Skye Camanachd 3 Newtonmore 4 | |
27 June 2011 Skye Camanachd are out of the Strathdearn Cup following their 4-3 defeat to Newtonmore at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 25 June 2011. Skye manager Davie MacVicar made five changes to the squad which lost to Lovat a fortnight ago. Paul MacKinnon was ruled out with a knee injury and U17 players Callum Gibb, Angie MacPherson, Magnus Burd and Stevie MacKinnon drop out of the squad. However Ross Graham was back in goal and there were also starting places for Iain Grant, Shaun Hedley and Iain MacLellan who returned to the squad. U14 forward Andrew Grant was given a first home start. There was a first appearance of the season for Donnie Campbell following his epic run from Glasgow to Skye. Veteran Allan MacLeod started at wing forward and Daniel Morrison and John MacKenzie dropped onto the bench. Injury ruled out the possibility of a place for Jordan Murchison and Will Cowie, meaning three of the four first choice forwards were unavailable. The first real chance of the game fell to the home side when the ball broke to Allan MacLeod on the left, 15 yards from goal. MacLeod caught the ball well enough but his shot rose well over the bar. Newtonmore’s first shot on target came after 15 minutes when Skye keeper Ross Graham saved with his feet from an Evan Menzies shot and David Grant cleared the rebound with Chris Sellar ready to pounce. Newtonmore had a chance from a free-hit a couple of minutes later but the ball went wide of goal. Ally MacDonald played in Allan MacLeod after 19 minutes but his shot from the left flew across goal. Newtonmore went ahead on 25 minutes when Evan Menzies broke down the Newtonmore left and he cut inside before flicking the ball over Ross Graham’s shoulder into the net to make it 1-0. Skye leveled on 29 minutes with one of the best goals seen at Pairc nan Laoch all season. There seemed little danger when Shaun Hedley controlled the ball in midfield but he took a couple of steps forward before sending a 30 yard shot screaming into the roof of the Newtonmore net to make it 1-1. A Chris Sellar shot on 32 minutes was blocked and Evan Menzies put the rebound wide. Ross Graham did well to save a Chris Sellar flick on 34 minutes and Evan Menzies shot wide from the resultant corner. A Stewart Grant free hit from the left on 41 minutes found Andrew Grant on the opposite side of the park and he set up Ally MacDonald but his hook shot went wide of target. Skye manager Davie MacVicar made a couple of changes at half time with Donnie Campbell coming on in place of Andrew Grant and Ally MacLeod replacing Mark Mortimer at wing centre. Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh, standing in for regular boss Cammy MacDonald, replaced Blair MacKintosh, who had an ankle knock with Neil Stewart coming on. Skye attacked from the restart and Allan MacLeod set up Donnie Campbell but Bryan Simpson saved with his feet and cleared the danger. Newtonmore broke immediately and Callum Stewart played in Evan Menzies but he was tackled by Iain Grant. The ball broke to Callum Stewart but his shot was saved by Ross Graham. Newtonmore regained the lead on 52 minutes when they turned defence into attack in a matter of seconds to score a splendid goal. ‘More full back Michael Russell cleared the danger when Allan MacLeod and Donnie Campbell tried to link up. Russell found Callum Binnie who played a ball from midfield to Chris Sellar on the penalty spot. Sellar turned his marker and he beat Graham at his right post with a sweet waist high strike to make it 2-1 to the visitors. Skye made another tactical switch after 56 minutes. Defender Iain Grant came off, Allan Mac Leod dropped back into defence to replace him and Andrew Grant returned to the attack. A ball into the ‘More goalmouth from Shaun Hedley on 58 minutes almost set up a chance for Andrew Grant but Liam Mullander cleared before the youngster could shoot. Skye player the ball into the goalmouth and Michael Russell stopped a Donnie Campbell shot with his feet and keeper Cheyne cleared the danger. Iain MacLellan and Ally MacDonald set up Donnie Campbell and he spun before shooting wide on 64 minutes. Newtonmore introduced their second substitute Martin Hall. Conor Jones put Newtonmore 3-1 up on 69 minutes. Skye were unable to clear the ball from defence and Ross Graham did well to block a shot which came through a ruck of players and Jones was first to react to the rebound. Shaun Hedley had already scored one sensational goal and he repeated the feat when he intercepted a Callum Binnie pass on 72 minutes and he launched a vicious 25 yard shot, high into the net to make it 3-2. Skye defender Scott MacLeod was replaced by John MacLeod in a straight positional switch. Newtonmore produced a great move a minute later. Calum Stewart beat two men on the right before finding Chris Sellar and his flick left Evan Menzies clean through on goal. Menzies seemed certain to score but he appeared to be brought down by John MacLeod with his first contribution of the game. Newtonmore were aggrieved and Evan Menzies was booked for his protests. However moments later justice may well have been done as Newtonmore went 4-2 up. Callum Stewart passed to Conor Jones on the right and he crossed from the touchline and the out-stretched caman of Evan Menzies reached the ball first and he wrong footed David Grant and Ross Graham and the ball went agonisingly over the line with 76 minutes played. Mark Mortimer had returned to the field of play in place of Stewart Grant and Mortimer’s free hit on the Skye left found Iain MacLellan with his back to goal. MacLellan managed to turn and shoot and he hit the outside of the post with 10 minutes remaining. Newtonmore introduced Angus Gray in place of Conor Jones with 82 minutes played. Ally MacDonald fired goalwards on 85 minutes and Bryan Cheyne saved with his legs but Donnie Campbell was first to react to the rebound and he knocked the ball into the net to make it 4-3 and bring Skye right back into the game. Skye had one final chance when Allan MacLeod launched a free hit into the danger area but Michael Russell cleared his lines for Newtonmore. This was a disappointing performance from Skye and a missed opportunity to get to the last four of the competition. The exception was Shaun Hedley who put in a man of the match performance at full centre and also managed to help himself to a couple of goals. Best for Newtonmore, who now face Fort William in the semi finals, were Michael Russell, Martin Ival, Callum Binnie and Evan Menzies. Skye Camanachd from; Ross Graham, David Grant, Iain Grant, Martin Bruce, Scott MacLeod, Mark Mortimer, Shaun Hedley, Stewart Grant, Ally MacDonald, Andrew Grant, Allan MacLeod, Iain MacLellan subs Donnie Campbell, Ally MacLeod, John MacLeod (captain), Daniel Morrison, John MacKenzie Newtonmore from; Bryan Cheyne, Michael Russell, Brett Munro, Liam Mullander, Martin Ival, Donald Fraser, Blair MacKintosh, Callum Binnie, Evan Menzies, Conor Jones, Chris Sellar subs Neil Stewart, Martin Hall, Angus Gray Match Referee – Daniel MacRae The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |