Skye Camanachd 1 Strathglass 7 | |
07 July 2016 Skye Camanachd lost 7-1 to league leaders Strathglass in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 2 July 2016. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle made five changes to the squad which beat the Lochaber seconds in their Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup tie at Spean Bridge a fortnight earlier. Keeper Iain MacLeod was included Ryan Morrison started in attack. There was also a place for veteran Allan MacLeod in defence whilst John MacKenzie and youngster Ross Gordon started on the bench. Ally “Spod” MacLeod and Chris Rose were with the Skye first team; John Angus MacInnes was on holiday whilst U17 players Jamie Gillies and Martin Pringle were left out. Strathglass boss Dave Balharry has seen his side continue their improvement from last season. The Marine Harvest North Division 1 table-toppers are the only unbeaten side it the division; winning seven of their nine league matches going into this game. However Balharry also had absences to contend with as Michael Stokes and Adam Todd were amongst his missing players. Throw up was at 2.30pm and the match was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE Show. Skye played towards the Viewfield end of the ground in the first half. After an even opening, Strathglass started to press and they were awarded the game’s first corner on 6 minutes. Wing centre Ross Balharry was particularly effective in the early stages of the match, down the Strathglass right. Skye made an early change after 13 minutes as wing centre Connor Gilpin came on in a straight swap for Ross Nicolson. Skye were playing a two-two formation in attack and Ryan Morrison controlled a ball forward and shot just past the post on 15 minutes. Strathglass went on to have a period of sustained pressure and Barry John Phimister found space a couple of minutes later and he sent a shot just past Iain MacLeod’s right post. Barry John Phimister then played a reverse pass to Darren Reid on the Strathglass right and he was forced a fraction too far wide and Iain MacLeod saved with his feet with Neil John Campbell clearing the danger. There was a break in play mid-way through the first half as Allan MacLeod required treatment after being winded following a collision and the other players took the chance to take some water. Iain MacLeod did well to deal with a bouncing Scott Douglas ball into the D on 25 minutes. MacLeod stopped the ball with his legs and, as the ball rose up, the Scotland U21 keeper batted it away with his caman. MacLeod then got his chest behind a Barry John Phimister shot and the keeper got the ball clear before Darren Reid could get to the rebound. Barry John Phimister was proving a handful and he sent another shot just wide of target on 30 minutes as an opening Strathglass goal seemed to be getting closer. Skye seemed to have weathered the early storm and Connor Gilpin was involved in some good play since his introduction and he sent a shot for distance wide of goal. However Strathglass took a grip of the game late in the first half. Iain MacLeod made a great save above his head with his caman from Seth Jones on 36 minutes and Scott Douglas slotted home a rebound to make it 1-0. Strathglass immediately made a change with forward Josh Fraser coming on for Barry John Phimister. Josh Fraser made an immediate impact as he won the ball and played it to Darren Reid who found Lewis Douglass and he sent the ball low into the net to make it 2-0. Skye then made a switch as David Grant was replaced by John MacKenzie in attack. There was a rain downpour which included some summer hailstones. It didn’t deter the visitors though as Darren Reid laid the ball off to Scott Douglas and his shot was stopped with his foot by Iain MacLeod. There was a scramble on the goal line and Strathglass substitute Josh Fraser knocked the ball home from close range on 40 minutes with keeper Iain MacLeod requiring treatment after taking a blow to the ankle. Iain MacLeod then stretched to his left, using his caman, to turn a Darren Reid drive away for a corner. Strathglass took their 3-0 lead into the break and, the players headed for the changing rooms, some were wringing their tops dry as the rain continued. Skye made changes at the break as David Grant returned to the field of play in defence and Ross Gordon came on in attack. Neil John Campbell went to midfield with Calum Gibb and Ryan Morrison withdrawn. Strathglass took Lawrence Jones on at left wing back in in a straight swap for Archie Wotherspoon on 48 minutes. The Cannich side extended their advantage on 51 minutes from a set-piece after Andrew Banks had been penalised for a challenge. Strathglass took the free-hit quickly and Scott Douglas was allowed too much space and he turned before sending a low shot past the keeper on his right side to make it 4-0. Ian MacLeod saved with his feet from Scott Douglas and the Skye keeper still looked uncomfortable from the ankle knock he suffered at the end of the first half. Skye’s Connor Gilpin was booked for a challenge in midfield and, when Scott Douglas shot goalwards following the resultant free-hit, Iain MacLeod saved but Josh Fraser dashed in to knock the rebound in the air into the net to make it 5-0 with an hour played. Josh Fraser then hit the frame off the goal a couple of minutes later following a Hamish Myers corner. Ross Nicolson took over from David Grant in the Skye defence with Andrew Banks returning to full back. Strathglass reversed an earlier switch midway through the second half as Barry John Phimister came back on in the forward line for Josh Fraser. A terrific solo run from Skye’s John MacKenzie saw him dribble in from the left and beat a couple of players before seeing his shot from distance saved with his feet by Ally MacAdams in the Strath’ goal. Strathglass introduced their third substitute Penri Jones for the last 20 minutes with Lewis Douglas coming off. Ross Nicolson did well to get a bouncing Seth Jones ball into the D away to safety. Skye defender Allan MacLeod was booked for protesting about a free-hit decision. Strathglass lost Defender Donald Fraser after he took a knock to the elbow so Archie Wotherspoon came back on at wing back with Jono Price going to buckshee back. Skye pulled a goal back on 79 minutes when Ruaraidh MacLeod and John MacKenzie combined to set up a chance for U14 player Ross Gordon and he fired home a low shot from the left to notch his first goal at second team level which made it 5-1. With Matt Jones putting the Strathglass players through a fitness regime on a weekly basis, they showed the benefits and finished strongly. Penri Jones shot wide before Jones was involved in the build-up as Darren Reid collected a Scott Douglas pass from the left and he took a touch before scoring the goal of the game on 81 minutes with a thumping 22 yard shot into the roof of the net from left of centre to make it 6-1. Skye responded and Connor Gilpin shot wide from the restart before two young home forwards combined. Ross Gordon ran forward down the Skye right and crossed for Ruaraidh MacLeod who shot past the post. Calum Gibb was back on for Skye and an Iain MacLeod double-save denied both Darren Reid and Penri Jones following a Strathglass corner. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod stretched his foot to his right to deny Barry John Phimister a deserved goal at the expense of a corner. Strathglass substitute Penri Jones got the biggest cheer of the day when the 15 year old slotted home another rebound after Iain MacLeod had made a good save from Barry John Phimister shot a minute from time to make it 7-1. The final whistle ended a tough afternoon for Skye they travel to Braeview Park this coming Saturday to play the Beauly seconds. Strathglass are now two points ahead of the Newtonmore second team although they have played a game more. The sides have still to meet at the Eilan this season. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Andrew Banks, DJ Gilpin, Neil John Campbell, Allan MacLeod; Calum Gibb, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Ross Nicolson; Ruaraidh MacLeod, Iain MacLellan, Ryan Morrison, David Grant (captain); subs Connor Gilpin, John MacKenzie, Ross Gordon Strathglass from: Ally MacAdams; George Phimister, Jono Price, Archie Wotherspoon, Donald Fraser; Ross Balharry, Seth Jones, Hamish Myers; Darren Reid, Scott Douglas, Lewis Douglas, Barry John Phimister; subs Josh Fraser, Lawrence Jones, Penri Jones Match Referee – John Matheson Goal Judges – Donnie Martin, Robbie Gordon The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan Scorers Skye Camanachd Ross Gordon (79) Strathglass Scott Douglas (36, 51) Lewis Douglas (37) Josh Fraser (40, 60) Darren Reid (81) Penri Jones (89) |