Skye Camanachd 0 Fort William 2 | |
30 April 2014 Skye Camanachd went down 2-0 to Fort William in their Marine Harvest North Division 2 match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 26 April 2014. With John Angus MacInnes and Angie MacDonald on the field, Donnie Martin looked after the Islanders from the touchline. Shaun Hedley remained absent through work commitments as were Andrew Banks and DJ Gilpin. The home side made six changes from the squad that lost to Lochaber at Spean Bridge a week earlier. David Grant and Iain Murray were also included as was youth player Kyles Pirie who made his debut in defence. Chris Campbell and John MacKenzie also joined the squad. Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Iain MacLellan were on first team duty whilst John Murphy was a late call-off for so U17 player Ryan Morrison received a late call up. Fort William were second in the table going in to this match - two points behind leaders Glengarry who were not in action this weekend. Graham Campbell proved their goal threat; having scored four times in the Fort’s opening three fixtures. Manager Lachie MacDonald and his assistant Peter Wood were without brothers Kyle Grant and Mark Grant. The Fort had team raising difficulties and travelled with just twelve players. Defender Alexander Cameron continued in the role of stand-in keeper for the visitors. It was a perfect day for shinty with some sunshine and no wind for the teams to contend with. Skye played towards the Viewfield end of the ground in the first half. Skye had an early chance when Angie MacDonald whipped a Calum Gibb corner wide of the target. The Skye defence came under pressure and Aonghas MacDonald had to come off his line to get to the ball ahead of Ewen Campbell. Referee Archie Ritchie had to intervene when Magnus Burd chopped down Ewen Campbell on the Fort William right. The challenge earned the Skye player a booking. The visitors continued to enjoy most of the early pressure and Graham Campbell won possession from David Grant on the Fort William left. His ball across goal found Ewen Campbell in space at the edge of the D but he missed his hit completely. The clearance only went as far as Grant Disher and his blistering drive was heading for the roof of the net but Aonghas MacDonald leapt to tip the ball over the bar with what was an outstanding save. Aonghas MacDonald was called into action again moments later when he saved a Graham Campbell shot with his legs before clearing his lines. Skye responded and midway through the half, Angie MacDonald played in Paul MacKinnon and the ball seemed to stick on the surface before MacKinnon eventually shot wide. Alexander Cameron did well to deal with a long ball into the D from Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod which took an awkward horrible bounce in front of him. Ewen Campbell knocked down a Peter Wood corner on the right but Aonghas MacDonald was quickly off his line to clear the danger. Aonghas MacDonald saved Skye again when he got his body behind a bullet shot from Graham Campbell and the keeper cleared the ball for a corner. Skye boss Donnie Martin swapped full centre Iain Murray and buckshee back David MacInnes in a bid to improve Skye’s fortunes. Chris Campbell came on in attack for Skye in place of John Angus MacInnes during the closing stages of the first half. Graham Campbell came short to get on the end of another corner and this time Aonghas MacDonald saved with his right foot with Iain Murray helping clear the danger and the first half ended with neither side able to break the deadlock. Thomas Wilson launched a free-hit from the middle of the park into the Fort William goal area and the ball dropped over Angie MacDonald and keeper Alexander Cameron allowed it to drop into the net for a Fort free-hit as no one had touched the ball. Skye continued to press and Alexander Cameron swept away the danger with Angie MacDonald and Chris Campbell ready to pounce. Aonghas MacDonald saved following a turn and shot from Graham Campbell after a Sean Cruickshank free-hit 20 yards from goal. Referee Archie Ritchie showed a yellow card to Ryan Campbell on 59 minutes for speaking out of turn. Chris Campbell shot past Alexander Cameron’s left-hand post from a Thomas Wilson corner on 61 minutes. Second later, Angie MacDonald came off for Skye with John Angus MacInnes returning to the field of play in his place. Alexander Cameron had to look lively when a Thomas Wilson ball drifted into the goal area and the keeper cleared. John MacKenzie came on in attack for Skye and moments late Fort William went in front. Aonghas MacDonald had to keep his eye on a bouncing ball into the D from distance from Peter Wood and he cleared for a corner. Peter Wood played the ball towards the penalty spot area where Ewen Campbell latched onto it and he slotted the ball low, just inside Aonghas MacDonald’s left post to put the visitors 1-0 up with 68 minutes played. Aonghas MacDonald saved from a Grant Disher half-volley and he cleared for a corner as the visitors looked to seal the points. Fort William doubled their advantage on 73 minutes from the resultant corner and it was a replica of their opening goal. Peter Wood played in the corner from the right and Graham Campbell controlled the ball before tucking it right into the corner of the net to make it 2-0. Chris Campbell steered the ball past the left post as Skye looked to get back in the game. Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod returned to the field of play as David MacInnes required treatment for a cut mouth. Ryan Morrison joined the Skye attack to make his second team debut at full forward. Ewen Campbell and David Grant were both booked within minutes of eachother, late in the game, for hitting the ball away as referee Archie Ritchie kept a tight control of proceedings. This was a disappointing performance from the Skye starting line-up with only Aonghas MacDonald and debutant Kyle Pirie playing to their capabilities. Next up is a league trip to Farr to play Boleskine. Cameron Grant and Sean Cruickshank were best for Fort William whilst Alexander Cameron was very composed in goal. With early league leaders Glengarry not in action, the win takes the An Aird side to the top of Marine Harvest North Division 2. Skye Camanachd from: Aonghas MacDonald, David Grant, Kyle Pirie, Magnus Burd, David MacInnes (captain), Calum Gibb, Iain Murray, Thomas Wilson, Paul MacKinnon, Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod, John Angus MacInnes, Angie MacDonald, subs Chris Campbell, John MacKenzie, Ryan Morrison Fort William: Alexander Cameron; James Tangey, Dylan Fraser, Cameron Grant, Scott Knox, Peter Wood (captain), Sean Cruickshank, Jay MacLeod, Ewen Campbell, Ryan Campbell, Grant Disher, Graham Campbell; subs none Match Referee – Archie Ritchie The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |