Skye Camanachd Ladies 1 Badenoch Ladies 2 | |
25 February 2019 A last minute Kirsty Deans goal gave Badenoch a 2-1 win over Skye Camanachd in their opening Mowi National Division match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 23 February 2019. Skye Head Coach Robbie Gordon was without Emma Gordon and Helen Lamond for this clash between the top two teams in the women’s game. Badenoch boss Scott Campbell’s side was along usual lines for this noon throw up. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up to remember Skye Camanachd stalwart Sammy Gordon who passed away a couple of days earlier. Skye played towards the Skeabost end of the ground in the first half. Badenoch made a bright start but Skye created the first attempt at goal when Rhianna Kirk’s free-hit found Abby MacLean but visiting keeper Elizabeth MacGregor made a good save, turning the ball over the bar with her caman. It was then Badenoch’s turn to have a set-piece opportunity as Zoe Reid played a short free-hit to Kirsty Deans but Rhona McIntyre just couldn’t get on the end of her low ball across goal. Rona Stewart eventually got a shot in but it was off target. Badenoch went back on the attack and when Rona Stewart found Kirsty Deans, her snap-shot cannoned back off the post. Skye immediately broke forward and Lorna MacRae released a pass to Jenna Beaton but she was caught on the calf and Skye had to settle for a free-hit to the left of the D. Skye worked the free-hit across goal and Lorna MacRae was able to send a low 22 yard shot goalwards which beat keeper MacGregor on her right side and Skye led 1-0 with 14 minutes played. A superb double-challenge shortly after from Skye defender Christina MacDonald denied Kirsty Deans what looked like a certain equaliser. Deans then got away from her marker and ran clean through on goal. However she hit the ball a fraction too far in front which allowed advancing Skye goalie Sarah-Jane Ferguson to get to the ball first and Christina MacDonald did well to clear for a corner. Skye’s Katherine Dibble was forced off through injury with Molly MacKinnon taking her place. Abby MacLean then broke free and she had time to steady herself before firing just wide whilst, at the other end, a Kirsty Deans strike flashed a shot across goal. However the Badenoch leveller came on 21 minutes. Rona Stewart delivered a high cross from the left and the ball dropped for Kirsty Deans in a central position and she took a touch at the edge of the D before crashing a shot home to make it 1-1. Skye’s Sarah Corrigall had a go with a turn and shot late in the half from a ball played in by Holly MacLean but the sides went into the break on level terms. Skye went on the attack from the restart and Sarah Corrigall and Jenna Beaton combined to give Lorna MacRae a shooting chance but Elizabeth MacGregor saved with her feet and the hosts had to settle for a corner on the right. Badenoch went on to press the Skye goal for a 10 minute spell without testing Sarah-Jane Ferguson in the Skye goal. A long ball forward to Kirsty Deans sent the visitors on the attack 12 minutes into the second half. Deans did well to lay the ball off to Zoe Reid who fired in a shot but keeper Ferguson saved with her legs. Zoe Reid then played in a cross from the right to Deans who took the ball around the keeper and looked certain to score but the Skye defence some-how cleared the ball off the line at the expense of a corner. Ilana Paterson limped off after being involved in the melee. Skye attacked and Abby MacLean’s shot went just over the bar. Abby MacLean then played in Lorna MacRae but she took a touch too many and keeper MacGregor managed to get the ball away. It was Skye’s turn to have a period of pressure and Lorna MacRae controlled the ball from a Skye hit-in and she found Abby MacLean who denied by a good Elizabeth MacGregor save. With just 8 minutes to go, Badenoch worked the ball in from a hit-in on the right and it fell for Kirsty Deans but she blazed a shot over the bar. The game was now flowing from end to end as both sides went in search of a winner. Jenna Beaton found Abby MacLean but her shot went wide and an exhausted Beaton was replaced by Ilana Paterson with Sarah Corrigall moving forward for the closing stages. It looked as if it would finish honours even. However, with just 90 seconds left, Skye almost won it as Lorna MacRae and Abby MacLean combined to find Ilana Paterson who sent a shot from the left just wide of the junction between post and bar to the keeper’s right. Badenoch quickly sent the ball up-field and Zoe Reid crossed the ball in low from the right and Kirsty Deans gathered possession and turned before squeezing a shot low into the corner of the net to win the game. It wasn’t the start Skye wanted but they at least have almost the whole of the season remaining, including a meeting with Badenoch at the Dell, to try and win back top spot in the league. Badenoch suffered a blow the day after the match when key player Kirsty Deans suffered a fractured ankle when playing football for Inverness Caledonian Thistle Ladies. Skye Camanachd Ladies from: Sarah-Jane Ferguson; Christina MacDonald, Caitlin MacLean, Katherine Dibble; Rhianna Kirk, Lorna MacRae, Ilana Paterson (captain); Abby MacLean, Holly MacLean, Jenna Beaton: subs Molly MacKinnon, Ceitidh Smith, Kirsty Dibble, Sarah Corrigall Badenoch Ladies: Elizabeth MacGregor; Jeanette MacGregor, Sarah Caird, Roma Fraser; Mairi Stewart, Rona Stewart, Rhona McIntyre; Zoe Reid (captain), Megan Ralph, Kirsty Deans; subs Eilidh Ross, Katie Falconer, Shannon Macwhirter Match Referee – John Matheson Scorers Skye Camanachd Lorna MacRae (14) Badenoch Kirsty Deans (21, 79) The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |