Late MacKinnon Goal Gives Skye Victory - Skye Camanachd 3 Newtonmore 2 | |
18 March 2013 A Paul MacKinnon goal just 3 minutes from time gave Skye Camanachd an impressive 3-2 victory over Newtonmore in their Marine Harvest North Division 2 meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 16 March 2013. Skye Camanachd second team manager Murdo Morrison named a 17 man squad for what was his last match in charge as work commitments take him south of the border. 2008 Balliemore Cup winner Kenny Campbell was back in the Skye squad after a period out in Australia. He started at wing centre. Jamie Gannon was back in goal whilst Neil John Campbell and Alan Palmer all also made their first appearances of the season. Defender Jack Latton returned after injury and started on the bench. Newtonmore had made an impressive start to the season. They had beaten Glenurquhart and Lovat in their opening two games, scoring twelve goals without reply. They were without Callum Stewart and Cameron Binnie for this 2.30pm throw up. Skye threatened early on when a shot from John Angus MacInnes went just past JD MacLeod’s left post following a corner on the left. Newtonmore were pinned back in the early stage so co-managers Cammy MacDonald and Glen Tonkin made a switch. They brought Conor Jones back from full forward to buckshee back to replace Martin Ivil who went to wing back with Cameron MacNiven moving forward into the attack. This settled ‘More down and Martin Hall played a dangerous ball into the Skye goal area from a free-hit but Neil John Campbell cleared. David Grant was injured in the melee. Mark MacDonald got on the end of the resultant corner and he hit a well struck shot into the Skye net to make it 1-0 with 10 minutes played. Alan Palmer played a free-hit to Kenny Campbell after 15 minutes but his shot rose over the bar. Paul MacKinnon released the ball to John Angus MacInnes 10 minutes later and MacInnes’ shot fizzed across goal. The remainder of the half was end to end and the visitors took a 1-0 win into the break. Skye made a strong start to the second half and they levelled on 47 minutes. Home substitute Ally “Burgers” MacLeod, who replaced Angie MacDonald in the first half, broke free on the right. He played the ball into the goal area and Alan Palmer got there ahead of keeper JD MacLeod to slip the ball into the net to make it 1-1. Newtonmore went ahead again on 62 minutes although the goal had a touch of fortune about it. Martin Hall drove the ball forward but it took a deflection off a Skye caman and ended up in the back of the net. Angie MacDonald returned to the action and he drew Skye level again on 77 minutes. He collected a Neil John Campbell free-hit around 25 yards from goal before turning and sending an early strike into the net. Both sides had chances before the end but their respective defences held out. The winning goal came just 3 minutes from time. Skye won a free-hit on the right and Kenny Campbell found Paul MacKinnon racing into the D and MacKinnon fought off the challenges of full back Owen Fraser and keeper JD MacLeod to bundle the ball into the net to make it 3-2. Skye had several very good performers and young DJ Gilpin was superb in defence and was arguably the best player on the park. Neil John Campbell was also excellent whilst Kenny Campbell is only a game or two away from a return to the first team. To beat the reigning champions gives whoever takes over from Murdo Morrison a great deal to build on. Newtonmore were unfortunate not to take something for the game and Owen Fraser and Conor Jones were big performers for them. Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, David Grant (captain), DJ Gilpin, Magnus Burd, Neil John Campbell, Chris MacLennan, Stewart Grant, Kenny Campbell, Paul MacKinnon, John Angus MacInnes, Alan Palmer, Angus MacDonald, subs Ally “Burgers” MacLeod, John MacKenzie, Iain MacLellan, David MacInnes, Jack Latton Newtonmore from; Match Referee – Rab MacAskill The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |