The Skye Camanachd second team beat the Fort William second team 1-0 in an entertaining Mowi North Division 1 clash at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 5 March 2022.

New Skye Camanachd second team manager Ally MacDonald made a late change to his squad with Gilleasbuig MacDonald replacing youngster Charlie Latton.

Fort William boss John MacLeod and his assistant James Tangney started the experienced Neil Robertson at full centre in an otherwise a youthful side.

This 2.30pm throw up was broadcast LIVE on Radio Skye’s “Camanachd LIVE” show.

Skye capitalised on a defensive slip to take the lead on 13 minutes. Struan Stephen went to clear at the ball from just outside the D but missed his hit which left Alastair MacLeod a free path to goal and he made no mistake.

It got worse for the Fort just minutes later when referee Steven MacLachlan had no option but to send off Rhys Kennedy for his reaction to a challenge from Skye’s Sam Macphee.

Stuart Disher saved well with his club from Alastair MacLeod to stop Skye going further ahead but the visitors had a great chance to level late in the first half when a fine run and pass from Davy Duncan found Mark Fraser in space but with Skye keeper Calum Nicolson racing off his line, Fraser sent his shot wide.

They went close again after the break when Mark Fraser’s cleverly scooped free-hit from the left picked out Greg Kelly at the back post. William James Sutherland made a great block to prevent Kelly’s first effort but he got a strike in at the second attempt and his low shot went just by the far post.

At the other end, Stuart Disher saved with his hand from Angus Gilpin and Alastair MacLeod saw a shot blocked by the excellent Lewis Murphy.

Fort William, who didn’t look as if they were a man short and prompted by man of the match Shaun MacLennan, pushed hard for a leveller in the closing stages without being able to test the Skye keeper.

This was a good win for Skye which gets Ally MacDonald’s reign as manager off to a winning start. Next up for the Islanders is a league trip to Craigard to play Glengarry on Saturday 12 March 2022.

Skye Camanachd from: Calum Nicolson: David MacInnes, William James Sutherland, Allan MacLeod, Sam Macphee: Raghnall Robertson, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Ian MacPherson (captain): James Robertson, Archie Millar, Alastair “Viewfield” Macleod, Connor Gilpin: subs Angus Gilpin, Seonaidh-Alex Macleod, John Angus MacInnes

Fort William from: Stuart Disher: Neil Clark, Duncan Stevenson, Struan Stephen, Lewis Murphy: Davy Duncan, Neil Robertson, Seamus MacLennan: Greig Kelly, Archie MacKinnon, Rhys Kennedy, Mark Fraser: subs Jack Cairney, Ryan Cairns, Ben Britton

Match Referee - Steven MacLachlan

Goal Judges – Donnie Martin & Davie Pringle