Skye Camanachd 0 Lovat 3 | |
02 June 2018 Lovat beat Skye Camanachd 3-0 in their Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup second round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 2 June 2018. Danny Morrison, Iain Murray and Ally MacDonald were all still out for Skye but Iain Nicolson was fit again and he started in attack. Youngster Ruaraidh MacLeod was rested to the bench. Kenny Campbell played at full centre despite having 10 stitches from two separate head wounds removed just ahead of throw up. Callum Cruden was 2017 Scottish runners-up Lovat’s main concern having missed the previous week’s league win over Caberfeidh but he recovered from a back injury to start at buckshee back. Martin Mainland was back from injury and he started on the bench whilst Scott MacKenzie remained a longer term injury absentee. This noon throw up was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. Skye played towards the Skeabost end of what was a fiery pitch. Both teams created early openings without testing the respective goalies in what was a warm day and, just following throw up, a cooling mist descended from the Viewfield end of the pitch and remained for most of the match. Lovat were beginning to come more into the tie and they broke the deadlock on 26 minutes. Greg Matheson touched a ball forward from midfield into Lorne MacKay’s path and he took a couple of steps forward before slipping the ball outside to Marc MacLachlan who found a yard of space at the left of the D. MacLachlan sent the ball low into the net to make it 1-0. A strike from Duncan Davidson dipped over the top with Iain Macleod watching carefully. With the tie the final 15 minutes of the first half, Will Cowie and Jordan Murchison combined to set up a chance for Jordan Murchison but his effort went just past the post. The closest Skye came to a first half goal came when Will Cowie got the all under control following a Lovat shy and his effort from fully 40 yards out dropped past the junction between post and bar on keeper Stuart MacDonald’s left side. Stuart MacDonald then had to palm away an Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod shy before playing the ball out for a corner on the Skye right. The last action of the half saw Duncan Davidson send a drive past Iain Macleod’s right post. The second half was only a minute old when Jordan Murchison got away from Drew Howie but his effort went wide. Lovat almost doubled their lead a minute later when, following a neat passing move, Lorne MacKay’s strike following a cross from the left came back off Iain MacLeod’s right post, deflecting behind the keeper and away to safety. Lovat went back on the attack and Craig Mainland found Greg Matheson who played in Lorne Mackay and Skye were fortune that MacKay didn’t pick out Marc MacLachlan in space at the back of the D. With Craig Mainland and Will Cowie receiving treatment for knocks on 58 minutes, the players on both sides took the chance to hydrate on what was a warm day. Cowie was unable to continue but Mainland limped off, holding an ice-pack on the inside of his knee with Bailey MacKay taking over as a direct replacement at wing centre. Skye withdrew wing forward Iain Nicolson in favour of Martin Pringle in what was another straight swap. Lovat began to take a grip of the tie and Skye goalie MacLeod then did well to save with his foot from Marc MacLachlan, after good play from Bailey MacKay, before denying Greg Matheson seconds later. Lovat extended their lead from the penalty spot on 68 minutes. Marc MacLachlan slipped the ball into the danger-area where it deflected into Duncan Davidson’s path as he ran into the D. However Davidson went down under Allan MacLeod’s challenge and referee Calum Girvan pointed to the penalty spot after speaking to his goal judge. Greg Matheson cracked the penalty over Iain Macleod’s right shoulder. Lovat killed the tie off straight from the restart. Callum Cruden won possession and fed captain Lewis Tawse. He sent the ball long to the impressive Marc MacLachlan who threaded a low, diagonal ball to Lorne MacKay who was running in on the right. MacKay took a touch before knocking the ball low past the advancing keeper to make it 3-0. Danny Kenny threaded a ball through to Duncan Davidson but his flashing shot went past the keeper’s left post. Skye made another change and Iain MacLellan took over from Allan MacLeod with Stewart Grant switching into defence and Martin Pringle dropping back to wing centre. Lovat also made their second change as Thomas Fraser replaced Lorne MacKay. Skye had enough possession in the game but they didn’t threaten Stuart MacDonald in the Lovat goal. With 15 minutes remaining, Martin Mainland took over from Callum Cruden who could be pleased with his contribution on his return from injury. Greg Matheson shot wide of the keeper’s left post as Lovat kept pressing. Skye introduced Ruaraidh MacLeod for the closing stages with a limping Will Cowie coming off. Iain MacLeod was certainly the busier of the two keepers and he made a smart double-save 10 minutes from time to deny Marc MacLachlan on both occasions. There was a stoppage in play 6 minutes from time as Mark Kelly received treatment from Lovat medic Sheila Matheson for a blow to the elbow. Kelly had to come off with what was later confirmed to be a chipped bone in his elbow. Craig Mainland came back on. The closing minutes were uneventful and, following what was the third meeting between the sides in Portree this season, Lovat could reflect on three wins from which they saved their best performance for last with their forward line movement causing Skye problems. Jamie Gillies did well for Skye who played well enough but the two quick Lovat goals in the second half killed the Islanders off. Skye Camanachd from; Iain MacLeod; Jamie Gillies, Connor Gilpin, Allan MacLeod, John Gillies; Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Kenny Campbell, Stewart Grant; Will Cowie, James Pringle, Iain Nicolson, Jordan Murchison; subs Iain MacLellan, Ruaraidh MacLeod, Martin Pringle Lovat: Stuart MacDonald; Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve, Mark Kelly, Callum Cruden; Craig Mainland, Danny Kelly, Lewis Tawse (captain); Duncan Davidson, Lorne MacKay, Marc MacLachlan, Greg Matheson; subs Martin Mainland, Bailey MacKay, Thomas Fraser Match Referee – Calum Girvan Goal Judges – Donnie Martin & John MacRitchie Scorers Skye Camanachd None Lovat Marc MacLachlan (26) Greg Matheson (68) Lorne MacKay (69) The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |