Skye Camanachd 2 Aberdeen University 1 | |
29 June 2015 The Skye Camanachd second team beat Aberdeen University 2-1 in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 27 June 2014. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle made four changes to the squad which drew 2-2 with Glengarry at Craigard in the league a week earlier. Captain David MacInnes returned to the squad and there were places for Kyle Pirie, Allan MacLeod and Thomas Wilson. However Neil John Campbell and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod were working whilst Allan MacKinnon returned Skye first team squad and Ruairidh MacLeod was a late call-off as he was on a school trip so Ryan Morrison was added to the squad. Skye went into the match in third place in the table. Aberdeen University are managed by former Skye Camanachd player Jamie Beaton and they went into the game level on points in the league with fourth place Lochaber. However the Students were without David Fraser who was suspended following his red card against Lochaber last weekend so former Kinlochshiel player Iain Fraser slotted in at full back in his place. Wing back Joe Folan, Ross Robinson and Cameron Thomson were also missing. Former Fort William player Alex Duncan returned to the fold for Aberdeen and he made a substitute appearance in the defeat to the Lochaber reserves last weekend. He was given the full centre’s role against Skye. Former Skye Camanachd U17 Player of the Year Rob Urquhart was at wing centre for Aberdeen University. In a change of referee, Calum Girvan was now the man in the middle and this 3pm throw up was broadcast live on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd Live show. There was a minutes silence ahead of throw up in memory of Colin Murchison who passed away earlier in the week. Indeed several Skye Camanachd players and officials attended Colin’s funeral earlier in the day. Skye started the match shooting towards the Viewfield end of the ground. James Pringle set up an early chance for Angie MacDonald but he didn’t make clean contact with the ball and he set the shot bobbling past Aberdeen keeper Darren Ross’ right post. The Students responded by pressing Skye back although they weren’t able to trouble home goalie Jamie Gannon. Jamie Beaton controlled a John Sweeney free-hit on around the penalty spot on 13 minutes and he turned before shooting wide of goal. Alex Duncan sent a dropping ball into the Skye goal area from the middle of the park on 19 minutes but Jamie Gannon chested the ball away to safety. Skye defender Kyle Pirie had to leave the field for treatment after a closely hit ball struck him on the side of the neck. There was a stop in play before the game restarted with a throw up and as Skye attacked, Darren Ross came off his line to clear the danger with John Angus MacInnes looking to pounce on any slip-up. Skye continued a player down and they went in front on 35 minutes. Forward James Pringle won possession and he played a one-two with John Angus MacInnes as he made a great run across goal and his cut-back from wide on the left picked out Angie MacDonald in space and he thumped the ball home to make it 1-0. Aberdeen claimed offside but referee Calum Girvan waved away their claims. Skye replaced Kyle Pirie with Thomas Wilson moments later. DJ Gilpin dropped back into defence with Wilson taking over Pirie’s wing centre role. Angie MacDonald got his and Skye’s second on 41 minutes. Stewart Grant cleared the ball out of the Skye defence and MacDonald produced a deft touch to knock a first time Iain MacLellan pass past Aberdeen full back Iain Fraser before keeping his composure and slotting the ball low into the net to make it 2-0. Aberdeen pressed in the closing stages of the first half and they got their reward in the second minute of first half stoppage time. The visitors forced a couple of corners on their left and from the second corner; Jamie Beaton played the ball into the goal area and, with Skye unable to get the ball away, Alex Duncan shot goalwards at the second attempt. Jamie Gannon saved Duncan’s shot but Stuart Cameron slammed the rebound home from close range to make it 2-1. Referee Calum Girvan spoke to Alex Duncan for a late challenge on Iain MacLellan on 48 minutes. Aberdeen wing back Kinnon Dear took a knock a minute later when he seemed to be accidently hit by one of his teammates as Aberdeen cleared a Skye attack. Dear was replaced by Willie Hunter and Greg Tillman dropped back into defence. Angie MacDonald had a chance to complete his hat-trick on 53 minutes when an Iain MacLellan cross from the right deflected off Iain Fraser and MacDonald nipped in behind him but his shot curled away from goal. Skye made their second change on 57 minutes when Iain MacPherson came on for Calum Gibb on with Gibb appearing to be suffering from cramp. Jamie Gannon saved with his feet from a Stuart Cameron shot on 73 minutes and Allan MacLeod cleared the ball downfield. Aberdeen’s Greg Tillman needed treatment after taking a knock on 75 minutes during a Skye move which finished with Iain MacLellan putting the ball past the post. A James Pringle snap-shop went wide a couple of minutes later. Skye made their final change on 78 minutes with Ryan Morrison replacing a tiring two-goal Angie MacDonald. Jamie Gannon did superbly well as he dived to his left, using his left foot, to deflect away a low 18 yard Jamie Beaton shot following a John Sweeney free-hit with just 10 minutes remaining. Jamie Gannon was called into action again 5 minutes later as he saved with his feet from Alex Duncan. Skye had more defending to do in the closing seconds as Kenny Cushnie darted onto a Rob Urquhart corner from the right but he steered the ball in the air, just wide of goal. Skye had one final attack and Ryan Morrison flicked on a David MacInnes shy but the ball went wide with keeper Darren Ross scrambling to cover his post. The final whistle brought and an evenly contested match to an end and, having put so much into the game, Aberdeen will feel that they deserved a point. Angie MacDonald’s two-goals made the difference for Skye as did the contribution from defenders David Grant, Stewart Grant, Allan MacLeod, Kyle Pirie and DJ Gilpin and Jamie Gannon for his superb second half save. John Sweeney and Alex Duncan were best for Aberdeen who will be formidable opposition with a full squad available. The result means Skye Camanachd stay in third place in Marine Harvest North Division 2. Skye are a point behind second place Glengarry who have played a game more and they are two points behind league leaders Caberfeidh seconds but the Islanders have three games in hand. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon: David Grant, Kyle Pirie, Allan MacLeod, Stewart Grant: Calum Gibb, David MacInnes (captain), DJ Gilpin: Iain MacLellan, James Pringle, John Angus MacInnes, Angie MacDonald: subs Thomas Wilson, Iain MacPherson, Ryan Morrison, Daniel Morrison Aberdeen University from: Darren Ross: Iain Fraser, Graham Black, Kinnon Dear, John Sweeney (captain): Greg Tillman, Alex Duncan, Rob Urquhart: Stuart Cameron, Mark Fraser, Kenny Cushnie, Jamie Beaton: sub Willie Hunter Match Referee – Calum Girvan Goal Judges – Donnie Martin & Davie MacVicar The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |