Skye Camanachd 2 Lovat 2 | |
20 May 2023 Skye Camanachd and Lovat served up an entertaining 2-2 draw in their Mowi Premiership match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 20 May 2023. Skye pair Murphy Henderson and Ally MacLeod were at a funeral so second team keeper Calum Nicolson started in goal for this 3pm throw up with Ross Nicolson in midfield. Greg Matheson and Lewis Tawse returned for Lovat who were still without Lorne MacKay and Graeme MacMillan. The whole match was broadcast LIVE by Radio Skye. Skye opened towards the Braes end of the ground and James Pringle put the Islanders ahead on 26 minutes, keeping his cool to evade a couple of challenges before knocking the ball by keeper Stuart MacDonald from close range. Stuart MacDonald then made a good save with his feet to deny James Pringle another soon after before making a fabulous stop above his head to keep out Ruaraidh MacLeod’s piledriver from the right. With just a minute of the first half remaining, Greg Matheson took down a ball from Craig Mainland before smashing a shot inside the keeper’s right post to make it 1-1. There was still time for Stuart MacDonald to save well again, this time from James Pringle’s strike from the left following a Skye free-hit. Stuart MacDonald denied Ross Gordon early in the second half whilst Sam Stubbs just couldn’t get onto a rebound off keeper Calum Nicolson at the other end. With the wind and rain rising, Skye regained the lead on 75 minutes when Ross Gordon fired a great shot into the net from the Skye left. However, just 3 minutes later, Greg Matheson took a Sam Stubbs pass before unleashing an unstoppable shot, beating Skye keeper Calum Nicolson on his left side, just inside the post. Skye had a late penalty claim for a “kick” by the excellent Martin Mainland but referee Iain Kennedy waved away their pleas. The sides also contested the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup which was decided by a penalty shoot-out at the Bernisdale end of the ground. Greg Matheson tucked his penalty low into the net to the keeper’s left whilst Stuart MacDonald used his foot to keep out Ruaraidh MacLeod’s spot-hit by his right post. Calum Nicolson used his legs to save James MacPherson’s penalty whilst Ross Gordon crashed his effort into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s right to make it 1-1. Marc MacLachlan beat the keeper low to his left side, but Stuart MacDonald kept out Jordan Murchison’s effort with his legs, and Lovat now led 2-1. Calum Nicolson saved with his legs from Craig Mainland and John Gillies took the chance to tie the shoot-out at 2-2, beating Stuart MacDonald low at his left side. It all came down to the final two penalties and Callum Cruden fired just by the keeper’s leg, but Neil MacVicar saw his spot-hit saved with his feet by Stuart MacDonald to give Lovat a 3-2 win. The Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup was presented to Lovat skipper Danny Kelly by Archie Rhodes on behalf of the Ferguson family. Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod was Lovat’s choice as Skye’s best player, so he received the Glasgow Mid Argyll Shield. Skye manager Kenny Macleod said: “We were excellent and I’m really happy with our performance. The result is just hard to swallow as I think they only had three shots on target but scored twice. The boys are distraught in the changing room at the dropped point but that just shows how far we have come.” Lovat boss Jamie Matheson added: “It was a really good game although the weather wasn’t the best at times. Skye played really well and I was impressed with the way their forwards moved the ball and they caused us a lot of trouble. I think we owe credit to our goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald, and I’ve said this many times, but he made a couple of saves today that I don’t think any other keeper makes. Not a lot of teams will come and win games here. “It was also good to have Greg back and he did what he usually does with two great finishes. He didn’t have a lot of chances today, but the ones he gets, he puts in the net. He’s invaluable to us.” Skye Camanachd from: Calum Nicolson: John Gillies (captain), Martin Pringle, James Morrison, William MacKinnon: Ross Nicolson, Kenny Cushnie, Sam Macphee: Ross MacKinnon, James Pringle, Ross Gordon, Ruaraidh MacLeod: subs Jordan Murchison, Neil MacVicar, Jamie Gillies Lovat from: Stuart MacDonald: Drew Howie, Martin Mainland, Daniel Grieve, Danny Kelly (captain): Bailey MacKay, Callum Cruden, Lewis Tawse: Craig Mainland, Greg Matheson, Marc MacLachlan, James MacPherson: subs Calum MacAulay, Sam Stubbs, Duncan Davidson Match Referee – Iain Kennedy Click on the following link for Fiona MacDonald’s coverage of the game on Skye Sports. |