Skye Camanachd 3 Caberfeidh 1. | |
13 September 2011 Skye Camanachd rounded off their season on a high with a 3-1 win over Caberfeidh in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 10 September 2011. Skye Camanachd assistant manager Ross Cowie has named a 15 man squad for the match as manager Aonghas MacDonald had been working away through the week but he was back to join Cowie on the touchline. There were five changes to the squad which lost to Kinlochshiel three weeks earlier. Michael Nicolson, Neil MacVicar, Iain Morrison were playing in a football cup final for Portree Juniors whilst John MacKenzie dropped out of the squad. AB Connor missed out with broken ribs. Iain Nicolson, Gilleasbuig MacDonald and Kerr Gibb returned to the starting line-up whilst there were also places for reserve keeper John MacLeod and U17 player Ally MacLeod who started on the bench. This was only Skye’s second game in eight weeks. Caberfeidh made just two changes from their Balliemore Cup Final side as they were without injured defenders Brian MacDonald and Lee Nicol. Liam Mutch and Donald MacDonald came in in their place. Skye played with the wind at their backs in the first half and they again operated the South two-two formation in attack. Skye were first to threaten when Jordan Murchison collected a Kerr Gibb shy from the left on 11 minutes and Caberfeidh keeper David Mellis did well to save his effort at the expense of a corner. Darryl Macintosh took the corner from the right and Murchison again tested Mellis with a snap-shot which the keeper saved with his foot. Skye continued to press and it was third time lucky for Jordan Murchison on 20 minutes when Danny Morrison knocked a ball forward into his path and the U17 forward smashed the ball low into the net to put the home side 1-0 in front. Skye went 2-0 in front on 24 minutes. Ally MacDonald dispossessed a Cabers defender from a poor goal-hit and he played the ball to Jordan Murchison. The Skye scorer switched play left to Somhairle MacDonald and he turned his marker before cutting inside and shooting low into the net. Ally MacDonald was also involved in Skye’s third goal on 34 minutes. MacDonald played a cross from the left into the path of Danny Morrison and he deftly lobbed the ball into the roof of the Caberfeidh net to put the home side in control. John Moir limped off to be replaced by Iain Grant on 38 minutes whilst Caberfeidh took Gavin MacDonald on in place of Donald MacDonald in defence. Skye took their 3-0 advantage into the half time break. Skye defender Andrew Banks blocked a goal-bound Stuart Kryzanowski effort with his legs on 48 minutes. Somhairle MacDonald collected the ball from Darryl Macintosh and cut in from the right and shot just past the post on 52 minutes. Caberfeidh’s Ally MacLennan turned and shot into the side netting a minute later. A fantastic run from Somhairle MacDonald on 55 minutes cut through the Cabers defence but the Skye forward was impeded just before he knocked the ball into the net. Referee Jock Matheson pointed to the spot but Mellis made a superb save above his head with his caman to keep out Somhairle MacDonald’s well hit penalty. Substitute Gavin MacDonald was booked for a trip on Jordan Murchison on 57 minutes. Donald Mellis made a brilliant save from Somhairle MacDonald from the resultant free-hit. Iain Nicolson picked up a knock from a late challenge as he broke up a Caberfeidh attack on 62 minutes. Nicolson was forced to come off after receiving some treatment so John Moir returned to the field of play. Skye’s Allan MacKinnon also came on in a straight swap for wing centre Kerr Gibb a minute later. Caberfeidh had a chance to pull a goal back when they were awarded a free-hit 20 yards from goal on 64 minutes. However Ally MacLennan miss-hit the free-hit and his misery was compounded when he was booked by referee Jock Matheson following the melee which ensued. U17 player Ally MacLeod came on for Skye Camanachd in place of Danny Morrison mid-way through the second half. Kirk Taylor shot narrowly wide on 74 minutes following a good Caberfeidh attack which involved Kevin Bartlett who had been pushed into the forward line after he picked up an ankle knock. A minute later Ally MacLennan broke down the Caberfeidh right and although his shot was blocked by John MacLeod, Kirk Taylor knocked the rebound into the net to make it 3-1. Caberfeidh were forced to replace the limping Kevin Bartlett after 77 minutes whilst Skye re-introduced Iain Nicolson into the action in place of Andrew Banks. A good shot from Cabers’ Ally MacLennan flew into the Skye side-netting on 80 minutes. Good defending from John Moir foiled Kirk Taylor on 82 minutes. Ally MacLeod played in Ally MacDonald on 84 minutes and he found Somhairle MacDonald who ghosted past his marker before shooting but Donald Mellis used his body to foil the Skye talisman. Skye were forced to defend valiantly as Caberfeidh made a late push in the heavy rain but the home back-line, marshaled by Shockie MacLennan, protected keeper MacLeod and kept the visitors at bay. Allan MacKinnon saw a shot whistle past the post on 88 minutes following good play from Somhairle MacDonald and Ally MacDonald. Skye were lucky to survive a late penalty shout on 90 minutes when John Moir appeared to kick the ball in the D. There was a massive scramble in the Skye goal area from the resultant corner but some last-ditch defending cleared the danger. Skye continued to defend for the closing seconds with Darryl Macintosh dropping back to good effect. A lung-bursting run from Somhairle MacDonald from 20 yards inside his own half ended when he was fouled around 20 yards from the Caberfeidh goal but his energetic play took the pressure off the Skye defence. Referee Jock Matheson blew the final whistle to end an entertaining contest. Best for Skye Camanachd as their season came to a close were Darryl Macintosh and Somhairle MacDonald. Caberfeidh were well served by keeper Donald Mellis and Graham MacGregor. Skye Camanachd from; John MacLeod, Iain Nicolson, Andrew Banks, John Moir, Shockie MacLennan, Darryl Macintosh, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, Ally MacDonald, Somhairle MacDonald (captain), Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison subs Allan MacKinnon, Iain Grant, Ally MacLeod Caberfeidh from; Donald Mellis, Graham MacGregor, Donald MacDonald, Liam Mutch, Ewen Murray, Iain McColl, Kevin Bartlett (captain), Paul Ross, Martin MacDonald, Ally MacLennan, Stuart Krzyzanowski, Kirk Taylor subs Gavin MacDonald, Scott McPhail, Aaron Ross, Stewart MacLennan Match Referee – Jock Matheson The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |