Match Report: Carloway 1 – 6 Whitedale

At Tain Links, Tain.

Saturday, 8th June, 2019, 19.00.

A large Carloway contingent crossed the Minch for Na Gormaich’s first mainland Highland Amateur tie since the defeat at Avoch in June 2017 and the first mainland game against a team other than Avoch since the defeat of Wick Groats in Ullapool on the way to the final in 2014. Whitedale were strong opposition having won the Shetland league for the last two years and Tain was the venue for this second round tie.

Manager Billy Anderson had to juggle his team with Murdo “Squegg” Macleod, Eachainn Miller, Joe Armstrong and Ross Maciver all unavailable. Skipper Domhnall Mackay moved into midfield to cover for “Squegg” with “D.I.” Maclennan moving to centre back and Kevin “Barra” MacNeil standing in at left back. Dan Crossley replaced Eachainn upfront and Jack Buchanan made a welcome appearance on the bench.

Whitedale started quickly and stunned Carloway with an early goal after five minutes (0-1).

The Shetland team were moving the ball quickly and extended their lead with further goals in the sixteenth (0-2) and twenty first minutes (0-3).

Anderson shuffled the pack, changing to a 3-5-2 and for the first time Carloway managed to get some possession and a foothold in the game. The improvement continued in the thirty eighth minute when Domhnall Mackay played in Fraser Macleod who smashed the ball home (1-3).

So, three one down at half-time but a swing in momentum and all to play for.

Half Time: Carloway 1 Whitedale 3

Manager Anderson replaced Stuart “Bubble” Macdonald with Jack Buchanan (or the ginger Ronaldo as he’s known in Uig!) at the break and Carloway started the second half on the front foot with Fraser Macleod coming close twice. It was clear that the next goal would be crucial and unfortunately it went to Whitedale, who extended their lead in the sixty fourth minute (1-4).

Andy “Bernera” Morrison and Kenny “Dokus” MacDonald came on for Kevin “Barra” MacNeil and Callum “Beag” Mackay but the tie was gone and was finished off by two late goals from Whitedale in the eightieth (1-5) and eighty fourth minute (1-6).

Full Time: Carloway 1 Whitedale 6

So a tough lesson for Carloway against a strong Whitedale team who may well progress far into the competition. Carloway were in the game at 3-1 but, in the end, the slow start was costly and our wait for a first Highland Amateur Cup will have to extend for another year.

Line-ups:

CARLOWAY: 4-4-2.

Manager: Billy Anderson.

Asst. Manager: Iain Angus “Gus” Maciver.

                                                          Gordon Craigie

Cameron “Tiger” Macarthur      Euan Shirkie   Donald “D.I.” Maclennan   Kevin “Barra” MacNeil

Stuart “Bubble” Macdonald    Duncan Shirkie   Domhnall Mackay (capt.)   Callum “Beag” Mackay

                                           Fraser “Fraz” Macleod   Dan Crossley

Subs. used: Jack Buchanan (Stuart “Bubble” Macdonald); Andy “Bernera” Morrison (Kevin “Barra” MacNeil) 75; Kenny “Dokus” MacDonald (Callum “Beag” Mackay) 86.

Subs. not used: Andrew Macleod; Domhnall Graham.

Yellow cards: None.

WHITEDALE: 4-5-1.

Manager: Craig Nicolson

                                                  Richard Sinclair

Bobby Scott   Ali Scott   Lorne McNiven   Greg Tulloch   Piotr Drozdowski

Alex Arcus   Charlie Unsworth   Duncan Fraser   Dave McKenzie

                                                Adrian Morrison

Subs. used: Jordan Young (Piotr Drozdowski) 55; Joe Wadley (Bobby Scott) 86; Kieren Fraser (Alex Arcus) 88.

Subs. not used: Greg Irvine.

Yellow cards: None