Memory Lane – Season 1989 / 90 – Part 15. | |
07 April 2010 North Division 1 Skye Camanachd 4 Lovat 1.
To say that this match took place in the shinty worst conditions in Portree in living memory would be no exaggeration as Skye and Lovat battled heavy rain, a strong wind and atrocious underfoot conditions in front of a crowd that was less than sparse.
The most important thing for Skye was that 2 valuable points kept them in touch with Kingussie at the top of the table.
Whilst Skye had the better of the opening exchanges, some poor finishing, resolute defending from the visitors and some expert goalkeeping from Lovat’s Ally MacRae kept the match goalless.
Caley MacLean and Andy MacLean both went close before MacRae did well to get his foot to a Peter Gordon piledriver.
Willie Cowie was leading the Lovat defence a merry dance which all proved too much for John Cumming who was sent off on 30 minutes by referee Billy MacLaughlin for lashing out at his opponent.
Being a man short compounded Lovat’s problems but their goal continued to lead a charmed life.
John MacRae attempted to dribble the ball goalwards – no mean feat in the heavy mud - and set up a chance for Willie MacKinnon but the ball was cleared.
Ally MacRae stopped a MacKinnon effort on his goal line on 43 minutes but just when it look as if the sides would go into the break all square, Skye took the lead. It was Peter Gordon who made the vital break-through as he turned his marker and crashed an unstoppable shoulder high shot into the net.
The second half started with a further downpour which was just what the pitch didn’t need. However Skye continued to press and a close range Willie Cowie effort made it 2-0.
Cowie shot on target again in 54 minutes and although MacRae stopped his effort, Peter Gordon pounced on the rebound to score his second and give Skye a 3-0 lead.
Skye manager Ross Cowie replaced Willie MacKinnon with Calum Murchison with the veteran better suited to the worsening underfoot conditions and he immediately joined the action sending a 30 yard shot just over the bar.
Murchison continued to cause havoc in the Lovat defence and he was relishing battle after battle for the ball whilst ankle deep in mud. He got his reward on 68 minutes when he bundled the ball over the line following a goalmouth stramash.
Lovat’s David Michie pulled a goal back to make it 4-1 on 76 minutes but Skye comfortably held out for the remainder of the game.
This match will probably be best remember for a cartoon which later appeared depicting Skye keeper John “Bodach” MacKenzie clearing the ball in the mud and surface water whilst also covering the onrushing Lovat forward in muck.
Next up for Skye is Newtonmore in Portree – if the pitch recovers! |