Skye Camanachd 1 Lovat 0 | |
30 May 2021 Iain MacLellan’s late goal gave Skye Camanachd a 1-0 win in their preseason friendly against Lovat at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 29 May 2021. Archie MacDonald, who played well for the Skye Camanachd second team in their win over the Kinlochshiel seconds last weekend, was added to the squad by boss Kenny MacLeod but James Morrison and Daniel Morrison were late call offs. Lovat co-managers Alan MacRae and Jamie Matheson were again without Craig Mainland and they travelled with five substitutes. The game was played under the current restrictions which meant supporters were not permitted to attend. Skye played in their all-blue change strip whilst Lovat wore their traditional white shirts and black shorts and the visitors played towards the Skeabost end of the ground in the first half. The first serious effort on goal came following a Skye corner on their left and Lovat and Scotland keeper Stuart MacDonald made a quite incredible stop as he leapt to his left to turn away Jordan Murchison’s goal-bound shot which was heading for the top corner of the net. Lovat looked leggy with the preseason friendly against Kinlochshiel the previous Wednesday taking its toll but they settled into the match and when Lewis Tawse won possession, he drifted a shot from distance which just dipped over the crossbar. Skye forced a succession of corners before the break but were unable to turn their dominance into a goal. The closest they came during this period was James Pringle’s strike which keeper MacDonald saved with his legs. Skye’s John Gillies came off to get a head cut attended to after colliding with one of his own players. Jamie Gillies took his place. Lovat’s Duncan Davidson was booked for voicing an opinion ahead of a Jordon Murchison free-hit from which Ross Gordon denied as Stuart MacDonald tipped his effort over the bar. Skye’s John Gillies came back on at the start of the second half whilst Lovat made four changes with Graeme MacMillan, Marc MacLachlan, Chris Johnston and Bailey MacKay replacing Lorne MacKay, Lewis Tawse, Martin Mainland and Danny Kelly. Jordan Murchison fired low but wide of the keeper’s right post after being set up by Iain MacLellan and Ross Gordon volleyed wide after Drew Howie misjudged a ball from the Skye right. Greg Matheson screwed a shot wide of Ryan Morrison’s left post as Lovat began to enjoy their best period of the match. Marc MacLachlan’s introduction added bite to the Lovat attack and he saw a low shot well saved by Ryan Morrison following a free-hit. Ryan Morrison then pulled off a brilliant save as he stretched to tip Greg Matheson’s back-hand shot from distance over the bar. The Skye defence worked tirelessly to keep Lovat at bay and when the hosts went back on the attack, Stuart MacDonald got his body behind substitute Archie MacDonald’s shot from the left. The only goal of this entertaining contest came 6 minutes from time. William MacKinnon broke up a Lovat attack and found Archie MacDonald on the Skye left. MacDonald played the ball on to Ross Gordon who slipped a perfectly weighted pass across to Iain MacLellan on his right and his low shot beat the keeper on his right side with what proved to be the game’s decisive goal. This was a morale-boosting win for the Islanders ahead of the start of the new shinty season with Kilmallie scheduled to visit Pairc nan Laoch, Portree this coming Saturday. However Kilmallie are currently experiencing covid outbreaks and self-isolation. Covid issues have also affected Fort William who are due to host Kinlochshiel this so if Kilmallie and Fort William are unable to field teams, a league meeting between Skye and Kinlochshiel in Portree could yet be rescheduled. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison: John Gillies, Ally "Cleodi" MacLeod, Martin Pringle, William MacKinnon: Sam Macphee, Will Cowie, James Pringle: Ross MacKinnon, Ross Gordon, Iain MacLellan, Jordan Murchison (captain): subs Jamie Gillies, Archie MacDonald Lovat from: Stuart MacDonald (captain): Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve, Scott MacKenzie, Callum Cruden: Martin Mainland, Danny Kelly, Duncan Davidson: Fraser Heath, Greg Matheson, Lewis Tawse, Lorne MacKay: subs Graeme MacMillan, Marc MacLachlan, Chris Johnston, Bailey MacKay, Cammy MacMillan Match Referee – John Angus Gillies Goal Judges – Donnie Martin & Ian MacPherson This match was played in accordance with the current restrictions meaning supporters were not permitted to attend. Thank you to everyone for adhering to the rules.
To view highlights from the match, click on the following link SKYE SPORTS |