Oban Camanachd 4 Skye Camanachd 3 | |
08 October 2018 Skye Camanachd went into their Marine Harvest Premiership meeting with Oban Camanachd at Mossfield on Saturday 6 October 2018 knowing they needed a convincing win to boost their top flight survival chances. They battled hard throughout this 2.30pm throw up but it was Oban Camanachd who took the honours as a hat-trick from Scotland hopeful Andrew MacCuish helped them to a 4-3 win. Oban Camanachd’s Daniel Cameron suffered a knock in the defeat to Newtonmore two weeks earlier and he failed to recover in time for this one. Aidan MacIntyre and Scott MacKillop were both unavailable but Craig MacDougall was free of suspension and started on the bench whilst Keith MacMillan also returned. Connor Howe was missing and Gavin Stobbart was an outfield substitute. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod returned after missing the last two matches through work commitments which was fortuitous as second team goalie Ryan Morrison was on holiday. Kenny Campbell was unavailable whilst Daniel Morrison was out after suffering a broken thumb in the win over Caberfeidh a week earlier. Ross Gordon and Chris Rose were added to the travelling squad. Oban Camanachd took the lead on 14 minutes. A Scott MacMillan hit-in from the stand-side of the ground bounced to the back of the D where Willie Neilson caught the ball well, hammering it into the roof of the net from 12 yards out. Skye levelled on 21 minutes when James Pringle went on a 20 yard solo run right through on goal before tucking the ball home. The Islanders took the lead on the half-hour when Ruaraidh MacLeod and Daniel Sloss challenged for a ball in the air. Sloss slipped and MacLeod turned away and his 15 yard, head-high shot flew past Oban Camanachd keeper Cameron Sutherland on his right side. However Andrew MacCuish ensured the sides would go into the break on level terms when he steered a ball in the air, which had come off the keeper, into the net following a goalmouth scramble on 43 minutes. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod made good saves from Andrew MacCuish and Willie Neilson in the first half whilst Oban Camanachd custodian Cameron Sutherland did well to prevent Ruaraidh MacLeod from getting a second. Andrew MacCuish got his second goal of the game on 53 minutes when he ran onto a Daniel MacVicar pass to the right of the circle. MacCuish struck the ball on his right side from 15 yards on the angle, sending it into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2. With Scotland manager Garry Reid finalising his international squad, Andrew MacCuish picked a good time to complete his hat-trick with the goal coming from the penalty spot just 6 minutes later. MacCuish ran the ball into the D but was bumped over and referee David Mitchell pointed to the spot after consulting the goal judge. MacCuish struck the penalty low to the keeper’s left and although Iain MacLeod got a foot to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out. Skye sent out a quick response as Ruaraidh MacLeod got his second goal of the afternoon just a minute later. MacLeod picked the ball up out on the wing and ran with it for 30 yards before reaching the penalty spot where he struck the ball inside the side-netting to make it 4-3. Skye had the chance to level when they were awarded a penalty after a home player had fallen on the ball. Will Cowie hit the penalty well-enough, low and hard to the keeper’s left, but Cameron Sutherland made a great save with a combination of his foot and stick keeping the ball out. Both sides could have been better defensively throughout the game but Oban Camanachd saw out the closing stages to take the points although few would have grudged Skye a draw. This was a final match in charge for Oban Camanachd manager Ian Hay who steps down after three and a half years at the helm. Skye also now go on the managerial hunt. John MacLeod stepped down in mid-September with his assistants Donnie “Digg” MacDonald and Iain “Dowel” MacLeod seeing the team through the final three matches of the season. Skye Camanachd from; Iain MacLeod; Jamie Gillies, Connor Gilpin, James Morrison, John Gillies; Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Stewart Grant, James Pringle; Martin Pringle, Ruaraidh MacLeod, Will Cowie, Iain MacLellan; subs Chris Rose, Ross Gordon Match Referee – David Mitchell Goal Judges – Daniel Morrison & Nigel Evans Scorers Oban Camanachd Willie Neilson (14) Andrew MacCuish (43, 53, 59 pen) Skye Camanachd James Pringle (21) Ruaraidh MacLeod (30, 60) |