Beauly 1 Skye Camanachd 0 - UPDATED! | |
13 August 2013 Skye Camanachd lost 1-0 to Beauly in their final Marine Harvest North Division 1 match which took place at Braeview Park on Saturday 10 August 2013. This was Skye’s final match of the season and it was a must win game for the Islanders as they battle it out with Caberfeidh to see who finishes in third place in the league. Skye first team manager Willie MacRae remained without injured duo Danny Morrison and Darryl Macintosh. Kenny MacLeod and Shockie MacLennan were also missing as was Neil MacVicar. However Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kenny Campbell and Chris MacLennan were all back after missing the 1-0 defeat to Caberfeidh a fortnight ago. There was a place on the bench for second team captain David Grant who was available after suspension. Beauly were strong opposition and they had, up until recently, been contesting trophies on three fronts but defeats to Kyles Athletic, Bute and Kilmallie ended their progress in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup, the Balliemore Cup and Marine Harvest North Division 1. Beauly co-managers Stephen MacLean and Iain Morrison had utility player David Groat available after he served a one match ban for his red card in the Balliemore Cup Final but full back Scott MacLeod was still injured so Conor Cormack took up his role. Skye had a strong claim for an early penalty after Chris MacLennan seemed to be brought down by home keeper MacKay Murray after he had been put clean through on goal by Gilleasbuig MacDonald but referee Billy Wotherspoon waved away their appeals. MacLennan had to temporarily leave the field for treatment so Iain MacLellan came on his place. Skye keeper Jamie Gannon seemed to injure his groin after leaping to cover a Beauly shot which rose just over the bar. Skye had the better of the first half opportunities but their recent habit of failing to convert in front of goal continued. The only goal of the game came 3 minutes into the second half when a ball into the Skye goal area took a wicked bounce and Marc MacLachlan reacted first to control the ball before producing a fine finish to beat Jamie Gannon, who seemed hampered by his injury, to give Beauly a 1-0 lead. Skye keeper Jamie Gannon finally had to concede to injury so David Grant came on in his place to become the sixth keeper – after Jamie Gannon, Ross Graham, Aonghas MacDonald, Michael Nicolson and Iain MacLeod – to represent the Skye first or second teams this season. David Grant did well to palm a Sean Stewart shot around the post in what was a game of few efforts on goal. Beauly switched Dougie Blaine to full back to pick up the threat caused by Gilleasbuig MacDonald and the Islanders had several set piece opportunities which they were unable to turn into an equalising goal. Kenny Campbell played Chris MacLennan in for Skye but he couldn’t get a shot on target. Iain MacLellan came on for Chris MacLennan for Skye with 8 minutes remaining. The final whistle left Skye frustrated and they must now watch how Caberfeidh finish the season. Sean Stewart and Conor Cormack were best for Beauly. Ally MacDonald was Skye’s top performer and his performances in recent weeks seem to show that he is relishing the wing centre role. Third place Skye have now completed their league programme and they hold a one point advantage over fourth place Caberfeidh who have two games to go – away to Beauly and at home to Strathglass. Skye have just picked up three out of their last fourteen points and that looks like costing them as the team which finishes third will claim a place in shinty’s new national second tier which comes into effect next season. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), Iain Murray, DJ Gilpin, Allan MacKinnon, Kenny Campbell, Chris Rose, Ally MacDonald, Jordan Murchison, Chris MacLennan, Will Cowie, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, subs David Grant, Iain MacLellan Match Referee - Billy Wotherspoon |