Glenurquhart 2 Skye Camanachd 3 | |
25 April 2017 The Skye Camanachd second team notched their first league win of the season, beating the Glenurquhart second team 3-2 in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 meeting at Blairbeg on Saturday 22 April 2017. Skye Camanachd second team manager Kenny MacLeod replaced Ross Graham, Angus MacDonald and Ross Nicolson with Iain MacLellan, David Grant and Calum Gibb from the squad that lost 2-1 to the Newtonmore second team in the league a week earlier. Skye opened well and looked dangerous every time they went forward. The pressure paid off on 6 minutes when a nice move involving the visiting forwards ended with Ross Gordon finding Connor Gilpin around the penalty spot and Gilpin hit a rocket shot, high into the net to make it 1-0. The Skye forwards looked in the mood and Ross Gordon, Connor Gilpin and Martin Pringle all tested Glenurquhart keeper Cameron MacLennan. Skye increased their lead on 20 minutes, punishing a mistake in the Glen defence and Ross Gordon struck a low, 15 yard shot into the keeper’s bottom right corner of the net. Goalie MacLennan then made two great saves to deny Ross Gordon and Connor Gilpin. However on 35 minutes, the Glen punished some lacklustre play in the Skye centre line a neat build up move culminated in a fine Calum Miller strike which made it 2-1. The Glen now had the ascendancy and it took some excellent Skye defending to keep their forwards at bay. The half time whistle came at the right time for Skye but at the wrong time for a Glen side which had their tails up. Skye made a strong start to the second period but they lost full centre Iain Murray with an arm injury and John Angus MacInnes came on in his place. Glenurquhart were given a golden chance to level the match when the goal judge spotted a kick by David Grant inside the D and referee Brian MacKay pointed to the penalty spot. David MacLennan converted the spot hit to make it was 2-2 with 55 minutes played. Young Skye defender James Morrison was on the receiving end of a couple of heavy challenges from the more experienced Glen forwards and he eventually had to be replaced. Sam MacPhee came on a wing centre and Calum Gibb moved to wing back. The rejigged Skye team settled quickly and they started supplying ball for the forwards once more. Another incisive move involving Connor Gilpin, Martin Pringle and Ross Gordon saw Gordon volley the ball into the corner of the net with 65 minutes played. Skye had a couple of more chances to put the game to bed but they lost their way a bit during the final 15 minutes. However they stayed solid defensively to secure the 3-2 win. The Skye defence shone with David Grant excellent at full back, as was 15 year old James Morrison before he was withdrawn. Calum Gibb slotted in nicely at the back in Morrison’s place. Young Skye forwards Ross Gordon, Connor Gilpin and Martin Pringle caused the Glen defence problems all afternoon. The Skye seconds don’t have a fixture this coming Saturday and their next scheduled match is a home league derby with the Kinlochshiel seconds on Saturday 6 May 2017. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison (captain); David Grant, James Morrison, DJ Gilpin, Allan MacLeod; David MacInnes, Iain Murray, Calum Gibb; Connor Gilpin, Martin Pringle, Iain MacLellan, Ross Gordon; subs John Angus MacInnes, Sam MacPhee, Stewart Taylor, Kenny MacLeod Match Referee – Brian MacKay |