Skye Camanachd 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 | |
24 June 2016 Skye Camanachd are through to the Camanachd Cup quarter-finals after they beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 2-1 in their second round replay at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 18 June 2016. Skye Camanachd manager John MacLeod made three changes to the squad which drew 0-0 with Kingussie in the Marine Harvest Premiership a fortnight earlier. Keeper Jamie Gannon was unavailable so Iain MacLeod came in between the sticks. The injured Shockie MacLennan dropped out as did Iain Nicolson who was working. Iain Murray was called up for the senior side for the first time since suffering a broken finger whilst there was also a place on the bench for Allan MacLeod. GMA boss George Hay was without the injured Ewan Murray and Brian Slattery – both suffered injuries in the first tie between the sides at Peterson Park, Yoker which ended 1-1. John McNulty, who scored the GMA goal in that game, was another absentee as he started a four match suspension for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. However Finlay MacMillan and Brendan McLoone returned. Throw up was at 2.30pm and the match was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE Show. In a change of match official, John Wood took over from Evan MacRae. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up to mark the passing of Skye Camanachd vice-President and former club sponsor Neil John (Neilie) MacFarlane. Skye, playing in their change all-blue strip, played towards the Viewfield end of the ground in the first half. The match was played in glorious conditions and when a Jamie MacFadyen shy caused a scramble in the Skye defence, Craig Anderson got a shot goalwards but Skye keeper Iain MacLeod saved with his feet and Skye were able to scramble the ball away for a corner with Calum McLeay and Euan Forsyth looking to pick up any scraps. Euan Forsyth then forced a good save with his legs from Iain MacLeod with the ball kicking up off the surface on its way to goal. Kenny Campbell, playing at full forward for Skye, sent an effort past the post after he had made himself just a yard of space. GMA full back Finlay MacMillan was booked by referee John Wood for a body check on Skye forward Jordan Murchison as he broke down the left wing. A Will Cowie played the ball to Danny Morrison from a Skye corner and Morrison’s strike was deflected wide of target. Although the first half was end-to-end, there was little to trouble either keeper although a Kenny Campbell strike on 41 minutes was saved with his feet by GMA goalie Jonathon Oates after a Jordan Murchison shot was blocked. A Skye attack from the restart saw a Danny Morrison shot deflected for a corner. GMA defended the set piece and play quickly switched to the other end of the field. Euan Forsyth found Calum McLay with a ball from the right and McLay’s a fierce 25 yard back-hand shot beat an unsighted Iain MacLeod at his right post and put the visitors 1-0 in front with 46 minutes played. The goal seemed to jolt Skye into action and they drew level on 52 minutes when Will Cowie turned his marker on the Skye right and he sent in a 20 yard ball on goal which keeper Oates saved but the ball rose high off the firm surface and Jordan Murchison was on hand to volley home the rebound from close-range to make it 1-1. Skye forced a couple of corners and when Jonathon Oates blocked Kenny Campbell’s low driven shot and the ball came back off the post before Danny Morrison shot over the top. GMA introduced former Strathspey Camanachd player Lawrence Belleni at wing centre. Skye were now enjoying most of the pressure without really testing keeper Jonathon Oates and they made changes on 73 minutes with David MacInnes replacing Danny Morrison and James Pringle was pushed forward from wing centre to wing forward. GMA were defending well, with full back Finlay MacMillan in top form, and they had keeper Jonathon Oates to thank for a save by his post from a Jordan Murchison shot following a Skye corner. Skye went in front for the first time in the tie on 79 minutes. Iain MacLeod struck a long goal-hit which was played on by Kenny Campbell to James Pringle who collected possession on the Skye right. Pringle crossed to Will Cowie who took a good first touch to beat his man and he then finished off the best move of the match with an 18 yard shot to put Skye 2-1 in front. Skye made a second change on 82 minutes with former GMA player Iain Murray replacing Gilleasbuig MacDonald and Murray joined the attack with Kenny Campbell going to full centre. Luke Thornton came on for GMA in place of the injured Brendan McLoone. GMA pushed to take the tie into extra-time and when Craig Anderson fired a shot into the danger-area, the ball rebounded for Euan Forsyth but Iain MacLeod moved quickly to save well with his feet at the expense of a corner. Time was running out for the visitors and a Euan Forsyth strike went wide following another corner. With the tie moving into 5 minutes stoppage time, James Pringle saw a shot deflected for a corner. With no further chances, Skye now go forward to the Camanachd Cup quarter-finals. However their task could hardly be more difficult as they travel to the Eilan to play Newtonmore in a tie scheduled for Saturday 9 July 2016. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Neil MacVicar (captain), John Gillies, Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald; Chris MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, James Pringle; Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Kenny Campbell; subs Iain Murray, David MacInnes, Allan MacLeod Glasgow Mid Argyll from: Jonathon Oates; Finlay MacMillan, Iain Luke, Brendan McLoone, Mark Bain; Jamie MacFadyen, Garry Luke, Innes MacMillan; Jack Berg, Craig Anderson, Calum McLay, Euan Forsyth; subs Lawrence Belleni, Connor MacLeod, Luke Thornton Match Referee – John Wood Goal Judges – Donnie Martin, Ross Cowie The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan Scorers Skye Camanachd Jordan Murchison (52) Will Cowie (79) Glasgow Mid Argyll Calum McLay (47) |