Kinlochshiel 2 Skye Camanachd 0. | |
01 July 2011 Skye Camanachd lost 2-0 to Kinlochshiel in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 derby meeting at Kirkton on Saturday 25 June 2011. Skye Camanachd first team manager Aonghas MacDonald made three changes to the squad which beat Strathglass the previous week. Robbie MacDougall, Allan MacKinnon and Darryl Macintosh came into the pool in place of Iain Nicolson who was working, Danny Morrison who was on holiday and Iain MacLellan who returned to the second team. Kerr Gibb started at wing back as Shockie MacLennan took up Iain Nicolson’s buckshee back position and Allan MacKinnon came into midfield in place of Gibb. Robbie MacDougall started up front in place of Danny Morrison. Darryl Macintosh returned after breaking his hand against Glengarry earlier in the season and he replaced Iain MacLellan on the bench. Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill was unwell so former boss Keith Loades stepped in to look after the team. Graham Kennedy returned in goal following a groin injury although with no second team game, the Kirkton side took the precaution of putting reserve keeper Iain Cameron on the bench. Skye started with a traditional North diamond formation in attack rather than the South two-two which they had utilised in recent weeks. A shot from Kinlochshiel wing centre Graeme Morrison whistled just over the Skye crossbar in the second minute. ‘Shiel went close again when Keith MacRae collected a clearance from full back Paul MacRae and he fired a shot from the right which went just past the post. Skye fought back on 14 minutes and a Robbie MacDougall blockbuster was blocked by Paul MacRae. Skye full back Neil MacVicar did well to deny Finlay MacRae on 19 minutes as he turned the ball away for the safety of a corner. Michael Nicolson made a great save from Finlay MacRae at his near post to keep the game scoreless. ‘Shiel were hitting down the slope in the first half and they were having success playing the ball from back to front and they used this tactic to take the lead after 34 minutes. A huge clearance out of defence found Keith MacRae and his pass to Finlay MacRae left the Skye defence exposed and MacRae lifted the ball over Michael Nicolson to put the home side 1-0 ahead. Skye’s response was immediate as Alan Palmer slipped the ball to Somhairle MacDonald but his effort went wide of target, The home side went 2-0 ahead just 3 minutes into the second half when Michael Nicolson blocked a Finlay MacRae effort and Gordie MacDonald tucked the rebound into the net. Nicolson saved from MacDonald before Skye manager Aonghas Macdonald made his first change of the afternoon, replacing Iain Morrison with Darryl Macintosh. Skye reverted to their two-two formation in the second half and an Alan Palmer flick into the ‘Shiel goal caused havoc in the home defence and keeper Graham Kennedy was forced to knock the ball for a corner with Robbie MacDougall breathing down his neck. Darryl Macintosh almost got Skye back into the game mid-way through the second half when his blistering drive was turned away at the expense of a corner. Substitute Fraser MacVicar almost made 3-0 when he saw his shot come back off the post after good work by Gordie MacDonald and Finlay MacRae. Aonghas MacDonald shuffled his pack with full centre Iain Murray and full forward Robbie MacDougall swapping positions, John Moir replacing Shockie MacLennan and AB Connor coming on for Alan Palmer. However ‘Shiel remained on the ascendancy with Nicolson making another good stop from Keith MacRae and Fraser MacVicar again hitting the frame of the goal. Skye almost pulled a goal back on 87 minutes when a Robbie MacDougall shot was blocked but Iain Murray blazed the rebound over the bar. The last chance fell to ‘Shiel as Keith MacRae out-stripped the Skye defence but Michael Nicolson stood in his way to clear the ball for a corner. ‘Shiel are now half way through their league campaign and they have a 100% record. They will now prepare for their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup clash with Newtonmore. Skye’s best players were in defence where keeper Michael Nicolson, Neil MacVicar, Shockie MacLennan, Kerr Gibb and Andrew Banks all shone. Kinlochshiel from; Graham Kennedy, Paul MacRae, John Don MacKenzie, Mark MacDonald, Calum MacLean, Steven Callander, John MacRae, Graham Morrison, Finlay MacRae, Gordie MacDonald, Neil Fraser, Keith MacRae subs Fraser MacVicar, David Falconer, Duncan MacRae, Iain Cameron Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Neil MacVicar, Andrew Banks, Kerr Gibb, Shockie MacLennan, Allan MacKinnon, Iain Murray, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Alan Palmer, Somhairle MacDonald (captain), Iain Morrison, Robbie MacDougall subs AB Connor, John Moir, Darryl Macintosh Aonghas MacDonald Match Referee – Graham Cameron |