Booth on form as Ravens dispatch Longridge Town

Clinical first-half hands FC Isle of Man victory in Lancashire

A ruthless Luke Booth double saw FC Isle of Man battle to a 3-1 victory away at Longridge Town in the NWCFL Premier Division this afternoon (19 October).

All four goals came in the first half with Booth opening the scoring on eight minutes before Harvey Roberts' near-post strike levelled for the Lancashire home side.

With just over half an hour played 'The Ravens' then struck twice in two minutes - first Charlie Higgins firing into the roof of the net before Booth got his second, converting a rebound from close range.

Making it back-to-back victories in the last seven days, this latest result propels the Island side up three places to fourth in the league standings after 20 games.

'The Ravens' made a positive start to matters with less than ten minutes gone as Booth latched onto a ball behind the Longridge Town defence before calmly slotting past Mason Walker.

But their lead didn't last long as an FC Isle of Man mistake was capitalised on and culminated with Roberts tapping home at the near post for an equaliser.

A quick double-salvo from the visiting Manx side came shortly after the half-hour mark.

First, captain Sean Doyle fed Higgins - who'd been threatening through the first period - to fire into the roof of the net on 33 minutes.

Two minutes later FC Isle of Man had a third as Booth struck once more, seeing his initial shot saved by Walker before it fell back to him to convert at the second attempt.

As the second half got underway, Lee Ashcroft's Longridge Town side immediately sough to apply the pressure. pushing the Manx side deeper into their own territory.

Five minutes after the restart Longridge's Liam Atkinson struck the post before Leighton Hewitt saw a goal-bound effort blocked.

Substitute Jordan Dainty was then next to create an opening for the hosts on 53 minutes only to see FC Isle of Man goalkeeper Adam Killey deny the resulting effort on goal.

With 25 minutes of normal time remaining, Doyle nearly got himself on the scoresheet as he rose highest from a corner only to see his header hooked off the line by Jack Anderton.

Ringing in a few late substitutions, FC Isle of Man continued to frustrate their opposition over the final ten minutes to eventually come away with three points.

FC Isle of Man's next game will be away against Chadderton on Saturday, 26 October at the Vestacare Stadium, kicking-off at 3pm.