Lovat 1 Skye Camanachd 1. | |
05 April 2009 Skye Camanachd won a hard earned point in Marine Harvest North Division1 against Lovat on Saturday 4 April 2009. The match was originally scheduled for Pairc nan Laoch, Portree but was switched to Balgate at 12 noon when it became clear that the Portree pitch was unplayable because of the heavy rain. Skye opened strongly and almost went ahead straight from the throw up. Full centre Gilleasbuig MacDonald won the centre and lofted the ball forward to his brother Somhairle. He flicked a ball into the danger area which was dummied by Iain Nicolson and Ally MacLennan’s half volley went inches wide. The first half was literally end to end and played at a fantastic tempo. Lovat started the second half well and were awarded a penalty 3 minutes after the break when a Skye defender was adjudged to have kicked the ball. However Raymond Rennie blazed the spot hit over the ball and the Skye support breathed again. Lovat continued to press and moments later, 15 year old Greig Matheson continued his recent good run when he blasted the all into the Skye net. Skye came back on the offensive but they failed to convert their pressure into shots at Stuart MacDonald in the Lovat goal. Lovat were dangerous in attack and Jamie Gannon made a couple terrific saves to keep the margin down to a single goal. Skye manager Angie Murchison replaced Iain Nicolson with Norman MacLeod but it was his second substitution that seemed to make the difference. Alan Palmer came on for Jamie MacDonald. Palmer took his place in the forward line with captain Kenny Campbell dropping back into the centre line. Palmer immediately fired a shot at MacDonald and Skye looked menacing from the resulting corner. With only 5 minutes left, Somhairle MacDonald levelled the match when he fired low past MacDonald. Indeed Skye could have taken both points when Alan Palmer sent a shot inches wide of the Lovat post. So Skye Camanachd remain to of Marine Harvest North Division 1. It’s widely accepted that the Islanders had a successful 2008. However their 2009 league start has yielded five out of the first six available points whilst they were pointless after their first 3 games last season. Cup fixtures now take prominence on the fixture list and Skye Camanachd travel to Battery Park next weekend to face Lochcarron as they open their defence of the Balliemore Cup. The islanders next scheduled Marine Harvest North Division 1 match is a derby trip to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel on 16 May 2009. Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison, Dougie Rankin, John Moir, Allan MacLeod, Jamie MacDonald, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, Somhairle MacDonald, Ally MacLennan, Kenny Campbell, (captain), Iain Nicolson, (Norman MacLeod), subs Shockie MacLennan, AB Connor, not used |