Skye Camanachd 5 Aberdour 0 | |
16 August 2021 Skye Camanachd reached the Alvance British Aluminium Balliemore Cup semi-finals with a 5-0 victory over Aberdour at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 14 August 2021. With Jordan Murchison, Will Cowie, Ross Gordon and James Pringle all out injured, Skye manager Kenny MacLeod called up Somhairle MacDonald, Archie MacDonald, U17 captain Taylor Matheson, second team skipper Iain MacPherson and Calum Gibb. Aberdour boss Lisa MacColl was without Angus Thorburn, Stuart Downey, Jack Mitchell, Craig Grant and John Martin Philips and youngster Logan Adam debuted as their only substitute. This 2.30pm throw up was the first time these teams have met in Portree. The whole match was broadcast LIVE on Radio Skye’s “Camanachd LIVE” show. Skye keeper Ryan Morrison was first into action as he palmed away Ruairidh Reid’s shot from a central position. Morrison twice denied David MacKenzie in quick succession as Aberdour showed they were no push-overs. Skye responded and Iain MacLennan twice saw shots go over the top either side of a Ross MacKinnon effort that was deflected wide after a good William MacKinnon run. Craig Callaghan then saved well with his left foot at the expense of a corner to deny Jamie Gillies after Iain MacLellan had taken the ball across goal. Skye gave a debut from the bench to U17 skipper Taylor Matheson – replacing Iain MacLellan - who had had been performing well for the second team and one of Matheson’s first acts was to drift the ball in on goal from wide on the right but keeper Callaghan swiped away his effort. It was a committed performance from Aberdour and the first half finished scoreless. Skye made their intensions known from the restart as Callaghan made a good double-save to parry shots from Ross MacKinnon on the left and then Jamie Gillies on the right. David MacKenzie then had a chance for the visitors but tugged his shot wide. A neat Somhairle MacDonald run up the left ended with his shot deflected for a corner and an opening goal was certainly getting closer. Martin Pringle went on a lung-bursting run from defence on the Skye left and his shot went wide of goal. Skye made the breakthrough on 59 minutes when Ross MacKinnon sent the ball forward following a failed Aberdour set-piece around the Skye goal area. William MacKinnon played the ball on to Jamie Gillies and when Somhairle MacDonald’s shot was saved, Taylor Matheson was in the right place to mark his debut with a goal, turning the rebound low into the net. Somhairle MacDonald sent the ball low into the net from Taylor Matheson’s cut-back from the left moments later but goal judge Donnie Martin flagged for offside. William MacKinnon made no mistake as he made space from close-in a couple of minutes later, scoring on his back-hand when Aberdour failed to clear a Jamie Gillies corner form the right. Somhairle MacDonald hit the frame of the goal from wide on the left and Aberdour were now under real pressure. Skye reintroduced Iain MacLellan in attack with Martin Pringle withdrawn and William MacKinnon dropping back to buckshee back. MacKinnon won possession on 71 minutes and his ball forward was controlled by Jamie Gillies who turned to his left and shot high into the net on the keeper’s left side to make it 3-0. Skye had brought on second team captain Ian MacPherson for his second senior appearance and his cross from the left was turned goalwards by Iain MacLellan. Craig Callaghan stopped MacLellan’s effort and did well to get the ball away under pressure from Taylor Matheson. Callaghan saved from Matheson again before the Islanders introduced Archie MacDonald at right wing centre. Jamie Gillies got his second and Skye’s fourth goal on 82 minutes, smashing the ball low into the net on his left side from just right of centre after his initial effort from Taylor Matheson’s pass was blocked. And with just 3 minutes remaining, Jamie Gillies completed his hat-trick with the goal of the match. There seemed little danger when Gillies gathered the ball wide on the right but his bullet-shot rose high into the net past a helpless keeper. There was still time for keeper Callaghan to again deny Taylor Matheson, saving low by his right post after the youngster had played a one-two with veteran Somhairle MacDonald. Referee Steven MacLachlan was always in control, and his final whistle confirmed Skye’s place in the semi-final draw. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison: John Gillies, Ally "Cleodi" MacLeod (captain), James Morrison, Martin Pringle: Sam Macphee, William MacKinnon, Chris Rose: Ross MacKinnon, Somhairle MacDonald, Iain MacLellan, Jamie Gillies: subs Ian MacPherson, Archie MacDonald, Taylor Matheson, Calum Gibb Aberdour from: Craig Callaghan, Sam Evans, Kieran Pritchard, Iain Fullerton, Andrew Fraser: Tom Aitchison, Tom Bowerman, Ali Abbott: David MacKenzie (captain): David MacDougall, Ruairidh Reid, Alec Mitchell: sub Logan Adam Match Referee – Steven McLachlan
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