Skye Camanachd lost 3-1 to Newtonmore in their Artemis Macaulay Cup first round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 29 April 2017.
Skye Camanachd co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon were dealt a late blow when Iain Nicolson was ruled out through work commitments. DJ Gilpin and Iain MacLellan were added to the squad whilst Daniel Morrison dropped out. Steven Morrison remained out injured.
Newtonmore had a doubt over Paul MacArthur but he took a place on the bench where he was an unused substitute. Norman Campbell continued in goal in place of Owen Fraser. .
This 2.30pm throw up was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show.
Newtonmore won the toss and played with the wind advantage, shooting towards the Skeabost end of the pitch in the first half.
Skye made a bright start and a nice flick from James Pringle took him away from Steven MacDonald but the Scotland full back recovered to send the ball out for a corner on the Skye left.
Norman Campbell made a good save with his stick, above his head, to deny Danny Morrison, who was set up by Kenny Campbell, and Jordan Murchison put the rebound just past the post.
Despite Skye’s pressure, it was Iain Robinson who gave Newtonmore a 5 minute lead when he won possession on the right before running into the D unchallenged to score.
Newtonmore pressed for a second and it came on 9 minutes when the ball fell for Glen MacKintosh, following a Drew MacDonald shy, and he turned and struck the ball low and hard into the net from 22 yards out, beating the keeper on his left side.
Glen MacKintosh played in Rory Kennedy on 12 minutes and Kennedy’s fierce shot flew across goal and away for a goal-hit.
Skye keeper Iain MacLeod did well to thwart a clever run from Iain Robinson which saw him dart round the back of the Skye defence on 18 minutes. Robinson took a knock in the process and required treatment.
Robinson went close again a minute later from a David MacLean corner with his shot going wide.
Play immediately swept to the other end and a great shot from Danny Morrison, following a Stewart Grant shy, went just over the junction between post and bar.
Midway through the first half, Drew MacDonald fed a free-hit to Glen MacKintosh who turned and volleyed a shot goalwards with the ball bouncing away to safety off the post.
A clever pass from Glen MacKintosh gave David MacLean a chance at goal but his strike went just the wrong side of Iain MacLeod’s right post with 25 minutes played.
Iain Macleod did well to stop the ball with his foot and then get it away after a scramble in the home goal area just before the half hour mark.
Glen MacKintosh sent an effort rising over the top after a nice passing move.
After surviving a period of Newtonmore pressure, Skye pulled a goal back through James Pringle on 34 minutes. Will Cowie was fouled by Andy MacKintosh, with the ‘More man’s stick coming down on the top of Cowie’s protective helmet. John Gillies sent the free-hit from the left of midfield into the danger-area. The ball broke to the Skye right where Pringle thumped it into the net to half ‘More’s advantage.
Skye goalie Iain MacLeod made a crucial save on 40 minutes. Jamie Robinson set a superb shy in from the right. The ball dropped for Glen MacKintosh who cracked a low drive goalwards, but MacLeod saved with his left foot with the ball spinning up and over the bar for a corner. It was the final chance of the first half.
Skye had the wind at their backs in the second half and they went on the attack from the restart without really troubling Norman Campbell in the ‘More goal.
Referee Neil Ferguson required treatment on 48 minutes when the ball hit him on the back of the head from close range but he was able to continue after being attended to by Skye Medic Dr Wilson Banks. .
Newtonmore restored their two-goal advantage when Glen MacKintosh got his second to make it 3-1 on 56 minutes. The goal came almost out of nothing. Iain Robinson played the ball to Drew MacDonald and Glen MacKintosh was quickly on to MacDonald’s forward ball. MacKintosh hit his strike early and his low drive gave keeper Iain MacLeod no chance.
Skye came close to reducing the deficit again on 61 minutes when a hook-shot from James Pringle was deflected away for a corner on the Skye right.
Pringle looked dangerous again a couple of minutes later when he got away from Steven MacDonald and cut in on goal. Ackie MacRae did just enough to ensure Pringle’s effort went just the wrong side of the post.
Skye continued to ask questions of the Newtonmore defence and Norman Campbell made a superb save above his head with his club to keep out a Jordan Murchison piledriver.
With 20 minutes remaining, Skye defender John Gillies needed treatment after suffering a knock to the foot.
Newtonmore’s Craig Ritchie was replaced by Fraser MacKintosh on 73 minutes.
Skye defender John Gillies suffered a knock to the hand, when he was accidently struck by one of his team-mates, and he was replaced by Neil MacVicar.
Skye continued to give a good account of themselves but they perhaps lacked the clinical finishing displayed by their opponents.
Fraser MacKintosh took the ball down and ran in on goal late in the game but Iain MacLeod came off his line to block the substitute’s progress and the keeper deflected the ball out for a corner.
The win means Newtonmore will play another National Division side – Fort William –in the Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter finals.
Next up for Skye is a Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup trip to Balgownie to play Aberdeen University.
Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Ally MacDonald, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, John Gillies; Kenny Campbell (captain), Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Stewart Grant; Will Cowie Jordan Murchison, Danny Morrison, James Pringle; subs Neil MacVicar, DJ Gilpin, Iain MacLellan
Newtonmore from: Norman Campbell; Steven MacDonald, Andy MacKintosh, Ackie MacRae, Michael Russell; David MacLean, Jamie Robinson, Drew MacDonald; Rory Kennedy (captain), Craig Ritchie, Iain Robinson, Glen MacKintosh; subs Fraser MacKintosh, David Fraser, Stuart Mitchell, Paul MacArthur
Match Referee – Neil Ferguson
Goal Judges – Donnie Martin, Dave Ritchie
Scorers
Skye Camanachd
James Pringle (34)
Newtonmore
Glen MacKintosh (5, 56)
Iain Robinson (9)
The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan
(The action shot from the game comes courtesy of Moreen Pringle)