Skye Camanachd 2 Inverness 2. | |
09 August 2010 Skye Camanachd moved up to fifth place in Marine Harvest North Division 1 following their 2-2 draw with Inverness at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 7 August 2010. First team manager Aonghas MacDonald made 2 changes to his starting line-up from the draw with Kilmallie the previous week. Somhairle MacDonald and Iain Nicolson started in attack in place of Allan MacLeod who dropped to the bench and Danny Morrison who was on holiday. It was all change on the Skye bench where Donnie Campbell returned from injury to join Allan MacLeod, Aonghas MacDonald and AB Connor. Last week’s replacements Stewart Grant, Martin Bruce and Shaun Hedley were on second team duty and Peter Gordon dropped out of the squad. Skye were also without the services of Kerr Gibb who failed a fitness test, Alan Palmer who is working abroad and longer term absentee Jamie MacDonald. Some solid defending from Andrew Banks helped thwart a couple of early visiting attacks. Skye came close to taking the lead on 5 minutes. Somhairle MacDonald collected a pass from his brother Gilleasbuig MacDonald and found Iain Nicolson but his shot at goal was saved by Inverness keeper Adam MacMaster. Iain Morrison collected the rebound and cut the ball back across the danger area but there were no takers. Allan MacKinnon collected the loose ball and neatly slipped his marker Daniel Palombo to play in Iain Nicolson but his shot flew wide of target. However Iain Nicolson was beginning to find his range and on 7 minutes, he collected a ball from Neil MacVicar on the Skye right and he made no mistake as he crashed a great shot past MacMaster. Nicolson hit the side net a couple of minutes later after being set up by Allan MacKinnon. Inverness threatened on 12 minutes when Sandy Tulloch drifted into the area to meet a corner from the left but he couldn’t finish. Skye had a scare on 19 minutes when Graeme MacMillan ghosted in at the back post to meet a long ball from the right which looked to be running out of play but his shot went across the face of the goal. Neil MacVicar played the ball to Kenny Campbell on 29 minutes and Campbell found Somhairle MacDonald whose shot came off keeper MacMaster. Iain Morrison and Somhairle MacDonald combined on 32 minutes and MacDonald raced in on goal but the danger was cleared. The Skye forwards combined on 33 minutes but Iain Nicolson’s shot was blocked by keeper MacMaster. Iain Nicolson fired past the post 2 minutes into the second half after he was set up by Allan MacKinnon and Somhairle MacDonald. Skye suffered a blow on 57 minutes when buckshee back Shockie MacLennan took unwell and was replaced by Allan MacLeod. Allan MacKinnon shot narrowly wide from a Kenny Campbell free hit a couple of minutes later. Nice play from Somhairle MacDonald on the hour mark resulted in a chance for Allan MacKinnon but he was unable to finish. A minute later, Skye keeper Jamie Gannon had to look lively to save with his feet from Fraser Heath. A Kenny Campbell run on 62 minutes saw the ball played wide to Iain Morrison but he couldn’t find the target. A fantastic run out of defence and shot from Allan MacLeod on 66 had the home support cheering and the cheer got louder when Somhairle MacDonald nipped in to confidently tuck the rebound into the net to put Skye 2-0 up. However from the restart, David Higham drifted a 40 yard shot goalwards which evaded Skye keeper Jamie Gannon and nestled in the roof of the net to reduce Skye’s advantage. Skye lost a second defender on 69 minutes when captain Steven Morrison had to leave the field after suffering a blow to his foot. Donnie Campbell came on in his place and took up the wing centre position with Neil MacVicar going to wing back and John Moir to full back. Skye defender Andrew Banks was spoken to by referee Donnie MacRae for an off the ball scuffle on 73 minutes. Iain Morrison and Allan MacKinnon combined on 77 minutes but the danger was cleared at the expense of a shy. A scramble in front of the Inverness goal on 81 minutes saw chances for both Somhairle MacDonald and Allan MacKinnon before MacDonald saw a second attempt hitting the post. A minute later Somhairle MacDonald and Donnie Campbell combined before MacDonald sent a great backhand shot just over the junction between post and bar as Skye looked to seal the points. Craig Nicholson was booked by referee Donnie MacRae on 83 minutes for a petty foul on Iain Morrison which left the Skye youngster with a bruised arm. A good passing move involving Allan MacKinnon, Iain Nicolson and Somhairle MacDonald saw the latter shoot across goal. Then with just 3 minutes remaining, Inverness full forward Liam Girvan collected a ball played up the park, turned, and shot past Gannon to win Inverness a share of the points. Skye player / manager Aonghas MacDonald replaced Allan MacKinnon in a last throw of the dice but the closest the home side went was an Iain Morrison effort from a corner. Indeed the Skye defence had to scramble the ball clear for a corner following one last Inverness attack. It was a scrappy match but these are just the sort of games where Skye should pick up both points. This result has left the Islanders with too much to do to top the table at the end of the season although their preseason target of a top 3 finish is still a possibility. Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), (Donnie Campbell), John Moir, Andrew Banks, Shockie MacLennan, (Allan MacLeod), Neil MacVicar, Kenny Campbell, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Somhairle MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon, (Aonghas MacDonald), Iain Morrison, Iain Nicolson sub AB Connor not used Match Referee – Donald MacRae The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |