Memory Lane – Season 1986 / 87 – Part 36. | |
28 December 2009 Saturday 28 February 1987 – MacTavish Cup Semi Final – Newtonmore 3 Skye Camanachd 1 This semi final was played in The Islanders looked determined from the start and they laid siege on the Newtonmore goal straight from the throw up. Skye had a trio of shots on target in the opening minutes from forwards Willie MacRae, Willie MacKinnon and Peter Gordon but Hugh Chisholm in the Newtonmore goal was equal to all their efforts. It was 1986 Camanachd Cup winners Newtonmore who took the lead against the run of play. Rick Ross – who had travelled from his base in Skye Dugald “Horace” Ross smashed a shot from distance towards goal but Chisholm saved well, protecting his side’s lead by tipping the ball over the bar for a corner. Moments later Skye’s Ross fired goalwards again only for Chisholm to make an almost identical save. Skye suffered a blow when an Alan MacKintosh effort eluded both the Skye defence and keeper Ian “Dowel” MacLeod and crept over the line at the far post to give the men from the Eilan a 2-0 advantage. Skye didn’t let their heads drop though and Willie MacKinnon took advantage of a goal mouth scramble and knocked the ball over the line to make the half time score 2-1 to Newtonmore. Skye started the second half in equally forceful fashion and a shot from distance from Caley MacLean flew just wide of Chisholm’s goal. Player / manager Calum Murchison then set up a great chance for Willie MacKinnon but the Skye forward momentarily delayed his shot and the ‘More defence were able to clear the danger. A great run and shot from Calum Murchison forced an equally impressive save from Chisholm with his feet. Skye were dealt a hammer blow moments later when Newtonmore introduced substitute George Fraser and he found enough space in front of the Skye goal to blast the ball past MacLeod to make it 3-1. Skye responded by withdrawing Ally “Stenscholl” MacDonald and bringing on Andrew “Shorty” Murchison. Caley MacLean cracked another long range effort but the ball flew just wide of the target. Another flowing Skye move involving Willie MacKinnon and Peter Gordon saw Chisholm make a tremendous reflex save from Gordon’s shot. Whilst there was disappointment in the Skye camp – including the vocal support who had travelled to Newtonmore would go on to win the 1987 MacTavish Cup. |