Newtonmore 1 Skye Camanachd 2 | |
07 May 2023 Skye Camanachd beat league leaders Newtonmore 2-1 in their Mowi Premiership match at the Eilan on Saturday 6 May 2023. Newtonmore’s Arron MacBean, who picked up an injury after scoring in the previous week’s 4-0 win over Fort William, started on the bench alongside Craig Ritchie, Fraser MacKintosh and Martin Hall. Skye travelled without Jordan Murchison, Ross Gordon and Kenny Cushnie whilst John Gillies, who has a hamstring problem, was rested ahead of this Saturday’s cottages.com MacTavish Cup semi-final against Glenurquhart in Portree. The first half was a story of missed opportunities, particularly by Newtonmore until the home side broke the deadlock on 40 minutes. Iain Robinson’s shot deflected by Skye goalie Murphy Henderson off defender James Morrison’s caman, wrong footing the keeper. Newtonmore laid siege on the Skye goal in the second half as they looked for the second goal that would surely put Skye to the sword but the visiting rear-guard, with stand-in full back James Morrison and buckshee back William MacKinnon both outstanding, defended for their lives. The goal never came though and, just a minute short of the hour, William MacKinnon galloped out of the Skye defence. His run wasn’t tracked, and MacKinnon ended up hammering Ruaraidh MacLeod’s pass high into the net to make it 1-1. ‘More went back on the attack but they couldn’t break Skye down and they were made to pay in the most dramatic fashion. There were just 4 minutes remaining when Neil MacVicar’s hit-in got by Rory Kennedy and came to Ruaraidh MacLeod at the back post. MacLeod’s first time shot flew past a helpless Kenny Ross in the home goal to give Skye an unlikely 2-1 lead. It was now practically ten versus ten in the Skye half for the remainder of the contest as Newtonmore threw everything at their opponents. Throughout the game, the blue and whites had one-on-ones with the keeper, an Iain Robinson effort off the post, strikes wide of target and a penalty claim when Skye keeper Murphy Henderson kicked the ball, but referee Martin MacLean waved away the claims and it did seem to have taken place with the ball just out of play. However, the Islanders held out to take the points which could yet prove crucial in their quest to consolidate their Premiership status. Reflecting on a frustrating 90 minutes, A delighted Skye manager Kenny Macleod said: “We were already without Jordan Murchison and Kenny Cushnie was a late call-off through work commitments. John Gillies was rested after physio with next week’s MacTavish Cup semi-final against Glenurquhart in mind. Ross Gordon was unavailable so we gave young Archie Millar, who has been scoring freely for our under-17s, his first start. The boys never gave up and I thought we did enough to deserve the win.” Skye Camanachd from: Murphy Henderson: James Morrison, Sam Macphee, Martin Pringle, William MacKinnon: Ross Nicolson, Jamie Gillies, Ally ‘Cleodi’ Macleod: Ross MacKinnon, James Pringle, Archie Millar, Ruaraidh MacLeod: subs Neil MacVicar, John Gillies (captain), Newtonmore from: Kenny Ross: Rory Kennedy, Michael Russell, Duncan MacPherson, Iain Richardson: Daniel Craven, Steven Macdonald, Struan Ross: Craig Macleod, Conor Jones (captain), Iain Robinson, Craig MacIsaac: subs Arron MacBean, Craig Ritchie, Fraser MacKintosh, Martin Hall Match Referee – Martin MacLean |