Lochcarron 1 Skye Camanachd 0. | |
27 June 2010 Skye Camanachd’s Marine Harvest North Division 1 title chances suffered a blow when they lost by a single goal against Lochcarron at Battery Park on Friday 19 June 2010. Skye Camanachd first team manager Aonghas MacDonald was forced to make 3 changes to the squad which took the field against Kinlochshiel the previous week. John Moir was injured and both Iain Nicolson and Alan Palmer were unavailable. They joined the injured Shockie MacLennan and Jamie MacDonald on the sidelines. Stewart Grant came back into the squad as did Donnie Campbell for his first appearance of the season. Captain Steven Morrison returned to the full back position and Gilleasbuig MacDonald took over the buckshee back role. Dougie Rankin started at full centre with Somhairle MacDonald at wing centre. There were 3 changes to the starting line-up with AB Connor Allan MacKinnon and Iain Morrison all on the bench last week but in the starting 12 for this one. Lochcarron were missing Ross Matheson who was unavailable. The opening exchanges were even although Skye’s injury jinx seemed to strike in the opening minutes with Steven Morrison troubled by a muscle problem to his upper leg and AB Connor needing to come off the pitch for several minute for treatment to a cut wrist. Lochcarron’s Calum Finlayson saw a good shot saved by Jamie Gannon after 16 minutes. Dougie Rankin and Iain Morrison linked up well after 27 minutes when Rankin’s ball into the D was scrambled away for a corner. Allan MacKinnon put the ball just past the post when the corner was played across goal. Lochcarron took the lead on 33 minutes when Iain MacKenzie burst down the left and crossed for Kenny Ross to sweep the ball into the net. Skye had a let-off after 37 minutes when Calum Finlayson drifted into space on the left and wasn’t picked up. He fired a good shot goalwards but Jamie Gannon made an equally impressive save in the air. The Skye forwards linked up well again on 43 minutes. Dougie Rankin played the ball forward from midfield, Iain Morrison played in Danny Morrison who saw his shot saved by Lochcarron keeper Michael MacMillan at the expense of a corner. Another good Skye move a minute later aw Kerr Gibb play the ball down the left to Danny Morrison who’s cross found Kenny Campbell charging in on goal. However the move was halted when Campbell was tripped just outside the D. Kenny Campbell knocked the free hit to Somhairle MacDonald but his shot was blocked and the first half ended 1-0 in favour of the home side. Aonghas MacDonald made a couple of positional changes at the break with Kenny Campbell moving to full centre and Dougie Rankin pushing up the field to full forward. Finlay Stark brought another good stop from Jamie Gannon after 51 minutes when he saved with his feet following a free hit from the left. Skye’s Steven Morrison had been struggling with a muscle problem in his leg since the opening minute and he was forced to come off on 52 minutes to be replaced by Donnie Campbell. AB Connor took over at full back, Donnie Campbell went left wing centre and Kerr Gibb dropped back to wing back. Finlay Stark threatened again on 54 minutes when he burst forward but his shot went over the bar. Allan MacKinnon created a chance for Danny Morrison after 57 minutes and his shot whistled wide of the MacMillan’s right post. Good play from Iain Morrison on 64 minutes found Dougie Rankin in space of the left and MacMillan saved his shot and turned the ball away for a corner. Somhairle MacDonald slipped the ball to Donnie Campbell on 66 minutes and his cross into the middle gave Allan MacKinnon a half chance but his shot was blocked and cleared for a corner. Iain MacKenzie gave Kenny Ross a great opportunity to make it 2-0 on 74 minutes when he crossed from the left but the Scotland international assistant manager missed his shot. Lochcarron continued to press and Gannon made a brilliant save from Mark Sproule a minute later. AB Connor had to succumb to his wrist injury on 76 minutes and Neil MacVicar came on in his place. A couple of minutes later, Stewart Grant replaced Allan MacKinnon. Lochcarron substitute Gregor Cushnie brought another good save from Gannon 5 minutes from the end with the ball again cleared for a corner. With a minute remaining, a Stewart Grant shy found Danny Morrison but his shot rose just over the bar. Top performers for Lochcarron were Angus MacKay who was excellent at buckshee back and Mark Sproule who turned in a great performance at full centre. With the exception of Jamie Gannon, there were few stand-outs in what was a frustrating evening for Skye. Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), (Donnie Campbell), AB Connor, (Neil MacVicar), Allan MacLeod, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Somhairle MacDonald, Dougie Rankin, Kerr Gibb, Kenny Campbell, Allan MacKinnon, (Stewart Grant), Iain Morrison, Danny Morrison sub Aonghas MacDonald, (not used) Match Referee – Donnie MacRae |