Skye Camanachd 3 Strathglass 1 | |
25 April 2017 Skye Camanachd beat Strathglass 3-1 in their Balliemore Cup second round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 22 April 2017. Skye co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon welcomed Neil MacVicar and Jordan Murchison back from injury but both started on the bench. The same twelve Skye players started as against Strathglass the previous week, when Skye were 4-1 winners in their league clash at Cannich. There were however positional changes which saw Will Cowie go to full forward, Kenny Campbell drop back to midfield and Stuart Grant join the attack. Kenny MacLeod returned to the Skye second team. Strathglass travelled to this 2.30pm throw up without George Phimister, who was a late call off with a back problem, Ross Balharry and longer term absentee Hamish Myers who is recovering from a broken arm. Skye, in only their second home match this season, played towards the Skeabost end of the ground in the first half and the whole match was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. James Pringle went close following a John Gillies free-hit. Pringle’s effort was deflected off a defender for a corner with the ball going just past keeper Ally McAdams right post. Strathglass went close on 19 minutes with Darren Reid sending the ball spinning past the post at the second attempt. A Will Cowie effort from the left flashed across goal on 24 minutes with Danny Morrison the provider. Will Cowie sent a drive over the top on 31 minutes after Danny Morrison and James Pringle had combined to set up the chance. Despite the Skye pressure, it was Strathglass who took the lead on 33 minutes. A clever run from Josh Fraser saw him latch onto a Scott Douglas ball forward to score, catching out the Skye defence and leaving keeper Iain MacLeod stranded. A minute later, Danny Morrison jugged the ball from a shy and sent a strike whistling past the keeper’s left post. However Skye did equalise on 35 minutes. Kenny Campbell won the ball following a Strathglass goal hit. He cleared to Stewart Grant who played in Will Cowie. Cowie got away from Donald Fraser and burst through the centre of the visiting defence, calmly slotting the ball past the advancing keeper MacAdams. A nice passing move in the final stages of the first half ended with Danny Morrison finding Kenny Campbell and his strike went over. A Scott Douglas shot at one end followed by a Stewart Grant effort at the other end, which hit the post, got the second half underway. Skye kept the pressure on, and Ally MacAdams saved well from Will Cowie but he upended Stewart Grant, who was onto the rebound, and referee Martin MacLean awarded a penalty. Cowie gave the keeper no chance from the spot as he made it 2-1 with just 3 second half minutes played. Will Cowie completed his hat-trick on 56 minutes with another good finish. Kenny Campbell won possession and fed the ball to Stewart Grant who saw his shot saved by MacAdams but Cowie was quickly onto the rebound off the keeper to score. That was the final action of the afternoon for Stewart Grant as he was replaced by Jordan Murchison who came on in a straight swap. An Iain Nicolson shy from the left on 64 minutes found Will Cowie and his shot went just past the keeper’s left post. There was a break as Jono Price received treatment for a knock and, when play resumed, a surging run from Michael Stokes ended with the full centre’s drive rising just over the top. Strathglass had a great opportunity reduce the deficit on 67 minutes when Ally “Spod” MacLeod brought down Darren Reid inside the D. Scott Douglas hit the resultant penalty with force but Iain MacLeod made a brilliant save with his stick, above his left shoulder and the Skye defence swept the rebound to safety. Strathglass had introduced Steven Hyslop in place of Ryan Balharry and Balharry then came on for Lewis Douglas as a rolling substitute. Skye returned on the offensive and, with 15 minutes remaining, Will Cowie found James Pringle but his strike went just past the keeper’s right post. A minute later, Iain MacLeod saved well with his feet from Darren Reid, at the expense of a corner. A firmly struck Josh Fraser shot deflected off Ally MacDonald and went just the other side of the post on 78 minutes. Neil MacVicar took over from James Pringle to join the Skye attack a minute later. A flowing Skye move on 81 minutes saw Jordan Murchison and Danny Morrison exchange passes. Murchison then found Neil MacVicar who played in Will Cowie whose shot was blocked and the Strathglass goal survived. The win means Skye will now host Fort William in the Balliemore Cup quarter finals after the Fort beat Aberdour 2-1. Lawrence Jones, who had spent two years out of the game with a serious knee injury, was excellent for Strathglass in his first-ever game at buckshee back. Michael Stokes also continued his good form at full centre. Will Cowie was a major contributor for Skye with Ally MacDonald and John Gillies commanding at the back. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Ally MacDonald, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, John Gillies; Kenny Campbell (captain), Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Iain Nicolson; Stewart Grant, James Pringle, Danny Morrison, Will Cowie; subs Jordan Murchison, Neil MacVicar, Daniel Morrison Strathglass from: Ally MacAdams; Donald Fraser, Jono Price, Archie Wotherspoon, Lawrence Jones; Lewis Douglas, Michael Stokes, Seth Jones; Josh Fraser, Ryan Balharry, Darren Reid, Scott Douglas (captain); sub Steven Hyslop Match Referee – Martin MacLean Goal Judges – Donnie Martin & Douglas MacDougall Scorers Skye Camanachd Will Cowie (35, 48 pen, 56) Strathglass Josh Fraser (33) The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |