Skye Camanachd 4 Inverness 0 | |
11 June 2014 Skye Camanachd are through to the Strathdearn Cup quarter finals following their 4-0 first round win over Inverness at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 31 May 2014. Skye co-managers Angie MacDonald and Iain MacLellan were on the field so Davie MacVicar looked after the side from the touchline. Skye captain David MacInnes missed out and Iain MacLellan was called up by the first team. There were first call-ups for U17 players Marcus Ross and James Pringle and John Gilles was given a first start after a couple of impressive substitute appearances. This was a second Island outing for the Inverness second string who are managed by Kenny Loades. They lost narrowly to Lewis Camanachd in Shawbost the previous weekend before making the journey to Skye. Paul Bowman was back following suspension and there was also a debut at full forward for former Glengarry player Kevin Hunter. There was a place on the substitutes’ bench for Inverness club stalwart Peter Gow. There was a change of referee. Martin MacLean was originally to officiate but John MacRitchie took over. Inverness started with a breeze in their favour. Colin Fraser saved an Angie MacDonald drive with his legs as Skye went on the offensive from the throw up. John Gillies collected the ball on the left and beat his marker before drifting a shot over the junction between post and bar. Angie MacDonald chested the ball down and John Gillies saw his shot saved by keeper Colin Fraser and Angie MacDonald put the rebound wide. Skye were getting closer and with 10 minutes played, an Angie MacDonald shot was blocked and John Gillies was on hand to slam the ball into the net to make it 1-0 with his first goal at second team level. Donnie Forbes put a shot wide of target and Craig Girvan knocked the ball goalwards but wide of target as Inverness started to settle into the game. Colin Fraser saved a John Gillies back-hand and Angie MacDonald almost got to the rebound. A huge shy from Thomas Wilson caused an almighty scramble in the Inverness goal area after 33 minutes but the visitors stayed firm. Colin Fraser did well to scoop the ball away as Angie MacDonald closed in on goal. A bouncing John Gillies ball on goal was deflected wide by keeper Colin Fraser on 38 minutes. Chris Campbell came on for Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod as Skye made the game’s first change. Despite’s Skye’s pressure, they had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break. Inverness took on forward Peter Gow at full forward so Kevin Hunter was able to move to buckshee forward. John Gillies required treatment after picking up a leg-knock a couple of minutes into the second half but he was able to carry on. A good reaction save from Colin Fraser denied John Gillies on 52 minutes when the keeper turned the ball away for a corner with his caman. John Gillies came close again when he cut in from the wing but keeper Colin Fraser spread himself to prevent Skye doubling their advantage. Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod had pushed up to buckshee forward at the start of the second half with John Angus MacInnes going to full centre. MacLeod drilled a shot wide from around the penalty spot as Skye pressed for a second goal. Play was scrappy and neither team seemed able to hold onto possession. A ball forward from Iain Greenhouse on 63 minutes found Kenny Loades in space but he never caught the ball as he would have liked and Skye goalie Iain MacLeod ushered the ball away for a corner. John Gillies collected a ball from Angie MacDonald but shot wide under pressure from marker Paul Bowman. A goal-saving challenge from Iain Greenhouse denied Angie MacDonald and the visitors immediately broke forward and Iain MacLeod did well to dash from his line to thwart Mark MacKay. With 15 minutes remaining, Daniel Morrison came on for Skye and Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod returned to the field of play. Chris Campbell and Thomas Wilson were withdrawn. Skye went 2-0 ahead just seconds later. Daniel Morrison won possession in midfield and found Angie MacDonald who drove the ball goalwards. Keeper Fraser seemed to have it covered but John Gillies had the presence of mind to nip in and steer the ball into the net. Skye doubled their advantage on 77 minutes. John Angus MacInnes picked up the ball in midfield and played the it forward and Angie MacDonald won the challenge with keeper Fraser and tucked the ball into the net to make it 3-0. Angie MacDonald celebrated his goal by taking a well-earned rest and James Pringle was given a first team debut. John Gillies came close to notching a hat-trick on 85 minutes but some last-ditch defending scrambled the ball away for a corner. James Pringle came close to a debut goal on 85 minutes when he was played in by Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod but his effort went wide under pressure. Seconds later, James Pringle hit the side-netting after getting on the end of a John Gillies pass. Skye turned the screw and a Daniel Morrison shy was knocked down into the path of Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod but keeper Colin Fraser moved smartly to get his feet behind the ball and he cleared for a corner. Skye rounded off the scoring on 90 minutes when Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod slipped a pass to his name-sake Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and he slotted the ball into the net to make it 4-0. There was still time for James Pringle to beat keeper Fraser but defender Ruairidh MacLennan got back in the nick of time to clear the ball off the line. Skye had the final chance of the game and Colin Fraser saved with his foot from John Gillies. John Gillies was best for Skye with Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and John Angus MacInnes looking good following their change of roles in the second half. Debutant James Pringle can also be pleased with his contribution. Josh Mason was impressive for Inverness in midfield whilst Iain Greenhouse was a rock in defence. Skye will travel to the Canal Parks to play Kilmallie in the Strathdearn Cup quarter finals. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Andrew Banks, Kyle Pirie, Magnus Burd, DJ Gilpin; Calum Gibb, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Thomas Wilson; Ally “Viewfield” MacLeod, John Gillies, John Angus MacInnes (captain), Angie MacDonald; subs Daniel Morrison, Chris Campbell, James Pringle, Marcus Ross Inverness from: Colin Fraser; Jason MacLeod, Paul Bowman, Andy Henderson (captain), Iain Greenhouse; Josh Masson, Kenny Loades, Ruairidh MacLennan; Donnie Forbes, Craig Girvan, Mark MacKay, Kevin Hunter; subs Gary Lightbody, Peter Gow, Jack Craig, Jamie Anderson Match Referee – John MacRitchie The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan Scorers Skye Camanachd John Gillies (10, 75) Angie MacDonald (79) Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod (90) Inverness None The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |