Skye Camanachd 3 Lovat 4 | |
01 March 2012 Lovat retained the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup when they edged out Skye Camanachd 4-3 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree onSaturday 25 February 2012. Jamie MacDonald made his first appearance for the Islanders after injuring his knee over 18 months ago. Both Iain Nicolson and Allan MacKinnon were unavailable. Lovat were minus Euan Ferguson, Ryan Ferguson, Owen Ferguson and James Grieve who continues to recover from a shoulder injury. The visitors drew first blood after just 3 minutes when Aonghas MacDonald saved from Graeme MacMillan following a corner from the left and Greg Matheson reacted first to tuck the ball into the net and put Lovat 1-0 in front. Skye were level 6 minutes later there seemed little danger when Danny Morrison collected the ball around 30 yards from goal. He took a couple of steps forward before sending a blistering drive past Stuart MacDonald to make it 1-1. Skye took the lead on 25 minutes. Jordan Murchison was given time to tee up a shot and his effort bounced before Stuart MacDonald and nestled in the back of the net. Skye went 3-1 up on 31 minutes with the goal of the game. Jamie MacDonald and Shaun Hedley combined to win possession and Hedley’s ball forward found Jordan Murchison on the Skye left. Murchison’s low cross found Gilleasbuig MacDonald and he slotted the ball, low into the net. Skye defender Neil MacVicar needed treatment at half time after a blow cut through his shin pad and left a gash which required three stitches. Shockie MacLennan moved to buckshee back withAndrewBanks coming on at wing back. Lovat boss Allan MacRae made a couple of tactical switches early in the second half which quickly reaped dividends. Scotland U21 forward James MacPherson was moved to wing forward and Drew Howie was pushed forward to wing centre. Lovat narrowed the gap on 50 minutes when James MacPherson got on the end of a Graeme MacMillan corner from the left and he whipped the ball into the net to make it 3-2. Lovat were level on 61 minutes and it was MacPherson again who did the damage. Lovat wing centre Craig Mainland played a great ball forward which found Drew Howie on the Lovat right wing. The Skye defence failed to clear Howie’s cross and James MacPherson netted to get his second and the visitor’s third goal of the game. Lovat regained the lead on 71 minutes. Skye keeper Aonghas MacDonald saved a shot from James MacPherson but the rebound fell for Greg Matheson who steered the ball into the net to make it 4-3 for the Balgate side. Skye fought hard in an attempt to take the game to a penalty shoot-out. Darryl Macintosh shot over the bar on 86 minutes following a Jamie MacDonald corner from the left. Lovat almost increased their lead 60 seconds later when Greg Matheson broke free and it took a last ditch challenge from Steven Morrison to foil the Lovat marksman. Skye were awarded a couple of late free-hits around the Lovat goal but the Lovat defence, well marshaled by Calum Cruden, held firm. Lovat captain Martin Bell was presented with the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup by Margaret Piper, sister of the late Thomas Ferguson. Skye Camanachd from; Aonghas MacDonald, Steven Morrison, Shockie MacLennan (captain), Shaun Hedley, Neil MacVicar, Darryl Macintosh, Iain Murray, Jamie MacDonald, Danny Morrison, Iain Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, subs Ally MacDonald, Chris Rose, Will Cowie, John MacLeod Lovat from; Stuart MacDonald, Martin Bell (captain), Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve, Callum Cruden, Craig Mainland, Lorne MacKay, Connal MacIllechiar, James MacPherson, Graeme MacMillan, Lewis Tawse, Greg Matheson subs Rory Cruden, Michael MacKenzie, Allan MacRae Match Referee – Donnie Martin The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |