Skye Camanachd 4 Fort William 1 | |
01 April 2019 Skye Camanachd were 4-1 winners against Fort William in their cottages.com MacTavish Cup first round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on 30 March 2019. Padraig McNeil’s late goal earned the Fort a 3-2 win when the sides met in the league a week earlier. Skye co-bosses Kenny MacLeod and Allan MacLeod allowed Ross MacKinnon to travel with the second team so Allan MacLeod went onto the bench for this 3pm throw up. Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson travelled without Lachie Shaw, Alexander MacMillan, Sean Cameron and Ruaraidh Shaw. Skye started with the wind but the game’s first sight at goal came at the other end when an early Jack Fraser shot forced a fine Ryan Morrison save with his caman, deflecting the ball away for a corner. At the other end, Jordan Murchison lost his marker and spun round but his flick went just wide of the post. Ross Gordon and Will Cowie both twice went close with James Pringle doing like-wise and you sensed a Skye goal was coming. It duly arrived on 27 minutes. Will Cowie won possession and found Ross Gordon. Gordon’s effort was blocked and Jordan Murchison took the rebound to his side before threading the ball home from a tight angle on the left to make it 1-0. Skye were immediately forced to make a change as Will Cowie was withdrawn with a tight calf and Ian MacLellan came off the bench. Skye extended their lead on 50 minutes. The goal came from a set-piece as Jordan Murchison found Iain MacLellan and he pushed the ball goalwards, squeezing it between keeper Paul MacKay’s right foot and the post. MacKay then came off his line to save well from James Pringle before diverting a Ross Gordon shot for a corner with his right foot. It was MacKay again moments later, making a reflex stop to deny James Pringle following William MacKinnon’s corner from the left. Skye brought Will Cowie back on at full forward with James Pringle withdrawn. Fort William needed to score next and they pulled a goal back on 67 minutes when Arran MacPhee, now pushed into attack, swept home at the second attempt following substitute Greg Kelly’s corner from the right. Skye restored their two-goal cushion on 76 minutes. Paul MacKay saved from Jordan Murchison but Iain MacLellan ran in from the left to bundle the ball over the line. The goal knocked the stuffing out of Fort William and it was 4-1 just a couple of minutes later. Will Cowie played the ball in from the left and Jordan Murchison, in a central position, had time to flick the ball in the air before hammering it past Paul MacKay to make it 4-1. Frustrations grew and Fort William’s Mark Grant was sent by referee Calum Girvan shortly after following a tussle with Jordan Murchison who was booked. There were also bookings for Skye’s James Morrison and Fort William’s Lewis Morrison before the end. Skye had a number of good performers including wing backs James Morrison and Martin Pringle whilst the midfield of Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, John Gillies and William MacKinnon showed great power. Sean Cruickshank played well for Fort William; first in midfield and then in defence, and wing centre Lewis Clark was a tireless worker throughout. Skye travel to take on Glenurquhart in the next round. After the match, Skye co-manager Allan MacLeod said: “It was a tough game but, in the second half, we took our chances and that was the difference from last week.” Opposite number Victor Smith added: “I thoroughly enjoyed the game and although we got over-run a bit at the end, at 2-1 I thought we were back in the game. We were a few short so we had to play Arran MacPhee in defence which meant we lacked a bit up front. Hopefully we’ll have a couple of players back next week for what will be a difficult game at Glasgow Mid Argyll.” Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison; Jamie Gillies, Martin Pringle, James Morrison, Iain Nicolson, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, John Gillies, William MacKinnon; Jordan Murchison, Will Cowie (captain), Ross Gordon, James Pringle; subs Iain MacLellan, Chris Rose, Ross MacKinnon Fort William from: Paul MacKay; Mark Grant, Ryan Boyle, Ally MacRae, Arran MacPhee; Sean Cruickshank, Calum Shepherd, Lewis Clark; JD MacMaster, Lewis Morrison, Padraig McNeil, Jack Fraser; subs Greig Kelly, Victor Smith (junior), Victor Smith (senior) Match Referee – Calum Girvan Goal Judges – Donnie Martin, Willie Anderson Scorers Skye Camanachd Jordan Murchison (27 Iain MacLellan (50, Fort William Arran MacPhee (67) The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |