Lovat 1 Skye Camanachd 0 | |
08 March 2016 The Skye Camanachd second team went down to a 1-0 defeat the Lovat second team in their opening Marine Harvest North Division 1 match of the season at Balgate on Saturday 5 March 2016. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle travelled with an understrength squad as John Angus MacInnes, John Gillies, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Neil John Campbell were all called up for the first team. However Iain Nicolson’s work commitments meant that he was unable to travel to Portree to play for the first team so he featured with the reserves. There were also places for last year’s U14 players Jamie Gillies, Ruaraidh MacLeod and Connor Gilpin. Kenny MacLeod was a late addition to the squad. Lovat boss Martin Bell included Graeme MacMillan who continues his recovery from a broken leg. Scott MacKenzie was in defence whilst Rory Campbell provided the main goal threat for the home side. Lovat edged the pressure in the first half with Skye keeper Iain MacLeod pulling off five good saves from Lovat attacker Rory Campbell. Skye created a number of chances of their own but managed only one shot on target during the first 45 minutes when Ian MacLellan, from close range, saw his effort well saved by the Lovat keeper. A number of Skye efforts went high and wide of goal as they did against Lewis the previous week. Skye's defence limited the Lovat forward line to shots from long range and out wide. The midfield area was very competitive with individual battles closely contested. Skye’s Ross Nicolson at wing centre managed to get the better of his marker and went on to dominate, having a really good game. Skye’s other wing centre, Thomas Wilson, was playing well before a badly timed block resulted in a bad deep thumb gash and a lot of blood. This required a trip to Raigmore Hospital and although there was only a small bone broken, he required surgery the following day for suspected ligament damage. Skye boss Davie Pringle had to reshuffle his pack and Kenny MacLeod came on in attack with Connor Gilpin dropping back to wing centre from the forward line. The first half finished goalless and the pattern of play continued in the same vein after the break. Skye withdrew Ryan Morrison at the interval with 14 year old Ruaraidh MacLeod coming on. Lovat also made changes. The Skye forwards continued to create chances without troubling the Lovat keeper. Skye withdrew a tiring Connor Gilpin midway through the second half. Gilpin had played well at wing centre and had run himself into the ground. Jamie Gillies came on to have a good debut at wing back with Calum Gibb, who was also playing well, moving to wing centre. The game’s The Skye Camanachd second team went down to a 1-0 defeat the Lovat second team in their opening Marine Harvest North Division 1 match of the season at Balgate on Saturday 5 March 2016. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle travelled with an understrength squad as John Angus MacInnes, John Gillies, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Neil John Campbell were all called up for the first team. However Iain Nicolson’s work commitments meant that he was unable to travel to Portree to play for the first team so he featured with the reserves. There were also places for last year’s U14 players Jamie Gillies, Ruaraidh MacLeod and Connor Gilpin. Kenny MacLeod was a late addition to the squad. Lovat boss Martin Bell included Graeme MacMillan who continues his recovery from a broken leg. Scott MacKenzie was in defence whilst Rory Campbell provided the main goal threat for the home side. Lovat edged the pressure in the first half with Skye keeper Iain MacLeod pulling off five good saves from Lovat attacker Rory Campbell. Skye created a number of chances of their own but managed only one shot on target during the first 45 minutes when Ian MacLellan, from close range, saw his effort well saved by Lovat keeper Ronan MacMillan. A number of Skye efforts went high and wide of goal as they did against Lewis the previous week. Skye's defence limited the Lovat forward line to shots from long range and out wide. The midfield area was very competitive with individual battles closely contested. Skye’s Ross Nicolson at wing centre managed to get the better of his marker and went on to dominate, having a really good game. Skye’s other wing centre, Thomas Wilson, was playing well before a badly timed block resulted in a bad deep thumb gash and a lot of blood. This required a trip to Raigmore Hospital and although there was only a small bone broken, he required surgery the following day for suspected ligament damage. Skye boss Davie Pringle had to reshuffle his pack and Kenny MacLeod came on in attack with Connor Gilpin dropping back to wing centre from the forward line. The first half finished goalless and the pattern of play continued in the same vein after the break. Skye withdrew Ryan Morrison at the interval with 14 year old Ruaraidh MacLeod coming on. Lovat also made changes. The Skye forwards continued to create chances without troubling Ronan MacMillan in the Lovat goal. Skye withdrew a tiring Connor Gilpin midway through the second half. Gilpin had played well at wing centre and had run himself into the ground. Jamie Gillies came on to have a good debut at wing back with Calum Gibb, who was also playing well, moving to wing centre. The game’s defining moment came on 75 minutes when Rory Campbell found space wide on the Lovat right and he blasted a rocket strike past Iain MacLeod in the Skye goal to make it 1-0. Lovat pressed for a second goal straight from the restart as they tried to kill off the game but the Skye defence dealt with the danger, putting in a great shift at that crucial point in the match. Skye spent the remainder of the game fighting for an equaliser but again, although they created shooting opportunities, they struggled to hit the target. There was a flash-point for referee Andy MacLean to deal with on 88 minutes. Lovat full back James Grieve and Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod tangled for the ball with Skye awarded the free-hit. However Grieve reacted angrily and appeared to head-butt the Skye youngster who was wearing a helmet. Referee MacLean flashed a red card, reducing Lovat to eleven players. However with the clock running down, Skye couldn't capitalise on the one man advantage. Iain MacLeod in goals was Skye’s top performer. DJ Gilpin was good in defence as was Davie Grant who did well against the threat posed by Lovat full forward Rory Campbell. There were two great tussles with Skye’s James Pringle giving Scott MacKenzie a torrid time and, at the other end of the park, Ian Crossal marking Graeme MacMillan. It was a game of few major incidents and Skye will look to bounce back against Strathglass at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree this coming Saturday. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; David Grant (captain), Calum Gibb, DJ Gilpin, Iain Nicolson; Ross Nicolson, David MacInnes, Thomas Wilson; James Pringle, Connor Gilpin, Iain MacLellan, Ryan Morrison; subs Kenny MacLeod, Ruaraidh MacLeod, Jamie Gillies Match Referee – Andy MacLean
|