when Gannon saved from Ewen Campbell but Michael Slezas’ out-stretched caman could only knock the ball past the post. Referee Donald MacRae penalised Donald Walker after 48 minutes when he caught Paul MacKinnon on the ankle. Allan MacKinnon took a quick free-hit to John MacKenzie and his shot rose just over the bar. David Grant then held the ball up before passing to Allan MacKinnon who rifled a shot wide of target. Davie Duncan burst through on goal after 61 minutes and John MacLeod’s late challenge on the edge of the D earned him the first yellow card of the game. Fort were unable to make anything off the free-hit as they were crowded out by the Skye defence. Fort William’s Ewen Campbell was yellow carded in the aftermath. Skye introduced Daniel Morrison in place of John MacKenzie and Will Cowie for Allan MacKinnon as they tried to make the break-through. However it was Fort William who went 2-1 ahead after 69 minutes when Daniel Stewart lost his marker and raced goal-wards before slipping the ball past Jamie Gannon. Skye attacked from the throw up and Cal Brown had to chest and slap away a Jordan Murchison lob. Skye were level just 60 seconds later. David Grant collected a huge shy from the left from Scott Martin. Grant’s pass fell between Jordan Murchison and keeper Cal Brown and it was Murchison who got there first to tuck the ball past the goalie into the net to make it 2-2. Skye were forced to make a change when John MacLeod limped off. Iain MacLellan came on at wing centre and Scott Martin took up MacLeod’s wing back position. Jamie Gannon made a good save from Daniel Stewart on 75 minutes and when the Skye keeper raced from goal to try and clear the danger, he was aided by Stewart Grant to foil the Fort. A minute later a Stewart Grant lob almost deceived keeper Brown but he managed to protect his goal. Skye took the lead for the second time in the match on 80 minutes when a David Grant flick was deflected into the patch of Jordon Murchison and he lofted the dropping ball over Brown’s shoulder to complete his hat-trick and make it 3-2 to the delight of the noisy crowd, However Fort William were never going to collapse and they levelled just 3 minutes later when Michael Slezas muscled enough space to allow him to slot the ball into the net. Fort William keeper Cal Brown denied Jordan Murchison and Will Cowie in the closing stages before referee Donald MacRae signalled for an extra-time period after 3 minutes of injury time. Skye made a tactical switch at the start of the second half swapping full back Ally MacDonald and full forward David Grant as they sought to snuff out the threat of Daniel Stewart and create further opportunity in front of goal. The switch was to pay off on both counts. Skye won the toss at the start of the first half of extra-time and opted to continue with the wind at their backs. Daniel Stewart went close to putting Fort William ahead in the opening minute but Skye then began to take a strangle-hold on the game. Stewie Grant went close to putting Skye in front again when his back-hand effort fizzed past the post but Islanders did regain the lead on 102 minutes. A long shy from Daniel Morrison left Jordan Murchison one-on-one with keeper Brown and the Skye forward finished confidently as he flicked the ball into the net for his fourth goal of the game which put the Islanders 4-3 in front. Skye almost scored again from the restart. Stewart Grant won the centre and played the ball up-field. Will Cowie intelligently dummied the ball which created a chance for Ally MacDonald and his shot went inches over the crossbar. Skye scored a crucial fifth goal from a well worked corner just 4 minutes into the second period of extra time. Will Cowie played a corner from the right into the danger area. Jordan Murchison’s shot at goal was blocked by keeper Cal Brown but Ally MacDonald reacted first to force the ball over the line. It was a brave finish from MacDonald who was clattered by Brown as he netted and this was to earn the keeper the third yellow card of the game. Skye lost wing centre Daniel Morrison when he picked up a knock on the hip but the Islanders held their shape for the remainder of the game. Skye keeper Jamie Gannon denied Daniel Stewart on a couple of occasions as his side held on to their two goal advantage. This was a good team performance from Skye but Scott MacLeod and Iain Grant were excellent throughout in a defence which has gained confidence from Jamie Gannon’s inclusion in goal. Stewart Grant bossed the midfield for large periods of the game and Jordan Murchison was a match-winner with a four goal contribution. Fort William were well served by Donald Walker, Bobby McMillan and Daniel Stewart, Both teams are to be congratulated for serving up a fantastic cup tie for the large crowd in the warm Portree sunshine. Next up for Skye is a short trip to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel in the second round. Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, John MacLeod (captain), Iain Grant, Ally MacDonald, Scott MacLeod, John MacKenzie, Stewart Grant, Scott Martin, Paul MacKinnon, Allan MacKinnon, Jordan Murchison, David Grant subs Daniel Morrison, Will Cowie, Iain MacLellan Fort William from; Cal Brown, Mark Grant, Jamie Cruickshank, Cameron Grant, Donald Walker, Sean Cameron, Bobby McMillan, Josh McGhee, Michael Slezas (captain), Daniel Stewart, Davie Duncan, Ewen Campbell subs Mark Fraser, Alexander McMillan, Victor Smith, David Stafford Match Referee – Donald MacRae The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |