Caberfeidh 2 Skye Camanachd 2. | |
28 March 2010 Skye Camanachd picked up what could be a valuable point with a 2-2 draw against Caberfeidh at Castle Leod on Saturday 27 March 2010.
Skye Camanachd first team manager Aonghas MacDonald made one enforced change to the starting line-up that won at Beauly the previous week. Wing centre Kerr Gibb was unavailable so Stewart Grant came off the bench to make his first start for the senior side. U17 player Martin Bruce was called up from the second team and he started on the bench with Dougie Rankin and Aonghas MacDonald.
Kenny Campbell failed a late fitness test and joined John Moir on the injured list. Ally MacLennan was also unavailable.
Caberfeidh were without Scotland U21 forward Kevin Bartlett, defender Graham MacGregor and Donald MacDonald.
Cabers played with the wind in the first half and they put the Skye defence under some early pressure. The surface at Castle Leod was difficult to play on for both sides and it took a couple of good clearances from Skye full back Steven Morrison before his side settled down into a more familiar pattern of play.
Skye’s right wing centre Shockie MacLennan played some good crosses into the danger area and after 7 minutes, one such cross was fired just wide by Ian Nicolson.
A 10 minute snap-shot from Somhairle MacDonald was touched wide for a corner by Caber’s keeper Donald Mellis.
Just 2 minutes later the home side took the lead. A free hit from Ian McColl was knocked down into the path of Stuart Krzyzanowski and he blasted the ball high past Jamie Gannon.
Skye’s Ian Nicolson cracked a shot on target a minute later which Mellis saved with his feet. The Skye forwards claimed the keeper’s feet were off the ground when he made the stop but both referee Ronnie Campbell and the goal judge waved away their pleas.
Cabers Ian McColl had a chance to double his side’s advantage on 28 minutes when he burst forward from midfield. However his shot was always rising and it flew over the bar.
AB Connor blocked a goal bound effort above his head as the Skye defence held on.
Skye’s Stewart Grant suffered a nasty head cut on 31 minutes when he was caught above the eye, ironically by the caman of one of his team-mates. However after receiving treatment, he opted to play on.
Grant showed that he was showing no ill effects from the knock on 35 minutes when he played a great ball forward to Ian Nicolson but the Scotland U21 international shot wide.
Nicolson went close again a couple of minutes later but Mellis saved well.
Skye continued to press for the equaliser and they got their reward on 42 minutes. Good battling by Shockie MacLennan on the right allowed him to play in Alan Palmer. The Skye forward’s shot was saved by Mellis but Ian Nicolson confidently slotted the rebound into the net.
Skye took the lead a minute before the break. AB Connor won possession in defence and played a great ball forward to Iain Nicolson who controlled the ball before sending a glorious drive into the back of the net giving Mellis no chance.
Skye had Cabers on the rack and Mellis saved again with his foot to keep his side in touch. The half time whistle must have come as some relief to the home defence.
A looping Ian Nicolson cross was tipped just wide by Somhairle MacDonald a minute into the second half.
However, just 3 minutes into the second period Cabers were level and the Skye defence was left feeling some-what aggrieved. A cross from the right was turned into the net by Kirk Taylor with the Skye defenders claiming both offside and that Taylor had used his foot to turn the ball into the net. Just as in the first half, the Skye protests won no favour with the referee and goal judge.
Caber’s Brian MacDonald was booked for a challenge which caught Somhairle MacDonald across the back of the legs, leaving the Skye forward requiring treatment.
Ian Nicolson shot over from a Shockie MacLennan free hit on 73 minutes and a couple of minutes later, Nicolson turned provider when he set up Somhairle MacDonald who fired just over.
Skye’s Alan Palmer was replaced in attack by Dougie Rankin as Skye pressed for the winner.
Jamie Gannon palmed away a Lee Nicol shot on 77 minutes but needed AB Connor’s help to clear the danger.
Skye broke up the park but Somhairle MacDonald couldn’t find the target after being played in by Ian Nicolson.
Lee Nicol became the third Caberfeidh player to be booked on 84 minutes for a challenge on Jamie MacDonald.
Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald came on in place of Allan MacKinnon for the closing stages.
MacDonald’s presence in the Skye forward line seemed to cause havoc in the home defence as the visitors went all out for the winner. MacDonald combined with Dougie Rankin for the latter to steer the ball agonisingly wide of the target.
Shockie MacLennan was ruled offside as he burst forward to get on the end of a cross and in one final attack; Dougie Rankin was tripped as he surged forward. Rankin played in Shockie MacLennan from the free hit but he couldn’t find the target.
In what turned out to be a frustrating day for Skye, they were well served by Allan MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan and goalscorer Ian Nicolson.
Skye will hope their injury worries ease before next week’s MacTavish Cup first round trip to Battery Park to face Lochcarron. Kerr Gibb should return to the side however they will be without Somhairle MacDonald who is unavailable.
Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), AB Connor, Jamie MacDonald, Allan MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Stewart Grant, Somhairle MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon, (Aonghas MacDonald), Alan Palmer, (Dougie Rankin), Iain Nicolson, sub Martin Bruce (not used)
Match Referee – Ronnie Campbell |