Skye Camanachd 2 Newtonmore 0 | |
17 April 2014 The Skye Camanachd first team had a 2-0 Marine Harvest North Division 1win over the Newtonmore second team at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. on Saturday 12 April 2014. Skye manager John MacLeod was working so assistant managers Aonghas MacDonald and Davie Pringle looked after the side. The Islanders remained without the injured Shockie MacLennan whilst Neil MacVicar was working. However Jordan Murchison returned to the squad after missing the RBS MacTavish Cup defeat to Glenurquhart a fortnight earlier and he started on the bench. Newtonmore were keen to bounce back from their defeat to Kingussie in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup the previous weekend. Visiting manager Cammy MacDonald was without John MacKenzie, Martin Hall, Chris Sellar and Martin Ivil. There was a change of referee with Ronnie Campbell replacing David Stafford who was originally allocated the game. Skye started with a strong wind at their backs, blowing towards the Viewfield Road end of the ground in the first half. Both teams exchanged early shys on the Skye left before Gilleasbuig MacDonald played a long shy into the Newtonmore goal area where Kenny Campbell collected the ball and he turned and fired low into the net to give Skye a second minute lead Skye were buoyed by the early goal and a dangerous ball into the D from Will Cowie was stopped with his legs by keeper Kenny Ross and the former Lochcarron player cleared the ball for a corner. The strength of the wind was demonstrated when a particularly strong gust blew the Newtonmore goals over, away from the field of play. Kenny Campbell and Danny Morrison combined to set up Will Cowie but his shot rose just over the bar. Newtonmore made their first advance on the Skye goal after 16 minutes but after a good run down the Newtonmore right, Iain Robinson’s ball into the danger area was cleared by Jamie Gannon. Newtonmore had a set-piece opportunity from a central area seconds later when Steven Morrison was adjudged to have pushed Conor Jones in the back. Conor Jones found Calum Stewart with the free-hit but his shot was saved with his feet by Jamie Gannon and Ally “Spod” MacLeod cleared the danger. Skye’s Kenny Campbell broke forward on 29 minutes and Kenny Ross was forced to dash from his goal in an attempt to clear the danger. Campbell managed to slip the ball past the on-rushing keeper but Brett Munro cleared the ball off the line. Referee Ronnie Campbell had a word with both Iain Richardson and Gilleasbuig MacDonald after a midfield clash. A nice move saw Danny Morrison collect a Gilleasbuig MacDonald shy and Danny Morrison set up a chance for Kenny Campbell but his snap-shot went wide of goal. Skye made an early change when Kenny Campbell was replaced by Jordan Murchison. Murchison’s first contribution was to get on the end of a Danny Morrison pass and his shot rose inches over the bar. Kenny Ross made a terrific safe to deny Kenny MacLeod as he tipped the Skye forward’s shot over the bar with his caman after Skye had quickly played the ball forward from a shy in midfield. A Calum Stewart shot flashed across the Skye goal as Newtonmore made a rare first half attack. A Will Cowie shot was deflected wide for a corner on the Skye left and Danny Morrison also went close in the closing stages of the first half. Skye came close to conjuring up a second goal when deft turn from Will Cowie saw the Skyeman lose his marker. Cowie played the ball in to Jordan Murchison who flicked the ball in the air before turning and sending a spectacular volley across the goal but past the post. Kenny Campbell got on the end of a Gibbs MacDonald free-hit but his shot was blocked. The ball rebounded to Jordan Murchison and his strike was deflected a fraction wide of the post for a corner. Kenny MacLeod put the ball narrowly past the post with seconds of the first half remaining. Although the Islanders had dominated the first half, they had to settle for a one goal advantage at the break. It was a cold and wet opening to the second period and Newtonmore restarted with the elements in their favour and they made a strong start to the second half, pinning Skye back in their own goal area for the opening 11 minutes of the half. Newtonmore forced a corner in the opening minute of the first half. Iain Robinson took it and found Calum Stewart. His point-blank shot was well saved by Jamie Gannon with his feet and the Skye keeper cleared the ball for another corner. Visiting boss Cammy MacDonald introduced Craig MacLeod into the attack on 52 minutes with Alan MacDiarmid coming off. Calum Stewart evaded Steven Morrison but the Skye defender recovered to click his opponent. However Stewart still managed to get a shot in and the ball went over the junction between post and bar. Skye got themselves back into the game though and they put pressure on the ‘More goal without testing Kenny Ross. Newtonmore’s best chance of the game so far came on 58 minutes when Calum Stewart played the ball to the back post but Craig MacLeod was unable to get a shot on target and Jamie Gannon cleared the ball for a corner. Newtonmore’s Conor Jones took a blow to the face but he was able to continue after treatment. The Skye camp made changes with Kenny Campbell rejoining play and Paul MacKinnon also coming on for Kenny MacLeod and Allan MacKinnon. As the rain eased, Skye seemed to have weathered the storm in more ways than one. The play was scrappy for a period but Paul MacKinnon and Danny Morrison created a chance for Jordan Murchison but his hot went past the post. Skye forced a series of corners and Danny Morrison and Jordan Murchison were in the thick of the action with Danny Morrison taking a blow to the top of the head as he tried to get to an over-head ball. Newtonmore tried desperately to clear their lines but when the ball eventually fell for Danny Morrison, he rifled the ball over Kenny Ross’ shoulder into the net to make it 2-0 with 77 minutes played. Kenny Campbell won possession against Scott Campbell down the Skye right and Danny Morrison got on the end of his cross but shot wide of target Jordan Murchison played in Kenny Campbell and although Newtonmore scrambled the ball away, it fell to Danny Morrison who put the ball past the post. Newtonmore introduced 17 year old substitute Ryan Spinks for the closing stages of the game and minutes later, a limping Blair MacKintosh was replaced by Alan MacDiarmid Kenny Ross turned away a Kenny Campbell shot after the Skye forward got on the end of a clever pass from Will Cowie. Paul MacKinnon chested down the resultant corner and shot goalwards and Kenny Ross was again called into action, again saving with his stick. Another youngster, Darrin Fowler, came on for Newtonmore with 5 minutes remaining. David Grant joined the Skye attack for the closing stages with Iain Murray, who put in a tireless shift at full centre, leaving the field. There was a late chance for the visitors when Alan MacDiarmid played a ball across goal and Iain Robinson darted in at the back post but Jamie Gannon came off his line to close him down and cleared the danger. Skye finished the match on the attack. Steven Morrison played a long free-hit to Kenny Campbell who released Will Cowie on the Skye right. Cowie’s pass found Jordan Murchison at the back post and he teed up Kenny Campbell who sent a backhand drive the wrong side of the post. Will Cowie was again impressive for Skye whilst Steven Morrison turned in another dependable performance at the back. Ally MacDonald rarely put a foot or caman wrong and looks to be benefiting from a run of games in the same position. Calum Stewart was always dangerous for Newtonmore whilst their defence relied on the experienced Scott Campbell. Calum Binnie though was the pick of the opposition players. This was Skye’s third consecutive league win and they have yet to lose a goal in the league. They go top of the table on goal difference, ahead of Newtonmore who have played two games more. Strathglass are lurking in fourth place with maximum points from their two games. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon; Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Chris Rose, Allan MacKinnon, Iain Murray, Gilleasbuig MacDonald (captain), Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, Kenny Campbell, Kenny MacLeod, subs Jordan Murchison, Paul MacKinnon, David Grant Newtonmore from: Kenny Ross; Brett Munro, Liam Mullender, Cameron MacNiven, Scott Campbell; Iain Richardson, Blair MacKintosh, Calum Binnie; Calum Stewart, Iain Robinson, Allan MacDiarmid, Conor Jones (captain), subs Craig MacLeod, Ryan Spinks, Darrin Fowler Match Referee – Ronnie Campbell The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |