Skye Camanachd 3 Strathglass 1. | |
25 June 2011 Skye Camanachd beat Strathglass 3-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 meeting on Saturday 18 June 2011. Skye boss Aonghas made five changes to the squad which lost to Beauly last weekend. There were starting places for the returning Shockie MacLennan and Danny Morrison whilst AB Connor, John Moir and Iain MacLellan came into the squad and took a place on the bench. Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison and Iain Grant were all playing for the Skye Camanachd U17 side against Lochaber U17 in the MacTavish Juvenile Cup Final. Work commitments ruled out Iain Murray whilst Willie MacRae dropped out of the squad. Strathglass manager Brian MacKay made six changes to the squad which lost to Kinlochshiel the previous week. Colin Chapman returned from suspension and he started in place of Rhu MacKay who dropped onto the bench. Gordon Fraser was missing so Ross Balharry moved from wing centre to defence. Robbie Stokes was also missing from the middle of the park. Balharry and Stokes were replaced in midfield by Alastair Rothe and Mark MacLeod. Lawrence Jones came into the attack in place of Josh Fraser. Garry Reid and Adam Redpath were subs last week and their places were taken by Adam Todd and player / manager MacKay. Strathglass attacked Skye from the throw up and home keeper Michael Nicolson had to spread himself to deny Robert Geddes. The home side, again playing the two-two formation in attack, created a good opening on 3 minutes. Alan Palmer’s cross from the left found Somhairle MacDonald on the right and his shot came off keeper Stevie McLaughlin’s left post. Skye took the lead after 7 minutes when the visiting defence gave Somhairle MacDonald time to tee up his shot and he crashed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0. A good run and shot from Iain Morrison on 12 minutes deserved a goal as Skye continued to press. A head knock to Alastair Rothe left the Strathglass player requiring treatment. Skye doubled their lead on 15 minutes. Allan MacKinnon played a short corner to Alan Palmer and he set up Somhairle MacDonald who blasted the ball into the net to make it 2-0. A superb drive from Somhairle MacDonald came off the junction between post and bar as Skye threatened to run riot. Skye captain Somhairle MacDonald completed his hat-trick on 29 minutes to make it 3-0. A good shot from distance from Alan Palmer was saved by Stevie McLaughlin but MacDonald was first to react and he prodded the ball into the back of the net. A direct run and shot from Iain Morrison after 36 minutes brought out a super save from Stevie McLaughlin and Somhairle MacDonald was penalised for heading the rebound. -Somhairle MacDonald went close a minute later when his shot whistled past the post. McLaughlin saved well from Kerr Gibb after 39 minutes as Skye continued to press. Somhairle MacDonald forced another good save from McLaughlin with his hand after 43 minutes. McLaughlin again denied Skye just before the break when he made a good stop from Skye substitute AB Connor. Skye made a sluggish start to the start of the second half and Strathglass began to come back into the game with Darren Reid striking a good shot into the side-netting on 48 minutes. Skye responded and Somhairle MacDonald was unable to get enough power in his shot a minute later and the ball was cleared for a corner by keeper McLaughlin. Skye goalie Michael Nicolson did well to save an Ally Rothe shot with his legs from a corner on 51 minutes. Michael Nicolson made another great save, this time with his hand, from a Robert Geddes shot after he was set up by Ally Rothe from a Darren Reid shy a couple of minutes later. Colin Chapman had to leave the field after being caught on the elbow by a Shockie MacLennan swing on 57 minutes. Rhu MacKay came on in his place. A great recover tackle from Donald Fraser saved Strathglass on 61 minutes when he denied Somhairle MacDonald after a surging Gilleasbuig MacDonald run. Robert Geddes made a good run on 63 minutes after he lost his marker. Michael Nicolson blocked Geddes’ shot with his body and Shockie MacLennan made a goal-saving challenge to clear the rebound as Strathglass seemed sure to score. Strathglass had a good opportunity when they were awarded a free hit on the edge on the D on 67 minutes for a kick by Shockie MacLennan but the Skye defence stood firm to clear the danger. Stevie McLaughlin stopped a good Iain Morrison shot from around the penalty spot on 69 minutes after good set-up play from Iain MacLellan. Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald pushed Iain Nicolson into the attack on 74 minutes with John Moir coming on in defence. However the new Skye defence was caught static a minute later when a long clearance from Strathglass full back Donald Fraser found Robert Geddes and he played a neat ball to Mark MacLeod who darted through the middle of the Skye defence. MacLeod managed to knock the ball around keeper Nicolson before rolling it into the net to make it 3-1. Referee Jock Matheson had some sorting out to do when AB Connor and Adam Todd clashed in the midfield area on 80 minutes. There referee let both players away with a stern lecture and awarded Skye a free hit for Todd’s initial challenge. Stevie McLaughlin saved with his feet from Alan Palmer following a good cross from Iain Morrison on the Skye right on 81 minutes. Good play from Alan MacKinnon made enough space for himself to fire goalwards on 88 minutes and his shot rose just over the bar. A great run down the Skye left from Somhairle MacDonald a minute later left two Strathglass defenders in his wake but neither Iain Morrison nor Iain Nicolson could get on the end of the cross. Skye finished strongly but they were unable to add to their tally and so they ran out 3-1 winners. The win lifts Skye into fourth place in the league although they have played more games than most of their rivals. The Islanders were well served by Iain Morrison, especially in the first half and Neil MacVicar continues to impress and full back. Allan MacKinnon also caught the eye as did hat-trick hero Somhairle MacDonald. Best for Strathglass were keeper Stevie McLaughlin and defenders Donald Fraser and George Phimmister. Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Neil MacVicar, Andrew Banks, Shockie MacLennan, Iain Nicolson, Allan MacKinnon, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, Iain Morrison, Danny Morrison, Somhairle MacDonald (captain), Alan Palmer subs AB Connor, John Moir and Iain MacLellan Aonghas MacDonald Strathglass from; Stevie McLaughlin, Donald Fraser, George Phimmister, Colin Chapman, Ross Balharry, Ally MacAdam, Alastair Rothe, Mark MacLeod, Darren Reid, Ewan Wotherspoon, Lawrence Jones, Robert Geddes subs Rhu MacKay, Adam Todd, Brian MacKay Match Referee – Jock Matheson The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |