Fort William 3 Skye Camanachd 3 | |
07 March 2017 The Skye Camanachd second team opened their season with a 3-3 draw against the Fort William second team in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 match at An Aird on Saturday 4 March 2017. Fort William were able to include Jack Fraser in their side for this 2.30pm throw up. However there was no Padraig McNeil as he moved to Inverness earlier in the week. Skye Camanachd second team manager Kenny MacLeod was without Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod who is on first team duty and, in a late change, Ruaraidh MacLeod also joined the seniors with Stewart Grant moving in the opposite direction. It was an even start to the game but the home side passed up a glorious chance to go in front but a shot from just outside the D went well wide of target. It was a real let off for Skye. The Islanders started to gain control in the midfield, with Calum Gibb particularly impressive. Skye had created a couple of chances before the ball fell to Ross Gordon in space around the penalty spot and he had time to compose himself before picking his spot and sending a low, hard shot into the corner of the net to make it 1-0. It took a string of top class saves from Astie Cameron in the home goal to restrict Skye to a single goal lead at half time. Skye remained on the front foot after the break and when a bouncing ball broke to Iain MacLellan on the left, around 25 yards from goal, he struck the ball so hard into the roof of the goal that it almost took the net off the goal frame. Skye wing forward Stewart Taylor took a blow to the knee and was replaced by Martin Pringle. Iain MacLellan got his second and Skye’s third on 58 minutes. There was a scramble inside the D and when the ball fell for MacLellan, he slipped it past keeper Cameron to make it 3-0. Skye looked comfortable and Ross Gordon hit the post before Astie Cameron again made some fantastic stops. Fort William were always dangerous on the counter attack and they pulled a goal back on 64 minutes with a special goal from young Victor Smith. It was a terrific finish from Smith who struck the ball with power from distance and it few into the net to make it 3-1. Fort William had their tails up and a Scott Henderson shot on 73 minutes gave Skye keeper Ryan Morrison no chance and visitor’s lead was cut to a single goal. Skye replaced Stewart Grant with Sam MacPhee on 75 minutes with Grant returning to the field with 5 minutes remaining in place of Calum Gibb. David Grant was also a late replacement for Iain MacLellan. To their credit, Fort William kept pushing in an effort to get back on level terms and they got their reward as the game moved in to stoppage time. Skye forward John Angus MacInnes was penalised for a foul inside the Fort William half. The ball was launched forward into the Skye goal area where Mark Fraser was afforded to much space and he fired a shot low into the corner of the net to make it 3-3. Skye may have dominated for large periods of the game but some clinical finishing from the home forwards earned them a point. Best for Fort William were Bobby MacMillan and Jack Fraser. Calum Gibb and Ross Gordon were tops for Skye whilst Sam MacPhee and Martin Pringle came off the substitutes’ bench to give good performances. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison (captain); Iain Murray, DJ Gilpin, Jamie Gillies, Allan MacLeod; Calum Gibb, David MacInnes, Stewart Grant; Iain MacLellan, Ross Gordon, Stewart Taylor, John Angus MacInnes; subs David Grant, Sam MacPhee, Martin Pringle, James Morrison Match Referee – Evan MacRae Scorers Fort William Victor Smith (64) Scott Henderson (73) Mark Fraser (90) Skye Camanachd Ross Gordon (25) Iain MacLellan (53, 58) |