Skye Camanachd lost 3-1 to Lochaber in Marine Harvest North Division 1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 16 April 2011.
Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald made five changes to his squad. Full back Steven Morrison and full forward Robbie MacDougall were both unavailable. Wing back AB Connor was also missing with a recurrence of the muscle injury which kept him out of action earlier in the season. Andrew Banks was the third defender to miss out from the team which played Strathglass last weekend. He was a late call-off after having stiches inserted to a leg cut. Aonghas MacDonald was also ruled out.
Defender John Moir made a welcome return to the squad and he started at wing back. Jordan Murchison came in at wing forward whilst there were starting places for Shaun Hedley and Danny Morrison who were substitutes last weekend. Ally MacDonald and Scott Martin were called up from the second team and they started on the bench. Shockie MacLennan was forced to return earlier than expected from an ankle problem but he was only fit enough to be the third substitute.
Lochaber manager Michael Delaney had the luxury of a full squad to choose from.
Skye full back Iain Murray was caught in the face by Lachlan Campbell’s caman in the opening minutes and referee Graham Cameron consulted with goal judge Brian Davis before ruling that the clash was accidental.
Lochaber’s Martin Johnstone was thwarted on 7 minutes thanks to the efforts of Skye defenders John Moir and Iain Murray.
A couple of minutes later Skye keeper Michael Nicolson did well to save a Lachlan Campbell shot and the ball was cleared for a corner.
Skye were under a lot of Lochaber pressure in the opening stages of the game but they did manage one break-away on 16 minutes when a 25 yard Somhairle MacDonald shot whistled wide.
Martin Johnstone went close again on 19 minutes from a Lochaber free-hit.
A minute later, Lachlan Campbell lost his marker and got onto a Ben Delaney ball from the right. Campbell gave Skye keeper Michael Nicolson no chance as he blasted the ball high into the net to put Lochaber 1-0 ahead.
Neil MacVicar, who was playing buckshee back for Skye, broke up a Lochaber attack on 23 minutes and the ball was played forward to Somhairle MacDonald on the Skye left. MacDonald dribbled past his marker and his shot across goal went past Lochaber keeper Calum MacDonald’s left post.
MacDonald had to race from his line on 25 minutes to flick the ball for a corner with two Skye forwards closing him down.
Lochaber returned on the attack a minute later and a ball into the goal area from Lochaber full centre Andrew MacDonald found wing centre Neil MacDonald who had burst forward but MacDonald’s shot hit the side-net.
Skye suffered a blow when wing forward Danny Morrison had to be replaced after suffering an accidental blow to his shoulder. Morrison tried to play on but he was clearly troubled by the injury and he was replaced by Ally MacDonald. A trip to Broadford Hospital later confirmed Morrison had suffered a dislocated shoulder and he will be missing for 6-8 weeks.
Lochaber looked sure to extend their lead on 37 minutes. Scottish international Shaun Nicolson burst clean through on goal but Michael Nicolson made a great save with his feet from Nicolson’s point-blank effort. The ball spun into the air above Nicolson and looked sure to drop over the goal line. However Nicolson did superbly well as he managed to knock the ball away to the safety at the expense of a corner. In doing this, Nicolson fell back into his net and toppled the whole goal over and there was a delay in play for the goals to be restored.
Lochaber wing forward Ben Delaney required treatment when he suffered a nick above his eye following a challenge with Shaun Hedley. However Delaney was bandaged up and he carried on.
Lochaber took full advantage of this additional time and they extended their lead after 47 minutes. Neil MacDonald played a shot in from distance, Skye keeper Nicolson saved the ball with his feet but Ben Delaney reacted before the Skye defenders and he flicked the ball past the keeper into the net to make it 2-0.
Whatever Aonghas MacDonald and Ross Cowie said to their players at the break, it seemed to have the desired effect and the Islanders pulled a goal back a minute into the second half. Skye won a corner on the right and the ball was played into the D by wing centre Darryl Macintosh where Somhairle MacDonald swooped in to fire the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Skye were forced to replace Iain Morrison after 49 minutes. Neil MacDonald accidently caught the Skye wing centre on the forehead with his caman and after treatment from Skye Camanachd medic Dr Wilson Banks, Morrison was dispatched to Broadford Hospital where later required 13 stiches to close the wound.
Skye enjoyed a period of sustained pressure but it was Lochaber who restored their two goal advantage on 58 minutes. Lachlan Campbell played in a ball from the right and Ben Delaney lost his marker and crashed the ball into the net off Skye keeper Nicolson to make it 3-1.
A good save from Michael Nicolson on the hour mark prevented Ben Delaney from completing his hat-trick.
Delaney went close again on 64 minutes when he ran short to meet a Neil MacDonald corner from the right in what looked like a move from the training ground. However Nicolson saved with his feet and cleared the ball for a corner.
Lochaber went close again after 72 minutes when Lachlan Campbell was afforded too much space from a Hugh Innes shy but he shot wide.
A minute later Lochaber boss Michael Delaney took off wing forward Martin Johnstone and put Scott Paterson on in his place.
Michael Nicolson did well to save a deflected Hugh Innes effort on 83 minutes and Iain Murray and Shaun Hedley combined to clear the danger.
Skye were unable to score the second goal which would have ensured a grand-stand finish, despite Jordan Murchison going close following one move, and it was Lochaber who returned to Spean Bridge with both points.
Stuart Callison made a late substitute appearance for Lochaber.
The Skye defence worked hard throughout with Iain Murray consistent at full back and Neil MacVicar playing well at buckshee back.
Lochaber were well served by Zandz Ferguson who mopped up several Skye moves from the buckshee back position, their centre-line of Neil MacDonald, Andrew MacDonald and Hugh Innes were particularly effective and forward Ben Delaney plays as if he believes he can score in every game.
Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Iain Murray, John Moir, Shaun Hedley, Neil MacVicar, Darryl Macintosh, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Iain Morrison, Alan Palmer, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Somhairle MacDonald (captain), subs Ally MacDonald, Scott Martin, Shockie MacLennan
Lochaber from; Calum MacDonald, James MacRae, Donald MacRae, Brian MacDonald, Zandz Ferguson, Neil MacDonald, Andrew MacDonald, Hugh Innes, Shaun Nicolson, Ben Delaney, Martin Johnstone, Lachlan Campbell subs Stuart Callison, Scott Patterson, Danny Delaney, Cahal Dignan
Referee – Graham Cameron
The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan