Skye Camanachd U14 Win Marine Harvest North Division 1 Title | |
13 November 2016 Skye Camanachd U14 clinched the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title after they drew 2-2 with Fort William U14 at An Aird on Saturday 12 November 2016. The Skye youngsters went into the game two points clear of their Fort William opponents so they knew that at least a draw would be enough to retain the title. However the teams had agreed that should the Fort be ahead at the end of the regulation 70 minutes, then the title would be decided on completion of an extra time period which would start goalless. There would be penalties if the extra time period remained on level terms. Skye Head Coach Willie MacDonald was without key defender James Morrison. The ever-consistent full back sustained a hairline fracture to his hand in the previous week’s Marine Harvest London Shield Final defeat to Oban Camanachd U17. The ensuing reshuffle saw Jamie Gillies going to full back, Ross Gordon to centre and Dan MacDonald to buckshee forward. Niall MacPhee was given a start at full forward. Fort William Head Coach Victor Smith started 2016 Marine Harvest U14 Player of the Year Lachie Shaw at buckshee back. This fixture was rearranged from MacMaster Cup Final day and although the pitch was heavy from the previous night’s rain, it was in surprisingly good condition and the skies even cleared for a time to let some sunshine through. The game started at a good pace with both teams working eachother out. The Skye centre line Mark MacQueen, Ross Gordon and Ryan Macaskill took an early control of the match with Dan MacDonald, who was giving Lachie Shaw a difficult time stretching the home defence from side to side and he linked up well with Abby MacLean. Both looked a threat and both went close to scoring the opening goal. At the other end, Jamie Gillies was keeping a close eye on Fort William danger-man Victor Smith. Skye wing back Gilleasbuig MacVicar bravely blocked a goal-bound shot as the home side looked to get in front. Skye thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half. Ross Gordon sent a dangerous ball from just inside the Fort William half in on top of the home goal. The ball was missed by everyone and Skye claimed that the ball had crossed the goal line however referee John Wood waved away their claims. However there was no doubting the opening goal on 25 minutes. The industrious Mark MacQueen gathered the ball 20 yards from goal and he hit a thunderous shot from left of centre and the ball flew into the top corner of the net. With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Skye suffered a blow when captain Christina MacDonald was forced off with a back injury. Mark MacQueen went to buckshee back to replace MacDonald and Archie MacDonald came off the bench to slot in at left wing centre. Play flowed from end-to-end in what was now a highly competitive encounter. Skye finished the half strongly but they couldn’t add to their score thanks in the main to some stout Fort William defending. However there was a complete turnaround at the restart. Whatever Fort coach Victor Smith said to his troops struck a chord and they went on to have good spells of play during the first 15 minutes of the second half. Fort William’s Lachie Shaw had now pushed up the field into full centre and he was finding more space and his clean hitting was causing Skye problems. Fort William wing forward Paul Paterson and Skye wing back Gilleasbuig MacVicar were having an enthralling battle with the defender putting his body in the way of everything Paterson could throw at him. The second half was just 5 minutes old when Fort William drew level. Victor Smith had had a quiet first half by his standards against Skye’s Jamie Gillies. However Smith made just half a yard of space before hitting a low, hard 12 yard shot on the turn into the goal to make it 1-1. Skye went back on the attack, pressurising the Fort backs and they regained the lead from the penalty spot on 55 minutes. With Skye’s Abby MacLean involved in a melee on the goal line, referee John Wood penalised some dangerous play and Ross Gordon made no mistake with the resultant spot-hit, driving the ball high into roof of the net to make it 2-1. Fort William responded and they almost levelled for a second time with first Victor Smith going close and then Paul Paterson rattling the crossbar. The effort from both sets of players was a credit to their clubs and it was Skye’s turn to go close when Dan MacDonald waltzed through the Fort defence on the left but he sent his shot wide of target. Abby MacLean then passed up a chance, sending a shot from the right wide of the post. Play continued without stoppage and the tackles were flying in all over the pitch with commitment high on the agenda from both sets of players. There was no doubt that both teams wanted to win the game and, in the final minute of the match, Victor Smith squeezed the ball past Skye keeper Murphy Henderson from close range to make it 2-2 with his second goal of the game. There was to be no denying Skye, for whom Jamie Gillies and Dan MacDonald were excellent, and their celebrations began when referee John Wood took the throw up and immediately blew the final whistle to end a match which was high in entertainment and commitment with plenty skill to boot. The win completes the double for Skye who add the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title to the MacMaster Cup which they lifted on Camanachd Cup Final day. Skye Camanachd U14 from: Murphy Henderson; Jamie Gillies, Gilleasbuig MacVicar, Liam McPhee, Christina MacDonald (captain); Mark MacQueen, Ross Gordon, Ryan Macaskill; Dan MacDonald, Abby MacLean, Holly MacLean, Niall MacPhee; subs Archie MacDonald, Cameron MacKay, Taylor Matheson Match Referee – John Wood |