Skye Camanachd 3 Lochaber 2 (after extra time) | |
22 April 2014 Skye Camanachd are through to the semi finals of the new RBS MacTavish Plate competition following their 3-2 extra time win over Orion Group Premiership side Lochaber at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 19 April 2014. With Skye first team manager John MacLeod missing through work commitments, Davie Pringle and Douglas MacDougall looked after the side, assisted by Shockie MacLennan who is currently injured. Neil MacVicar returned to the starting line-up after missing the win over the Newtonmore second team a week earlier through work commitments whilst Paul MacKinnon returned to the second team. Jordan Murchison started in attack with Kenny MacLeod dropping onto the bench. Lochaber manager Robert Johnstone was without Martin Johnstone who was sent off in the 5-2 Orion Group Premiership defeat to Kingussie the previous weekend. Hugh Innes also missed that game as did Stuart Callison who was suspended but both returned for this one. Zandz Ferguson and Kevin Ferguson were missing (both lined up for the Lochaber reserves against the Skye second team at Spean Bridge) whilst Neil MacDonald, who was carrying an injury, started on the bench. Skye won the toss and opted to shoot towards the Struan Road end of the ground in the first half. Skye attacked from the throw up but it was Lochaber who took the lead from their first attack of the game. Brian MacDonald played a long ball forward from the wing centre position and Shaun Nicolson gathered possession. Skye were unable to clear their lines and Nicolson fired goalwards. His shot looked to be rising over the bar but it had taken a nick off a Skye defender’s caman and looped high over Jamie Gannon into the net, much to the surprise of the crowd and the Lochaber bench who hadn’t realised it was a goal until referee David Stafford restarted the game with a centre. Skye full back Steven Morrison took a knock in the melee and required treatment before carrying on. Skye didn’t allow this early blow to affect their game plan though and Callum MacDonald came off his line to clear a Gilleasbuig MacDonald ball into the D with Will Cowie looking to capitalise from any slip up. A low Kenny Campbell shot was well saved with his foot by Callum MacDonald and Brennan MacDonald cleared the ball for a corner. Lochaber had a set-piece opportunity and Ben Delaney slipped the ball to Shaun Nicolson but he shot wide. Skye had the ball in the Lochaber net on 21 minutes when Will Cowie got on the end of a Gilleasbuig MacDonald free-hit and he stroked the ball into the net. However referee David Stafford had spotted an earlier infringement and he awarded the Islanders a penalty. Will Cowie took responsibility and he blasted the ball over Callum MacDonald’s right shoulder to make it 1-1. Callum MacDonald had to come off his line again, this time to get to the ball ahead of Danny Morrison. An Iain Murray ball into the D found no takers and bounced past Callum MacDonald’s left post. Referee David Stafford had a word with both Chris Rose and Shaun Nicolson on the half hour mark following a tussle between the two players. Callum MacDonald saved well from Danny Morrison following a quick Skye free-hit after 37 minutes and the keeper was against forced into action as he cleared the ball from the resultant corner. Danny Morrison chased a ball forward but Callum MacDonald was quick off his line again to clear for a corner. Gilleasbuig MacDonald sent the corner to the back of the D and Danny Morrison showed great technique to take the ball first time in the air and he played it downwards into the net to put Skye 2-1 in front. Ally MacDonald did well to clear as Ben Delaney threatened just before the interval. Lochaber attacked the Skye goal in first half stoppage time but Steven Morrison and Neil MacVicar defended well. Both sides made changes at the break. Kenny MacLeod came on at full forward for Skye in a straight swap for Kenny Campbell. Stuart Callison came on in attack for Lochaber with Jack Dignan coming off and Ryan Johnstone dropping back to wing centre. Will Cowie tested Callum MacDonald with a drive but the keeper saved with his feet before clearing the ball for a corner. Skye’s Will Cowie took a knock to the head following a late challenge from Donald MacRae from the resultant corner and had to leave the field. He was replaced by Kenny Campbell. Donald MacRae was booked by referee David Stafford. A Ben Delaney shot was deflected past the post as the game swung from end to end. Donald MacRae played a long ball forward and both Shaun Nicolson and Ben Delaney had chances but neither were able to hit the target. Lochaber boss Robert Johnstone introduced Neil MacDonald at full forward on 61 minutes, with defender Brennan MacDonald coming off. Skye rallied and a Kenny MacLeod effort was blocked before Kenny Campbell shot across goal but wide. Skye took Ally MacLeod on in place of Kenny Campbell on 67 minutes with Neil MacVicar joining the attack. Shaun Nicolson went to full forward with Neil MacDonald going to buckshee forward as Lochaber tried to change their fortunes with 20 minutes remaining. Ben Delaney shot wide under pressure from Ally MacDonald. Neil MacVicar’s move up to the forward line was short-lived as he was brought back to the defence on 76 minutes with Ally MacLeod going forward. Lochaber continued to press with Neil MacDonald shooting wide. Will Cowie rejoined the Skye attack with just 10 minutes of regulation time remaining. A great challenge from Ally MacDonald denied Ben Delaney a shooting opportunity just moments later. Barry MacDonald was crowded out as he tried to get a shot on goal with 8 minutes remaining as Lochaber enjoyed their best spell of pressure in the whole game. . Skye broke forward a minute into stoppage time. Iain Murray won the ball in midfield and played it forward to Will Cowie who directed the ball in the air to Kenny MacLeod on the Skye left. MacLeod cut in and found Danny Morrison in space in front of goal but his shot was brilliantly saved with his leg by Calum MacDonald to keep Lochaber in the tie. Play quickly switched to the other end and Chris Rose was penalised for a challenge on Ben Delaney. Neil MacDonald took the set piece and although Ally MacDonald blocked Shaun Nicolson initial shot but the Skye defence were unable to get the ball away. Shaun Nicolson made a great run around the back of the Skye back line and he fired the ball low into the Skye net to make it 2-2 with a couple of minutes stoppage time played. With almost 5 minutes stoppage time played, referee David Stafford took the match into an extra time period. Skye showed no sign of disappointment at losing such a late leveller and they attacked from the restart. Many teams would have folded following the blow of losing the injury time equaliser but Skye made a positive start to the extra time period and they went ahead again 3 minutes after the restart. A Neil MacVicar free hit offered a half chance for Kenny MacLeod but Lochaber cleared the ball for a corner. Jordan Murchison tried to get on the end of Gilleasbuig MacDonald’s corner but Callum MacDonald cleared the ball for a shy midway inside the Lochaber right. This time Kenny MacLeod let Gilleasbuig MacDonald’s shy run by him and Will Cowie drilled the ball low into the net on his backhand to put Skye 3-2 in front. The home crowd sensed that their team was on the way to claiming an Orion Group Premiership scalp as they roared on their favourites. Callum MacDonald did well to save a Danny Morrison shot after the Skye forward had combined with Kenny MacLeod to set up the chance. Both teams had their fitness levels tested as the game was played at a quick pace and Shaun Nicolson needed treatment for cramp. Skye forced a succession of corners without troubling Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald. A Jordan Murchison shot was deflected wide for another corner. Jack Dignan returned to the field of play instead of Ryan Johnstone with 100 minutes played. A tremendous Will Cowie shot hit the crossbar as Skye looked for a two goal cushion. The Lochaber’s attacks were becoming less frequent and when they did break forward, they found Steven Morrison to be a formidable barrier in the Skye defence. Lochaber made a bright start to the second period of extra time but the Skye defence ensured there was little for keeper Jamie Gannon to do. Skye’s Ally MacDonald was booked for persistent fouling on 108 minutes. A good Steven Morrison challenge halted Ben Delaney and Shaun Nicolson then collected a Jack Dignan pass but Jamie Gannon saved with his feet and cleared the ball for a corner. Ben Delaney shot over the bar under pressure from Steven Morrison with 5 minutes remaining and for all Lochaber’s pressure, they were rarely troubling home keeper Jamie Gannon. A minute later, Callum MacDonald made a great save, low at his left post, to keep out a shot from Kenny MacLeod. Finlay MacDonald came on for Lochaber with Ben Delaney limping off. Lachlan Campbell joined the Lochaber attack as manager Robert Johnstone tried everything to get back on level terms with only a couple of minutes remaining. Danny Morrison was almost in on goal in stoppage time but he was tripped by James MacRae which earned the Lochaber man the game’s third booking. As the match went into the final period of stoppage time, Skye held onto possession and the final whistle was treated with delight by the home support. Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald, full back Lachlan Campbell and the energetic Brian MacDonald were best for the visitors. Steven Morrison and Will Cowie were again excellent for Skye. Ally MacDonald’s contribution is also being noted by the Skye support. He does nothing flash but rarely makes a mistake. Skye will now play either Lochcarron or Inverness in the MacTavish Plate semi final with the venue to be decided by the toss of a coin. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon; Steven Morrison, Neil MacVicar, Ally MacDonald, Chris Rose; Gilleasbuig MacDonald (captain), Iain Murray, Allan MacKinnon; Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Kenny Campbell; subs Kenny MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, David Grant Lochaber from: Callum MacDonald; Lachlan Campbell (captain), Donald MacRae, James MacRae, Brennan MacDonald, Brian MacDonald, Hugh Innes, Jack Dignan; Shaun Nicolson, Ryan Johnstone, Barry MacDonald, Ben Delaney; subs Stuart Callison, Neil MacDonald, Finlay MacDonald, Match Referee – Dave Stafford The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |