Skye Camanachd 2 Kinlochshiel 1 | |
09 May 2017 An Iain MacLellan goal 3 minutes from time gave the Skye Camanachd second team a 2-1 win over the Kinlochshiel second team in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 6 May 2017. With there being no first team game, Skye Camanachd second team boss Kenny MacLeod resisted the temptation to add senior players to his squad. However he was able to include Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod who had been used by the senior side to cover first team injuries and youngster James Pringle. Both MacLeod and Pringle started on the substitutes’ bench. Stewart Taylor was the only omission from the squad which beat Glenurquhart a fortnight earlier. Kinlochshiel second team boss Willie MacRae was without Nathan Whear and Ronan Taylor but he named Alasdair Nixon, who played the second half for the Kinlochshiel first team against Newtonmore earlier in the day, on the bench. Skye played towards the Skeabost end of the pitch for this 2.30pm throw up which was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. It was a cagey opening and, after a week of warm weather, the ball was moving quickly on a fiery surface. Kinlochshiel took the lead on 11 minutes. Chris Townend played the ball up the left to Lewis MacVicar who crossed into the middle. There was a scramble for possession and Scott MacLean managed to thread a pass through the Skye defence for Neil Fraser to send the ball low into the net for the opening goal. Martin Pringle had a chance to level on 19 minutes but he sent a shot wide of keeper Raymond Gillies’ right post. Skye’s Iain MacLellan was replaced by James Pringle after 20 minutes. A Scott MacLean shot flashed across the Skye goal a minute later whilst James Pringle drove wide at the other end. Corrin Campbell needed treatment on 27 minutes and the players from both sides took the chance to take water on board. Campbell came off and Neil Fraser went to full back with Fraser MacVicar going to wing back with substitute Morgan Fraser taking the field in attack. Raymond Gillies did well to come off his line and smother a Connor Gilpin effort from the restart. Kinlochshiel introduced Alasdair Nixon, who had just arrived at the game, on 35 minutes. WD MacRae went to wing back; Neil Fraser rejoined the attack and this allowed Nixon to slot in at his accustomed wing centre position. Skye’s Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was next to come off the bench. He went to full centre, David MacInnes to wing centre and Calum Gibb was withdrawn. A nice passing move saw Ross Gordon find James Pringle but his effort went wide of goal. Iain MacLellan came back on for Connor Gilpin as the first 45 minutes drew to a close and with 3 minutes stoppage time played, referee Bryan MacKay brought the first half to a close. Skye levelled just 3 minutes into the second half. A great Ross Gordon run saw him cut in from the left ended and the youngster confidently knocked the ball home to make it 1-1. Both keepers – Ryan Morrison and Raymond Gillies - had to be quickly off their lines to break up attacks midway through the second half. Corrin Campbell came back on for ‘Shiel, joining the attack with Morgan Fraser coming back off. Skye had keeper Ryan Morrison to thank for two good saves in two minutes. First, on 72 minutes, he saved with his feet from Neil Fraser with Scott MacLean setting up the chance. Then Morrison denied Fraser again, this time getting his legs behind the full forward’s strike, with Chris Townend the provider. With 15 minutes remaining, James Pringle fed Ross Gordon and he came within a whisker of giving Skye the lead but his shot went past the post with the keeper beaten. Kinlochshiel lost Steven Isles with what looked like the recurrence of a knee injury when he landed at the bottom of a pile of players after a midfield tumble. Lewis MacVicar, who had been taken off earlier in the half, came back on for the final 10 minutes of the match. Just when it looked like the teams would settle for a point each, Skye went in front for the first time in the match. Ross Gordon and Connor Gilpin were involved in the build-up play and Iain MacLellan bundled the ball home to make it 2-1 with 87 minutes played. Skye’s Allan MacLeod had taken a couple of knocks and he was replaced by David MacInnes, who had come off for Calum Gibb earlier, for the final minutes of the game. Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod dropped into defence. A late Skye change saw Sam MacPhee come on for Calum Gibb. ‘Shiel had pushed Fraser MacVicar forward and he shot wide from a tight angle and a Scott MacLean ball into the D caused panic in the home defence. Ryan Morrison got a foot to the ball and although the rebound fell for Neil Fraser, he couldn’t find the target. It was to be the final chance of the game as referee MacKay blew for time following 4 minutes of stoppage time. After losing four matches by a single goal this season, Skye were delighted to edge this one. Iain Murray continues to offer stability at full back and he had a commanding game throughout. James Pringle and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod helped Skye up the pace of the game when they came on. Kinlochshiel were well-served by Jonnie MacAskill at full centre whilst Scott MacLean and Neil Fraser were always a handful in attack. The win lifts Kenny MacLeod’s side to third in the table although they have played more games than the teams round-about them. Both sides would probably have taken a draw as the game moved into the final stages but given that Skye have been unlucky to lose four matches by the odd goal this season, they will be happy that fortune smiled on them this time. Next up for Skye is a Strathdearn Cup second round tie against Boleskine at Smith Park this coming Saturday. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison (captain); Iain Murray, James Morrison, DJ Gilpin, Allan MacLeod; Calum Gibb, David MacInnes, John Angus MacInnes; Connor Gilpin, Martin Pringle, Iain MacLellan, Ross Gordon; subs James Pringle, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Sam MacPhee, David Grant, Kinlochshiel from: Raymond Gillies; Fraser MacVicar, Corran Campbell, Douglas Campbell, Colin MacDiarmid (captain); WD MacRae, Jonnie MacAskill, Chris Townend; Scott MacLean, Steven Isles, Lewis MacVicar, Neil Fraser; subs Alasdair Nixon, Morgan Fraser, Finlay MacRae Match Referee – Brian MacKay The match balls will be sponsored by Nor-Dan Scorers Skye Camanachd Ross Gordon (48) Iain MacLellan (87) Kinlochshiel Neil Fraser (11) |