Caberfeidh 3 Skye Camanachd 4 | |
01 October 2018 Skye Camanachd kept their slim survival chances alive when they came from two goals down to beat Caberfeidh 4-3 in their relegation battle at Castle Leod on Saturday 29 September 2018. With Glenurquhart already consigned to life in the Marine Harvest National Division next season, Caberfeidh went into the match four points ahead of Skye with both teams having two matches remaining. However Caberfeidh’s goal difference was such that it would take a huge goal difference swing from this game and Caberfeidh’s visit to Kinlochshiel and Skye’s trip to Oban Camanachd in their final matches of the season, to give the Islanders any hope of beating the drop. Caberfeidh’s Liam Symonds was suspended whilst Ally MacLennan and Martin MacDonald were also missing. Scott MacLachlan started with Jack Pilcher recovering from injury to start on the bench. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod remained unavailable so Ryan Morrison continued to deputise. Iain Nicolson and Jordan Murchison were also missing and Iain MacLellan and Daniel Morrison started on the bench. Skye made a good start to the game and home goalie Ewan Pilcher had to be on his toes to keep the match goalless. Skye had to make an early change as Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod came off with a chest muscle injury with Iain MacLellan taking over. Caberfeidh settled though and they came more into the match with Kevin Bartlett having a couple of chances before giving the hosts a 25 minute lead with a fierce drive from wide on the right. There was more cheer for the home support when Ruaraidh MacLeman added a second just a couple of minutes later. Skye goalie Ryan Morrison blocked an initial shot but MacLeman was in the right place to turn the rebound home from close in. Skye, perhaps crucially, pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time. Ewan Pilcher made a diving save to keep out Ruaraidh MacLeod’s effort and James Pringle held off Ben MacDonald and flicked the rebound into the net to make it 2-1 at the break. Skye went on to turn the match on its head with three goals in a devastating eight-minute spell early in the second half. The goal came from a Skye hit-in. James Pringle took a blow to the ankle as he held off his marker which allowed Will Cowie to take a touch. Cowie’s ball broke out to Ruaraidh MacLeod around 20 yards out and he hammered the ball home on the half-volley to make it 2-2 with 51 minutes gone. Skye took the lead for the first time on 54 minutes. Kenny Campbell played the ball down the wing and Daniel Morrison, who had come on for Martin Pringle at half-time, found Will Cowie with a reverse pass and Cowie had time to send a bouncing shot by the keeper to make it 3-2. It was pretty much the final act for Skye’s Daniel Morrison who was forced off with a suspected broken thumb. Will Cowie was again involved in Skye’s fourth goal on 59 minutes as his played the ball down on the keeper, triggering a goalmouth scramble, and James Pringle stayed calm to slot the ball home to make it 4-2. Skye looked rampant and Ewan Pilcher prevented them adding to their tally. Kevin Bartlett gave Cabers hope with his second goal on 64 minutes, turning the ball home to make it 4-3. Cabers were given a chance to draw level when referee Graham Cameron pointed to the penalty spot after a Skye player fell on the ground during a scramble inside the D. Kevin Bartlett took responsibility but Skye keeper saved his spot-hit, parrying the ball just above his head with his caman. However a retake was ordered after goal judge Willie Cameron ruled the keeper had stepped off his line early, before Bartlett had struck the ball. Bartlett’s second attempt went in pretty much in the same direction but Morrison was again equal, saving above his head. The ball bounced out to Blair Morrison but the Skye keeper got his foot to his names-sake’s strike, down near the bottom corner of the goal, before sending the ball out for a Caberfeidh hit-in. Caberfeidh manager Jodi Gorski saw his side make a terrific start to the season and although they have only picked up three league points since the end of June, their superior goal difference – 15 better off than Skye – will surely see them over the line. Caberfeidh’s final fixture is at Kinlochshiel in a fortnight whilst Skye finish their season against Oban Camanachd at Mossfield on Saturday. Caberfeidh from: Ewan Pilcher; Scott MacLachlan, Ben MacDonald, Connor MacGregor, Ryan MacKay, Jamie MacKintosh; Blair Morrison, Callum MacKinnon; Craig Morrison, Ruaraidh MacLeman, Kevin Bartlett, Jamie Matheson; subs Jack Pilcher, James MacLeod, Graham MacGregor Skye Camanachd from; Ryan Morrison; Jamie Gillies, Connor Gilpin, James Morrison, John Gillies; Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Kenneth Campbell, Stewart Grant; James Pringle, Martin Pringle, Ruaraidh MacLeod, Will Cowie; subs Iain MacLellan, Daniel Morrison Match Referee – Graham Cameron Scorers Caberfeidh Kevin Bartlett (25, 64) Ruaraidh MacLeman (27) Skye Camanachd James Pringle (45, 59) Ruaraidh MacLeod (51) Will Cowie (54) |