Skye Camanachd 0 Newtonmore 5 | |
21 July 2016 Newtonmore continued on their title charge as they beat Skye Camanachd 5-0 in their Marine Harvest Premiership meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 16 July 2016. Skye Camanachd first team John MacLeod made two changes to the squad which lost 4-2 to Newtonmore in their Camanachd Cup quarter-final tie at the Eilan a week earlier. Iain Murray was on holiday whilst Steven Morrison was a late call-off through injury. However Gilleasbuig MacDonald and David MacInnes returned after missing the previous weekend’s match whilst Chris MacLennan was back from injury. Iain Nicolson was working whilst Allan MacKinnon and Shockie MacLennan remained on the injury list. Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh’s main concern was Fraser MacKintosh who has now missed his team’s last three outings through injury. Michael Ritchie took over from Owen Fraser in goal whilst Andy MacKintosh, Jamie Robinson, Drew MacDonald and Craig Ritchie were also unavailable. Iain Richardson started in defence whilst Norman Campbell took over at full centre and there was a place on the bench for Ackie MacRae after a spell in Australia. This 3pm throw up was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. The conditions had improved slightly from the noon meeting between the Skye and Kinlochshiel seconds. Skye played towards the Struan Road in of the ground in the first half. The visitors attacked from the start and Chris Sellar had the first shot at goal after 5 minutes and Jamie Gannon saved with his feet. Gannon then blocked a Sellar shot with his chest after Evan Menzies had crossed to the back post. ‘More went in front when Glen MacKintosh made just enough space to tuck the ball into the net from a tight angle on the left following a Paul MacArthur shy from the left on 10 minutes. With the rain returning, the reigning champions doubled their advantage when Evan Menzies cleverly played in Glen MacKintosh who flicked the bouncing ball into the net to make 2-0 on 16 minutes. Newtonmore continued to launch wave after wave of attack on the Skye goal and forwards MacKintosh and Menzies reversed roles on 31 minutes when Glen MacKintosh turned his marker and his cross from the left picked out Evan Menzies and he slotted the ball home for the visitors’ third. Chris Sellar came close to adding a fourth shortly after but he drove his shot wide of goal. Evan Menzies scored the goal of the match on 34 minutes when he lost his marker and crashed a David Fraser corner from the right - ‘More’s second in quick succession - into the roof of the net to make it 4-0. Skye’s David MacInnes and Newtonmore’s Michael Russell were both yellow-carded following a clash in midfield with 10 first half minutes remaining. Danny Morrison took the resultant free-hit and James Pringle knocked the ball into the path of Kenny Campbell but his shot was off-target. Pringle then set up Jordan Murchison but Norman Campbell got a leg in the way of Murchison’s shot to deflect the ball for a corner. Danny Morrison then fired over the top in what was a more promising period for Skye. Newtonmore returned on the offensive and Glen MacKintosh thought he had completed his hat-trick on 41 minutes when he produced a spectacular finish to send a Neil Stewart ball high into the net. However the effort was ruled out for offside. The visitors finished the half on the attack and a good interception from John Gillies broke up a Newtonmore move with Evan Menzies looking to pull the trigger. Skye, with Danny Morrison now at wing centre, lost Kenny Campbell through injury just a minute after the restart and Chris MacLennan came on as a replacement. A foul shy from Skye gave Newtonmore the advantage and although David Fraser didn’t catch the ball as he would have like, Neil Stewart was first to react and he slipped the ball back to Fraser who sent a high ball from the right into the goal area and Glen MacKintosh struck the ball low into the net to complete his hat-trick with 49 minutes played. Skye immediately made a change with Neil John Campbell coming on for James Pringle in attack. Some nice link-up play from the visitors saw Paul MacArthur ghost in on the left at the back post but his low effort went across goal and past the post. Skye made their final substitution as Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod took over from David MacInnes. Newtonmore made their first change on 58 minutes with Iain Robinson replacing Neil Stewart in their forward line. Some nice one-touch shinty from ‘More set up a chance for substitute Robinson but the youngster was unable to control the ball and Skye swept it away for a corner. Skye made another change as John Gillies was forced off after taking a knock to the arm. Neil John Campbell dropped back into defence with James Pringle coming back on in attack. Ackie MacRae was brought on for Donald Fraser on 63 minutes and MacRae’s return from a spell in Australia is a boost for the men from the Eilan as shinty moves towards the business end of the season. A bit off keepy-uppy from Neil John Campbell, as he took the ball out of defence, earned a cheer from the Skye support on 65 minutes. Chris Sellar won possession and his shot was chested away by Jamie Gannon and then cleared for a corner on the Newtonmore right. ‘More goalie Michael Ritchie got to a ball just ahead on Jordan Murchison on 71 after James Pringle had played the ball in from the left. Skye came more into the game but they found Steven MacDonald to be a formidable barrier as he moped up more than one attack, using his big hitting to start Newtonmore attacks. Darrin Fowler came on for ‘More for the final 16 minutes with Chris Sellar withdrawn. An Evan Menzies effort hit the side-netting with 9 minutes to go. Glen MacKintosh them played a good ball to Menzies who steered the ball past Jamie Gannon’s left post with the keeper coming off his line to narrow the angle. Skye’s Neil John Campbell was then replaced by David MacInnes. Campbell sustained a hand injury which was later confirmed to be a broken finger. Glen MacKintosh then went close before Paul McArthur received a late booking for speaking out of turn. Gannon saved with his feet from Mackintosh and, with the ball sticking in the mud, the keeper scooped the ball away. Skye had to defend well towards the end of the match to prevent ‘More adding to their tally. Defender Ally MacDonald was best for Skye whilst Newtonmore hit-men Glen MacKintosh and Evan Menzies have proved to be more than a handful – scoring eleven times between them in the sides’ three meetings so far this season. Newtonmore, now half-way through their league programme, are currently two points ahead of second placed Kinlochshiel and they also have three games in hand. Next up for Skye is a crucial league meeting with Glenurquhart in Portree whilst Newtonmore travel to An Aird to play Fort William. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon; Neil MacVicar (captain), John Gillies, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Ally MacDonald; Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Will Cowie, David MacInnes; Kenny Campbell, Danny Morrison, James Pringle, Jordan Murchison; subs Chris Rose, Chris MacLennan, Neil John Campbell Newtonmore from: Owen Fraser; Rory Kennedy, Michael Russell, Iain Richardson, Steven MacDonald (captain); David Fraser, Norman Campbell, Paul MacArthur; Chris Sellar, Neil Stewart, Evan Menzies, Glen MacKintosh; subs Iain Robinson, Ackie MacRae, Darrin Fowler, Conor Jones Match Referee – Innes Wood Goal Judges – Robbie Gordon, Norman MacArthur Scorers Skye Camanachd (None) Newtonmore Glen MacKintosh (10, 31, 49) Evan Menzies (16, 34) |