Newtonmore 5 Skye Camanachd 3 | |
04 April 2016 The Skye Camanachd second team put in a fighting display before going down 5-3 to the Newtonmore second team in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 clash at the Eilan on Saturday 2 April 2016. With no first team game, Newtonmore boss Cammy MacDonald was able to call on the services of teenage forward Iain Robinson who has banged in 3 goals in ‘More’s opening two senior team league fixtures this seaon. There was also an appearance for Jamie Robinson who is recovering from a hernia operation. There were starting slots for Darrin Fowler, Craig Ritchie, David Fraser and Neil Stewart who were given call ups to the ‘More first team the previous Saturday to cover top team absentees. Youngster Paul Hilson started on the bench, recovering from a leg knock in the defeat against Strathglass last weekend. Skye Camanachd manager Davie Pringle named a 16-man squad which included eight U17 players with half of them still eligible for the U14 team. Pringle was without Iain MacLeod, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Neil John Campbell who were all called up to the Skye first team. The Skye seconds were without a fixture the previous Saturday. Newtonmore settled quickly into the game. The pace and link up play from the home forwards in the opening quarter was a display of how the game should be played. In particular, young Iain Robinson was at times unplayable and Skye knew they were up against it. Iain Robinson put ‘More ahead on 10 minutes when he collected a return pass close to goal and he flicked the ball past Ryan Morrison to make it 1-0. One of Skye’s most promising youngsters, James Pringle, first won, then lost, before winning the ball back again in the middle of the park Pringle set off on a mazy dribble, beating another two defenders on the way before slipping the ball to John Angus MacInnes in space. MacInnes had time to get a shot in and although the ball went wide, the passage of play gave the Island team hope. However it was Newtonmore who would go 2-0 ahead on 17 minutes when Iain Robinson rolled a defender before shooting low into the corner of the net from wide on the right. Skye reshuffled their defence with U14 player Jamie Gillies given the responsibility of shackling and closing down Newtonmore's Robinson. James Pringle was using his pace to good effect and he was causing the ‘More defence problems. ‘More were aware of his threat and Craig Ritchie was tasked with a marking job. And it was Pringle who would get Skye back into the game on 22 minutes when he dribbled in from the right flank before rounding the full back and lifting the ball past the on-rushing keeper Calum Grover to make it 2-1. Skye now enjoying a bit a pressure and they started to believe in themselves. Jamie Gillies was managing Iain Robinson well whilst Skye full back David Grant was keeping ‘More veteran John MacKenzie quiet. The Skye centre line started to win a good amount of ball with David MacInnes having a great contest against ex-Lochcarron man Kenny Ross. Skye used this addition possession to their advantage and they equalised on 29 minutes. James Pringle collected the ball around the penalty spot and Calum Grover saved his low shot with his feet. The rebound was just out of Pringle’s reach but Iain MacLellan reacted quicker than More's Scott Campbell and he slotted ball home to make it 2-2. Skye only remained on level terms for 60 seconds though. And it was Iain Robinson who struck again to complete a first half hat-trick following a couple of corners. Newtonmore full forward John MacKenzie managed to shrug off the attentions of the Skye defence following a corner and he burst through on goal. However Skye keeper Ryan Morrison did well to come off his line to sweep the ball away. Skye wing centre Ross Nicolson played well against Newtonmore’s Camanachd Cup wining captain Jamie Robinson. However Nicolson had to leave the field through injury just before half time. Martin Pringle came on to make his second team debut at wing forward. Iain MacLellan dropped back to strengthen the centre line. Newtonmore took their 3-2 lead into the break. Skye equalised for a second time a couple of minutes into the second half. Martin Pringle collected the ball on the centre line on the Skye right and he sent a low, diagonal pass into the path of Ruaraidh MacLeod in the danger area. MacLeod spun his marker and set off towards goal. With keeper Glover racing off his line, MacLeod skilfully jinked to his left and placed the ball into the net to make it 3-3. Both teams struggled to maintain the same intensity for the next 25 minutes and neither side built any sustained period of pressure. As the clock ticked down, some of the Skye players were perhaps happy with the draw. Skye boss Pringle urged his team to raise the tempo but it was Newtonmore who would make a clinical finish to the match. Newtonmore went back in front on 76 minutes. Iain Robinson took a shot from the left-hand side of penalty spot. Jamie Gillies made a decent block but the ball sneaked under his stick and few past the unsighted Ryan Morrison in goal. The home side sealed the win a couple of minutes later. John MacKenzie did the damage, shooting home to make it 5-3. And he was then booked by referee John Wood for pushing David MacInnes. In the end, Skye were disappointed not to take something out of the game and they had good displays from top performer James Pringle as well as Jamie Gillies, David MacInnes and DJ Gilpin. Martin Pringle made a good debut with others having pass marks. Skye will now look to take the positives from this game into this coming weekend’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup first round tie against the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team at Yoker. Newtonmore’s Iain Robinson showed why he will light up the Marine Harvest Premiership this season. Newtonmore from: Calum Grover; Scott Campbell, Darrin Fowler, Cameron McNiven, Craig Ritchie; David Fraser, Kenny Ross, Jamie Robinson; Neil Stewart, Craig MacLeod, Iain Robinson, John MacKenzie; subs Struan Kish, Paul Hilson Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison; David Grant (captain), DJ Gilpin, Andrew Banks, Jack Henderson; Calum Gibb, David MacInnes, Ross Nicolson; James Pringle, Ian MacLellan, Ruaraidh MacLeod, John Angus MacInnes; subs Jamie Gillies, Connor Gilpin, Sam MacPhee, Martin Pringle Match Referee – John Wood Scorers Newtonmore Iain Robinson (10, 17, 30, 76) John MacKenzie (78) Skye Camanachd James Pringle (22) Iain MacLellan (29) |