Skye Camanachd Ladies 0 Badenoch & Strathspey Ladies 0 | |
19 May 2015 The Skye Camanachd Ladies drew 0-0 with WCA Marine Harvest National Division 1 leaders Badenoch & Strathspey in a match switched to the Portree High School Astro pitch on Saturday 16 May 2015. Skye Ladies boss Robbie Gordon was without Anna MacDonald who had a broken hand, sustained in the win over Glengarry Ladies last weekend. Captain Jenna Beaton, Roz Lamond and Fiona Lamond were also missing. However Korri Henderson, Anne-Marie MacRae and Abbey MacLean were called into the squad and they started on the bench. Lorna MacRae was passed fir to play despite carrying an ankle injury. Badenoch & Strathspey led the Marine Harvest National Division 1 league going into this game, having already beaten and drawn with 2014 winners Glasgow Mid Argyll in their two league meetings. This was their first encounter with third place Skye with both teams very much in the title race. Throw up was at 12.45pm and the players led out onto the pitch by piper Ally “K” MacPherson. The game formed part of the Festubert Commemorations and the whole match was featured live on Cuillin FM “Camanachd Live” show. There was a heavy hail shower at the start of the match as the players gathered for a minute’s silence. Skye had the elements in their favour in the first half but there was an early scare for the Islanders when a Zoe Reid cross was turned into the net but the effort was ruled out for offside. Skye responded and a neat turn and run from Kirsty Dibble ended with Dibble’s shot going just past the post. A Kirsty Deans shot hit the side-netting following a Badenoch set-piece after 6 minutes. A Caitlin MacLean strike was deflected for a corner as the game swayed from end-to-end. A surging run from Lorna MacRae, after she intercepted a Kirsty Deans free-hit, saw the Skye full centre play a dangerous ball into the Badenoch goal area but there were no takers for Skye. Rachel Borthwick did well to get the ball out for a corner after some good pressure from Skye. Sarah Corrigall made a good save with her feet from Megan Ralph on 26 minutes and the Skye keeper then cleared the danger. Badenoch keeper Elizabeth MacGregor had to use her body to deflect a probing ball from Lorna MacRae away for a corner as the first half drew to a close. Sarah Corrigall saved with her feet from Megan Ralph as referee Davie MacVicar brought the first half to an end. Badenoch now had the blustery conditions in their favour and a Megan Ralph shot nestled into the side-netting following the first attack of the second half. The visitors were enjoying most of the early pressure in the second half and Catriona Gibb did well to halt a Kirsty Deans run. A Caitlin MacLean shot went just past Elizabeth MacGregor’s left post as Skye fought back. Christina MacDonald got her body in the way to block a Kirsty Deans shot 10 minutes into the second half and Catriona Gibb cleared the danger. Sarah Corrigall saved from Megan Ralph and then Zoe Reid before knocking the ball away for a corner. Rona MacIntyre played in the resulting corner and Mairi Stewart sent the ball just the wrong side of the post. Skye broke forward and Badenoch keeper Elizabeth MacGregor made an excellent save above her head with her caman to turn away a superb Caitlin MacLean drive. Sarah Corrigall did well to close down Megan Ralph following a corner on the Badenoch right. The Skye keeper then saved Kirsty Dean’s strike with her feet, playing the ball out for another corner; this time on the Badenoch left. Rona MacIntyre sent the corner infield where Kirsty Deans took a touch before firing the ball goalwards but Sarah Corrigall dived to her left to brilliantly turn away the shot which flew through a ruck of players and Catriona Gibb played the ball out for another corner. It was the save of the match as the ball was deflected at least once as it headed towards the bottom left corner of the net. The contest reached the mid-point of the second half and the game was being played at a terrific tempo as both sides went all out for a winner. Another surging run from Lorna MacRae saw her slip possession to Emma Gordon who stopped the ball with her feet but her snap-shop went agonisingly past Elizabeth MacGregor’s left-hand post. With 10 minutes remaining, it was Badenoch’s turn to go close as Sarah Corrigall stopped a Kirsty Deans shot with her feet and Zoe Reid sent the rebound just wide. Play switched to the other end as Skye broke with speed and Emma Gordon found Lorna MacRae but Elizabeth MacGregor again saved well. This was a terrific contest with both keepers in top form. Sarah Corrigall had made some great stops whilst at the other end; Elizabeth MacGregor came off her line and used her body to block a shot from Lorna MacRae after another fine run from the Scottish international. A Mairi Stewart shot went wide of Sarah Corrigall’s goal with just 3 minutes remaining. However neither side was able to get the winning goal and they had to settle for a share of the points. This was a really enjoyable match for the supporters and the skill and endeavour displayed by both sets of players was ample evidence of the improvement in the ladies game over recent seasons. The draw probably suited Badenoch more with the teams still to meet twice more this season – once in the league in Kingussie and again in the semi-final of the Valerie Fraser Cup. Skye Camanachd Ladies from: Sarah Corrigall; Catriona Gibb (captain), Christina MacDonald, Nicola MacSween; Emma Gordon, Lorna MacRae, Izzy Law; Ilana Paterson, Caitlin MacLean, Kirsty Dibble; subs Katherine Dibble, Mairead Urquhart, Korri Henderson, Abbey MacLean, Ann-Marie MacRae Badenoch & Strathspey from: Elizabeth MacGregor; Janette MacGregor, Rachel Borthwick, Sarah Caird; Zoe Reid, Kirsty Deans, Rona Stewart; Megan Ralph, Rona MacIntyre (captain), Mairi Stewart; subs Sharon McQuirter, Katie Falconer, Eilidh Ross, Klaudia Ordys Match Referee – Davie MacVicar The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |