Glenorchy 2 Skye Camanachd 6 | |
07 May 2014 Skye Camanachd are through to the last sixteen of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup following their first round 6-2 win over Glenorchy at Mart Park, Dalmally on Saturday 3 May 2014. Skye Camanachd John MacLeod made three changes to the squad which beat Kingussie 1-0 in the league at the Dell the previous weekend. Neil MacVicar, David Grant and Aonghas MacDonald all returned to the squad. However Steven Morrison was on holiday whilst Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Iain MacLellan missed out. Iain Murray had a hand injury and Paul MacKinnon was unavailable. David Grant started in defence with Neil MacVicar slotting-in in place full back Steven Morrison. Glenorchy play in the Marine Harvest National Division where they had already beaten Bute this season. They were without John McNulty for this 3pm throw up as he served a one match suspension for a points accumulation. Skye did not let the long journey south phase them and they started well on what was a bumpy pitch. The visitors took the lead in the opening minute when a rocket shot from Will Cowie from 20 yards out cannoned into the net via the post. Danny Morrison came close to making it 2-0 a minute later when he pushed the ball just wide of target with Glenorchy keeper Andrew Smith advancing from his line to narrow the angle. Glenorchy settled though and they equalised on 7 minutes through Grant MacPherson. Skye continued to press in an attempt to regain the advantage and the Islanders centre line was beginning to get a grip of the midfield area. Skye regained the lead on 20 minutes when Shockie MacLennan again proved his worth in the forward line after he turned and shot into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards to make it 2-1. Skye keeper Jamie Gannon had to look lively to volley the ball away from the onrushing Glenorchy forwards on the half hour point. Skye went 3-1 to the good on 40 minutes when Kenny Campbell found some space and he fired the ball home from 15 yards. Glenorchy pulled a goal back through Findlay Ross just a couple of minutes later when he fired a low shot past Jamie Gannon to make it 3-2 at the break. Skye, and Shockie MacLennan in particular, made a good start to the second half. MacLennan saw a shot saved by keeper Smith on 46 minutes and a couple of minutes later, the same player drove the ball past the post. Islanders’ manager John MacLeod made some changes on 50 minutes with Kenny MacLeod replacing Jordan Murchison in the forward line whilst Ally "Spod" MacLeod came on for David Grant in defence. Will Cowie came within a whisker of extending Skye’s lead when he shot narrowly past 5 minutes later. Glenorchy keeper Andrew Smith pulled off a fantastic save with his stick from Shockie MacLennan on 57 minutes and the personal dual between the two continued a couple of minutes later when Smith again denied MacLennan. Skye seemed the more likely to score next but it took a fantastic 20 yard strike from Allan MacKinnon on the hour to beat Smith and make it 4-2 with the keeper helpless. Skye continued to take the game to Glenorchy but they weren’t able to add to their tally until 81 minutes. The goal was a good solo effort from Shockie MacLennan and he pushed the ball home for his second goal of the match to make it 5-2. Skye lost defender Chris Rose on 84 minutes with nasty head cut which required hospital attention. The subsequent reshuffle saw Shockie MacLennan drop back to defence and Jordan Murchison re-joined the contest in the forward line. Aonghas MacDonald replaced Danny Morrison on 85 minutes and he was instantly unlucky not to score. Substitute Kenny MacLeod rounded off a good day’s work from the Skye forwards when he blasted the ball into the net a couple of minutes from time to make it 6-2. Indeed Jordan Murchison was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet following a super solo run a minute from time. He beat two defenders and keeper Smith but was just unable to find the finishing touch. Ally MacDonald continues to impress in defence for Skye and, along-side Neil MacVicar, they provided a solid barrier against any Glenorchy threat. Allan MacKinnon was outstanding in the centre line, ably assisted by Gibbs MacDonald and Kenny Campbell whilst Shockie MacLennan continues to cause problems for opposition defences alongside Danny Morrison and Will Cowie. Next up for Skye is a Balliemore Cup quarter final meeting with Strathglass at Cannich. Glenorchy from; Andrew Smith; Duncan MacDougall, Scott MacKillop, Fulton Ronald, Alex MacPherson; Kieran Gallagher, Grant MacPherson, Scott Livingstone; Conor Sartain, Duncan Smith, Kieran McKay, Findlay Ross; subs Ewen Murray, Stephen Turner, Iain Livingstone, Graham MacKechnie, Alan MacKechnie Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon; Neil MacVicar, Ally MacDonald, David Grant, Chris Rose; Allan MacKinnon, Kenny Campbell, Gilleasbuig MacDonald (captain); Will Cowie, Jordan Murchison, Danny Morrison, Shockie MacLennan; subs Kenny MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Aonghas MacDonald Match Referee – John MacGregor |