Skye Camanachd U17 0 Kinlochshiel U17 4 | |
22 April 2012 Skye Camanachd U17 went down 4-0 to Kinlochshiel U17 in their opening London Shield match of the season at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Tuesday 17 April 2012. It was a much changed Skye side which took the field compared to the team which won the 2011 MacTavish Juvenile Cup. Head Coach Davie MacVicar had to do without the services of influential players such as Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison, Iain Grant, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Magnus Burd, Calum Gibb and Ian MacPherson who have all moved out of this age group. Kinlochshiel in comparison were still able to field ten of the players from the 14 man squad which went down 2-1 to the Islanders at the same stage of the 2011 competition. Those players now too old from last year’s London Shield runners up team included Jordan Fraser, Donald Nixon and Duncan James. ‘Shiel Head Coach Murdo Fraser was also able to call on Lochcarron duo Robin Smith and Josh Holder as the Battery Park team does not have an U17 side. Ewan Falconer was carrying an injury so he started on the bench for the visitors. Skye started well and created the first chance of the game but Angie MacPherson shot wide. Kinlochshiel responded and with a flowing move of their own. Angie MacPherson went close and Andrew Grant had a shot deflected wide on 7 minutes as Skye went in search of the opening goal. The home side put together a good move on 11 minutes when Ally MacLeod won possession and played the ball forward to Andrew Grant. Will Cowie collected Grant’s pass and set up Iain MacLeod but his attempt went wide of target. Will Cowie shot wide a minute later as Skye continued to press. However when the opening goal came, it was at the other end. Seamus Lane played the ball to Aedan MacRae who set up a shooting opportunity for Alasdair Nixon. Skye keeper Raymond Gillies saved Nixon’s strike but in the goal-mouth scramble which followed, Aedan MacRae swept the ball low into the net. ‘Shiel had the lead with 14 minutes played. Skye came close again on 17 minutes when Andrew Grant played Angie MacPherson in and he beat ‘Shiel keeper Hugh MacRae to the ball but slipped it wide of target. Angie MacPherson snatched a shot wide of target a minute later. ‘Shiel’s Oliver Macrae won possession on 20 minutes and burst forward. However Skye keeper Raymond Gillies saved his effort and Jack Latton cleared the danger, Skye suffered a blow on 24 minutes when full back Stevie MacKinnon was accidently caught in the face by a swinging caman. MacKinnon required seven stitches and Ruairidh Morrison came on in his place. ‘Shiel’s Josh Holder saw a looping effort go wide of target on 27 minutes. The visitors doubled their advantage on 29 minutes when Raymond Gillies saved from Alasdair Nixon and Aedan MacRae knocked the rebound into the net for his second goal of the game. Worse was to follow for Skye 3 minutes later when Conall Fraser found Aedan MacRae and he scooped the ball into the net to complete his hat-trick. A minute later it was 4-0 when Aedan MacRae ran wide and blasted the ball past keeper Gillies from the tightest of angles. Oliver MacRae collected a shy from the left and fired into the side net on 35 minutes as the Skye defence struggled to cope with the ‘Shiel forwards. Skye’s Angie MacPherson had the last chance of the half on 38 minutes but he was unable to get any power in his shot. Skye tried to get back in the game at the start of the second half and Mark Mortimer did some keepy-uppy in midfield before volleying the ball on to Angie MacPherson but his shot rose over the bar. Skye substitute Angie Grant got on the end of a through ball on 48 minutes but the ball was cleared for a corner. A minute later Angie Grant got on the end of a cross from the left but again the ball was cleared by the visiting defence. Andrew Grant was desperately unlucky on 55 minutes when he saw a drive come back off the post following a corner. Skye keeper Raymond Gillies made a terrific stop from Alasdair Nixon a minute later. Skye’s final substitute Stephen Murchison was introduced and he shot wide on 64 minutes after the ball was teed up to him by Kyle Pirie. Just 60 seconds later ‘Shiel keeper Hugh MacRae saved an Andrew Grant shot with his feet. ‘Shiel full centre Conall Fraser broke forward on 75 minutes but his shot went wide of target. The final chance of the game came a minute from time when Will Cowie played forward a free-hit from deep inside his own half. Stephen Murchison took the ball down but his effort went just past the post. In the end, Skye were made to pay for squandering too many chances whilst ‘Shiel, and in particular Aedan MacRae, were clinical in front of goal. Best for the Islanders were Jack Latton who was superb in defence and new captain Will Cowie who started in attack before being taken back to full centre. Skye Camanachd U17 from; Raymond Gillies, Stevie MacKinnon, Kyle Pirie, Jack Latton, Ally MacLeod, Chris MacLennan, Mark Mortimer, DJ Gilpin, Will Cowie, Andrew Grant, Angie MacPherson, Iain MacLeod subs Ruairidh Morrison, Stephen Murchison, Angie Grant Kinlochshiel U17 from; Hugh MacRae, Seamus Lane, Nathan Whear, Douglas Campbell, Robin Smith, Josh Holder, Conall Fraser, Rowan Myers, Oliver MacRae, Alasdair Nixon, Duncan Grant, Aedan MacRae subs Ewan Falconer, Gabriel Dobson, Ru Lane Match Referee – John MacLeod The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |