Memory Lane - Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup. | |
19 February 2010 Saturday 16 August 1996.
Skye Camanachd 8 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0.
Skye Camanachd intended to give themselves a stiff pre-season test by inviting National Premier Division side Glasgow Mid Argyll to the King George V Park to contest the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup.
However a series of call offs meant that it was an under-strength Mid Argyll side which eventually travelled to Portree. In fact 3 Skye Camanachd players – keeper Ewen MacGregor and midfielders James “Paddy” Stephenson and Ewen “Crossal” MacKinnon guested for the Glasgow side to make up the numbers. Indeed MacKinnon, a Camanachd Cup winner for Skye Camanachd in 1990, had played for Glasgow Mid Argyll the previous season when he was based in the south. He had now returned home and was part of the Skye Camanachd first team squad for the season ahead.
Mid Argyll also included former Skye Camanachd players Ben Simmister, Allan Brunton and John MacLean in their line up.
The King George V Park was not in the best of conditions and the grass was too long in parts to allow for following shinty.
There was a sign of things to come in the first couple of minutes when a fierce 20 yard drive from young Somhairle MacDonald came off the frame of the goal.
The visitors also created and early chance but George Hay shot wide of goal.
Skye had received a pre-season boost with Peter Gordon’s return to the side after a 2 year absence and he put in an impressive display orchestrating the Islanders attack.
It was Gordon who broke the deadlock after 19 minutes when he sent a looping 45 yard shot goalwards. The ball dipped at the last minute, deceiving keeper Ewen MacGregor as it dropped under the crossbar.
Mid Argyll fought back though and Hay missed another chance form almost the same spot.
Skye doubled their advantage when Peter Gordon played in Norman “Nobby” MacLeod and his shot sneaked in at MacGregor’s far post.
Again Mid Argyll responded and Ernie Crawford saw his shot come crashing back off Skye keeper Calum “Colombo” Nicolson’s crossbar.
It was John Angus Gillie got in on the act to make it 3-0. Goalkeeper MacGregor made a valiant attempt to save his 25 yard effort but the ball went in off the keeper’s foot.
Skye keeper Nicolson was forced into action to deal with a couple of Mid Argyll attacks. Fist he had to dash from his goal to clear a Ewen “Crossal” MacKinnon ball into the danger area and he then saved a shot from distance from MacLean.
A typical poachers effort from Willie MacKinnon gave Skye a 4-0 half time lead although their opponents would feel that the margin could have been closer if the had made the most of their chances.
Skye turned the screw as they pressured Mid Argyll throughout the whole of the second half.
Peter Gordon wade it 5-0 with the goal of the match after 52 minutes. Gordon found himself in space and he took advantage in deadly style as he lifted the ball in the air with his caman before blasted an unstoppable volley which almost burst the net.
Willie MacRae set up Willie MacKinnon to notch his second to make it 6-0.
MacKinnon then completed his hat-trick, taking the ball high above his head and crashing it down into the far corner of the net.
MacKinnon completed the scoring by scoring his own fourth and Skye’s eighth when he took advantage of a poor MacGregor clearance.
Mid Argyll found the Skye forward line particularly difficult to handle. Peter Gordon was in fine form at buckshee forward with Willie MacKinnon deadly at full forward. Somhairle MacDonald and Norman “Nobby” MacLeod were also very effective in the wing forward positions.
Allan “Goa” MacLeod, Stuart MacGregor and Ewen “Yogi” MacSween were also worthy of a mention for their terrific performances. |