Lovat 3 Skye Camanachd 2. | |
18 May 2011 The Skye Camanachd second team lost 3-2 to Lovat in their Marine Harvest North Division 2 match at Balgate on Saturday 14 May 2011. Skye manager Davie MacVicar has made six changes to the squad which beat Kinlochshiel last weekend. Iain Nicolson returned to first team action whilst Jordan Murchison and Paul MacKinnon were also promoted to the top team. Ally MacLeod missed out with a double fracture to his thumb. Work commitments ruled out John MacLeod whilst Iain Grant was unavailable. Ally MacDonald and Calum Gibb were back after playing for the first team in Bute last weekend. Manager Davie MacVicar also rejoined the squad. There were call ups for Mark Mortimer and whilst Iain Morrison came in after a spell in the first team. Magnus Burd called off on the morning of the game as he was unwell. Martin Bruce came into the defence and started at buckshee back. Calum Gibb also started in defence whilst Ally MacDonald took on the full centre role. Iain Morrison took up the buckshee forward position. Ross Graham captained the side in the absence of John MacLeod and Iain Grant. Lovat boss Alan MacRae gave Graeme MacMillan, his new signing from Inverness, a place on the bench. Lovat opened brightly and Skye keeper Ross Graham had to be careful when dealing with a bouncing shot from Lovat’s Calum Farquharson whose effort came from out on the right touchline. Skye conjured up a chance after 5 minutes when John MacKenzie played in a ball from the right to the advancing Will Cowie but Lovat keeper Christopher MacCallum raced from his line to close down the angle and clear the danger. Skye Camanachd full centre Ally MacDonald won possession on 11 minutes and he played the ball forward to Iain MacLellan but his shot went wide of target. Skye continued to press and Iain Morrison hit a dipping shot from fully 40 yards on the Skye right 60 seconds later. Home keeper Christopher MacCallum palmed the ball away but Iain MacLellan nipped in to tuck the rebound into the back of the net and give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Iain MacLellan got on the end of a Martin Bruce free hit from the centre circle on 13 minutes but he fired over the bar. Lovat threatened to level on 19 minutes when Ross Graham was forced to race from his line to clear a shy into the danger area. Iain Morrison tried another shot from distance on 25 minutes. If anything, this effort was even further out. Keeper MacCallum again saved with his hand but his clearance came back to Morrison who was fouled as he tried to get a shot on target. Skye failed to create anything from the free-hit. Lovat should have made more of a sweeping move down their left on 27 minutes and the Skye support breathed a sigh of relief as the ball drifted harmlessly out of play. Lovat keeper Christopher MacCallum made an outstanding save with his caman above his head on the half hour mark to keep the deficit to a single goal. Will Cowie had made enough space to turn and shoot from the edge of the D but his blistering drive was turned away by the keeper. Skye were made to pay for not making more of their earlier chances when Lovat levelled on 33 minutes. Home full forward Steven Cameron collected a ball from the right before turning and blasting the ball into the net to make it 1-1. Lovat looked sure to go ahead 3 minutes from the break. Steven Cameron came deep to take possession but Ross Graham saved his shot with his feet. The rebound fell for Lewis Tawse but he missed his chance. Lovat continued to press at the start of the second half and a good cross into the D from Graeme MacMillan was well dealt with by Ross Graham who cleared for a corner. Just a minute later, Skye defender Calum Gibb deflected a shot wide of goal with his leg. Lovat went 2-1 up after 50 minutes. Graeme MacMillan crossed from the left to Steven Cameron who turned and crashed an effort on goal. Ross Graham got his caman to the ball but the power of the shot took it into the roof of the net. Skye’s Allan MacKinnon fired over after 58 minutes as Skye looked to get back into the game. They did just that a minute later. Lovat failed to deal with a ball into the D and Will Cowie nipped and with his back to goal, he managed to flick the ball into the net to make it 2-2. Skye almost went ahead on 68 minutes. Iain Morrison collected a huge David Grant clearance and played a good ball to John MacKenzie and his drive went agonisingly wide of goal. Skye keeper Graham made a good save from Lewis Tawse 5 minutes from time but Lovat regained the lead 3 minutes later. Ross Graham did well to block a Steven Cameron effort but Graeme MacMillan marked his debut but juggling the ball before lofting it into the roof of the net. Skye player manager Davie MacVicar had a chance to level in injury time but he was unable to get a shot on goal. Lovat pressed the clock ticked down but Calum Farquharson was dispossessed by Martin Bruce. Referee Barrie Dallas penalised Farquharson for his challenge as Bruce tried to clear the danger. Bruce took the free-hit himself and his ball found Will Cowie around 20 yards from goal. Cowie found space to shoot but his effort went just inches over the bar. This was an entertaining game and nicely sets up what should be a keenly fought Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup quarter final tie at between the sides at the end of the month at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Lovat from; Christopher MacCallum, Ryan Fraser, Danny Kelly, Tom Collings, Alan MacPherson, Tom Smith, Connal MacIllechiar, Andrew Wallace, Rory Cruden, Calum Farquharson, Lewis Tawse, Steven Cameron subs Bradley McHardy, Graeme MacMillan, Ayrton Streets, James White, Alan MacRae Skye Camanachd from; Ross Graham (captain), David Grant, Scott MacLeod, Callum Gibb, Martin Bruce, Allan MacKinnon, Ally MacDonald, Stewart Grant, Iain Morrison, John MacKenzie, Will Cowie, Iain MacLellan subs Daniel Morrison, Mark Mortimer, Magnus Burd, Davie MacVicar Match Referee – Barrie Dallas |