Skye Blue Thinking

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 13 April 2019 at Kyleakin, Skye
Result	Kyleakin 3 NW Skye 1
Competition	Skye & Lochalsh Amateur Football League
Hopstats	Ground 692 on the lifetime list, and the second part of a live sporting double-header after the Skye v Lovat shinty earlier today (see previous post for report and pix).
Context
Second round of matches in the new season.  In the first round, Kyleakin won 4-3 away at GA United and NW Skye lost 3-1 away at Sleat & Strath.
In one sentence
Kyleakin were made to work hard for the win.
So what?
Two of the four games this weekend were postponed - one because of the lack of an available ref, and one because of lawnmower failure.  Therefore the early league table is rather meaningless but it shows Kyleakin second on goal difference, and NW Skye 7th (of 9).
Match Report
This is a splendid location within sight of the bridge linking Skye to the mainland.  Kyleakin took the lead early on with a very nice lob, maybe with an element of breeze assistance.  The equaliser after 25 minutes crept in at the far post after the home keeper had taken most of the pace off the ball.  However, Kyleakin took the lead again four minutes later.  A lunging challenge (pictured) was deemed to be a foul.  The home penalty taker hit the bar with the spotkick (picture 2 below) but fortunately one of his teammates reacted quickest to slot the ball just inside the far post (third pic).  The third goal, after half-time, came when an intelligent and untracked run from midfield allowed number 7 to plant a firm header into the net.  Kyelakin now had a two-goal cushion and were able to see out the game despite noble efforts from the visitors.  Of the three sporting contests I've seen on the island of Skye this week, this was the best.
Pix
Kyleakin in red.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
New this season – a pre-match prediction based only on keeper top colours as a preliminary test of the data.  Proper statistical significance test to follow in due course. Today, Grey beats Green, but no clean sheet. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 56% (27 from 48) Based on conventional 3pts for a win, 1pt for a draw, but also -1pt for a goal conceded (GC) and +5pts for a clean sheet (CS).  Colours ranked on a points per game (PPG) basis. The odd decimal places were caused either by half-and-half tops or sub keepers in a different colour.  The Fire Cracker colour was confirmed with the help of the social media team at Dulux UK.  All of this arises from a comment attributed to Petr Cech that orange is the best colour for a goalkeeper because it changes the behaviour of other players around the box Table not including this match - will update in a future post. P W D L GC CS Pts PPG Red 10.5 5.5 1.0 4.0 11.0 3.5 24.0 2.286 Grey 50.5 24.0 11.0 15.5 80.5 15.0 77.5 1.535 Blue 47.1 21.0 7.0 19.1 76.0 14.0 64.0 1.359 Green 105.0 52.0 12.0 41.0 183.0 23.0 100.0 0.952 Fire Cracker 3.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 6.0 1.0 2.0 0.667 Maroon 5.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 9.0 1.0 3.0 0.600 Orange 54.5 20.0 12.0 22.5 93.5 10.0 28.5 0.523 Purple 21.0 8.0 4.0 9.0 45.0 5.0 8.0 0.381 Black 6.5 2.5 3.0 1.0 15.0 0.5 -2.0 -0.308 Yellow 36.0 9.0 8.0 19.0 77.0 6.0 -12.0 -0.333 Radioactive Bile 23.0 9.0 0.0 14.0 51.0 3.0 -9.0 -0.391 Pink 18.0 5.0 5.0 8.0 37.0 1.0 -12.0 -0.667 White 1.9 0.0 0.0 1.9 4.0 0.0 -4.0 -2.105
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter!  Typing this at Inverness Airport and will be back in England next week for a good chunk of the Hellenic League Easter Hop.

And I Would Fly-Drive 558 Miles

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 6 April 2019 at Portree High School
Result	Portree Juniors 8 Glenelg 0
Competition	Skye & Lochalsh Amateur Football League
Hopstats	Ground 691 on the lifetime list, and I am here because it is the opening day of the season for the Skye and Lochalsh Amateur League.
Context
First day of the season, so nothing to go on at all.  Thanks then to the West Highland Free Press for this ... https://www.whfp.com/2019/04/05/skye-and-lochalsh-football-league-preview-2019/ which suggests a youthful side taking on visitors in transition.
In one sentence
A dominant win for the home side, but with an element of gift-wrapping or good fortune for three of the goals.
So what?
A score more than enough to put these teams top and bottom of the Week 1 league table.
Match Report
A 3G cage at the High School in a delightful setting was the venue for this game, under grey skies.  The match referee helpfully gave me sight of the teamsheets confirming the presence of several young players.  It took the hosts only four minutes to take the lead with a glancing header by David Potter from a right-wing corner.  Juniors were trying to play possession football with triangles and movement, which did not always work as planned, and it took till 35 minutes for the second goal to arrive.  It was worth the wait, Dean Macleod shooting low into the net from distance.  2-0 at half-time then - it was clear that a home win was on the cards, but nothing to suggest Glenelg's later defensive collapse. The third goal had an element of luck but fair play to Sean Collins for being in the right place to turn in a rebound off the post.  Just before the hour, Ang McPherson neatly finished into the right-hand corner across the keeper, and then four goals in the final quarter turned a defeat into a thrashing. 4-0 John Murphy's direct freekick was fumbled over the line by the keeper for number five.  To be fair, he went on to save many other goalbound attempts. 5-0 Sub James Pringle picked the defensive pocket of the back line and had all the time in the world to score the sixth.  With Juniors now peppering the Glenelg goal, McPherson got his second with the aid of a deflection and then defender Malcolm Beaton joined the queue of players waiting to score with a fierce shot as the game entered stoppage time. The game was played in a good spirit, refereed with no assistants, and there were almost no instances of gamesmanship or histrionics.  Refreshing.
Pix
Portree Juniors in white.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
New this season – a pre-match prediction based only on keeper top colours as a preliminary test of the data.  Proper statistical significance test to follow in due course. Today, a thumping win and a clean sheet for Green over Yellow. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 55% (26 from 47) Based on conventional 3pts for a win, 1pt for a draw, but also -1pt for a goal conceded (GC) and +5pts for a clean sheet (CS).  Colours ranked on a points per game (PPG) basis. The odd decimal places were caused either by half-and-half tops or sub keepers in a different colour.  The Fire Cracker colour was confirmed with the help of the social media team at Dulux UK.  All of this arises from a comment attributed to Petr Cech that orange is the best colour for a goalkeeper because it changes the behaviour of other players around the box Table not including this match - will update in a future post. P W D L GC CS Pts PPG Red 10.5 5.5 1.0 4.0 11.0 3.5 24.0 2.286 Grey 50.5 24.0 11.0 15.5 80.5 15.0 77.5 1.535 Blue 47.1 21.0 7.0 19.1 76.0 14.0 64.0 1.359 Green 105.0 52.0 12.0 41.0 183.0 23.0 100.0 0.952 Fire Cracker 3.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 6.0 1.0 2.0 0.667 Maroon 5.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 9.0 1.0 3.0 0.600 Orange 54.5 20.0 12.0 22.5 93.5 10.0 28.5 0.523 Purple 21.0 8.0 4.0 9.0 45.0 5.0 8.0 0.381 Black 6.5 2.5 3.0 1.0 15.0 0.5 -2.0 -0.308 Yellow 36.0 9.0 8.0 19.0 77.0 6.0 -12.0 -0.333 Radioactive Bile 23.0 9.0 0.0 14.0 51.0 3.0 -9.0 -0.391 Pink 18.0 5.0 5.0 8.0 37.0 1.0 -12.0 -0.667 White 1.9 0.0 0.0 1.9 4.0 0.0 -4.0 -2.105
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter!