Skye Camanachd 1 Caberfeidh 1 | |
23 March 2015 Skye Camanachd opened their Marine Harvest National Division account with a 1-1 draw with Caberfeidh at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 21 March 2015. Skye Camanachd boss John MacLeod named the same squad as he did for the opening day fixture against Beauly which was postponed. Jamie Gannon remained sidelined so Iain MacLeod continued in goal. New Caberfeidh boss Lee Nicol was without Calum Macculloch for this 2.30pm throw up. Skye played towards the Struan Road area of the ground in the first half and the game’s first real chance came after 5 minutes when a Shockie MacLennan knockdown found Jordan Murchison and he shot just past Ewan Pilcher’s left-hand post. Cabers created their first chance on 8 minutes when Iain MacLeod had to race from his line to close down Scott MacLean who collected a Donald Mellis pass and turned inside towards the Skye goal. The ball broke back to MacLean but with Skye’s Ally MacDonald challenging, MacLean put the ball past the post. Skye’s Allan MacKinnon collected a stray ball on 10 minutes and he cut inside before unleashing a terrific 20 yard shot which was dropping just under the left-hand top corner of Ewan Pilcher’s net but the keeper did well to turn the ball away for a corner. Danny Morrison shot wide on 12 minutes as Skye looked the likelier side to open the scoring. A good Cabers passing move on 13 minutes involving Craig Morrison, Liam Symonds and Ruairidh MacLennan set up a chance for Donald Mellis but Iain MacLeod saved with his feet at the expense of a corner. Danny Morrison collected an Allan MacKinnon shy on 21 minutes and he drilled the ball goalwards but Ewan Pilcher stretched across his goal to turn the ball away for a corner on the Skye right with his foot. The Caberfeidh defence survived a scare on 26 minutes when a drifting ball on goal from Will Cowie was knocked down by keeper Pilcher and Jordan Murchison was unable to steer the ball on goal following the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Ewan Pilcher was called into action again on 39 minutes when Will Cowie found Shockie MacLennan on the Skye left and the Cabers keeper saved MacLennan’s effort and visiting defender Ryan Symonds was able to get the ball away ahead of Danny Morrison. Allan MacKinnon again drifted inside on 43 minutes but his backhand shot rose just over the bar. Seconds later, a Jordan Murchison snap-shot was stopped by Pilcher by his left post. Deek Cameron’s half-time whistle came with Skye on the attack and whilst the Islanders had the best of the first half chances, they were unable to break the deadlock. Skye moved Danny Morrison to full forward from the start of the second half with Shockie MacLennan going to wing forward. Skye attacked straight from the restart and quickly got the ball forward to Jordan Murchison who fired into the side-netting. When an Allan MacKinnon shy on the Skye right dropped invitingly for Danny Morrison on 52 minutes, the Skye forward put the ball past the keeper’s right-hand post. Allan MacKinnon came forward from midfield and had another attempt at goal on 61 minutes but he was unable to hit the target. Caberfeidh went ahead against the run of play on 63 minutes. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod saved from Ruairidh MacLennan, low by his left post but Scott MacLean was first to react and he scored from close-range. Skye continued to enjoy the majority of possession but they were unable to trouble Ewan Pilcher’s goal. Will Cowie took a turn in the Skye full forward position mid-way through the second half as the Islanders tried to change their fortunes. Skye manager John MacLeod made his first change on 75 minutes. Kenny Campbell moved from wing centre to full forward and Shockie MacLennan was withdrawn with Iain Murray coming on in midfield. Skye fought back to level on 76 minutes. Will Cowie was impeded in midfield and substitute Iain Murray played a free-hit into the Cabers goal area and Kenny Campbell caused panic in the visiting defence which allowed Danny Morrison to nip in to force the ball over the line to make it 1-1. With 79 minutes played, Caberfeidh boss Lee Nicol took Jamie MacIntosh on in place of wing centre Iain MacCall who had to come off after having his hand trodden on. John MacLeod made a final throw of the dice on 84 minutes, replacing Gilleasbuig MacDonald with Kenny MacLeod. MacLeod joined the attack and Will Cowie dropped back to full centre. Neil Rose came on for Donald Mellis as Cabers made their second change of the afternoon with just 4 minutes remaining. Skye had a final chance with seconds remaining when Will Cowie intercepted a Craig Morrison free-hit and he played the ball forward to Jordan Murchison who picked out Kenny Campbell on the penalty spot. However Ewan Pilcher saved Campbell’s effort with his feet and as the ball rebounded to Campbell, the Cabers’ defence tried to clear. The ball came to Kenny MacLeod but his attempt went wide of goal. Ally MacDonald in defence and wing centre Allan MacKinnon were Skye’s best performers. Blair Morrison and Craig Morrison shone for Caberfeidh whilst keeper Ewen Pilcher made a number of good saves. Skye now have a free weekend as a number of their players attend the wedding of former Skye forward Donnie Campbell. Next up for Cabers is a trip to the Canal Parks to play Kilmallie in the RBS MacTavish Cup. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod: Steven Morrison, Ally “Spod" MacLeod, Ally MacDonald, Neil MacVicar: Allan MacKinnon, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kenny Campbell: Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Shockie MacLennan (captain): subs Iain Murray, Kenny MacLeod, David Grant Caberfeidh from: Ewan Pilcher: Gavin MacDonald, Blair Morrison, Ryan Symonds, Scott MacPhail: Ally MacLennan, Craig Morrison, Iain MacCall: Liam Symonds, Scott MacLean, Donald Mellis, Ruairidh MacLennan (captain): subs Jamie MacIntosh, Neil Rose, Lee Nicol Match Referee – Deek Cameron Goal Judges - Donnie Martin, David MacVicar The match balls will be sponsored by Nor-Dan |