FC Isle of Man hit Irlam for four to take vital win

Ravens emphatically end losing streak with ruthless performance

FC Isle of Man emphatically ended their recent losing run this evening (11 February) as they produced a ruthless 4-1 home win against Irlam in the NWCFL Premier Division at The Bowl.

A quick-fire first-half double from Furo Davies and Ste Whitley put the hosts in control before a sensational strike from Irlam’s Millon Brown brought the visitors back into the game before half-time.

An ice-cool Jack McVey penalty eight minutes into the second half restored the Ravens’ two-goal advantage before Michael Williams’ close-range header from a corner on the hour mark made sure of the three points for the Manx side, despite Davies being sent off late on.

FC Isle of Man’s first points of the calendar year ended a run of six straight defeats and takes them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Tonight’s match saw the Island outfit looking to secure their first result of 2023 against an Irlam side who’d beaten them 3-1 back in September last year.

The game began slowly with neither side offering too much of a threat going forward until the 14th minute when FC Isle of Man’s Charlie Higgins got on the end of a cross to the left edge of the Irlam penalty area and curled a shot around Irlam ‘keeper, Thomas Goodwin, only to see his shot rebound off the near post.

The Ravens made the first breakthrough ten minutes later as a Ste Whitley free-kick 35 yards or so out on the left flank was floated to the back post where Furo Davies rose highest to power a header into Goodwin’s bottom left corner from six yards.

Around 60 seconds later, the hosts doubled their advantage when Jacob Crook intercepted a loose pass in the middle of the park and chipped a cross over the Irlam defence into Whitley who, on the edge of the Irlam box, trapped the ball expertly beforehand stroking a low shot under the advancing Goodwin and into the net for 2-0.

The away side, who’d controlled the larger share of possession during the opening 45, struck back six minutes before the break in style when Millon Brown cut in from the left wing past two defenders before unleashing a thunderous strike from 25 yards which whistled past FC IOM stopper, Ben Wilkinson, into the ‘keeper’s top left corner.

FC Isle of Man held onto their 2-1 advantage come half-time, and began the stronger in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts in the 53rd minute as a counter-attack from an Irlam corner saw Higgins break free down the left before he was felled by defender, Levi Lewis, in the Irlam box.

Up stepped Jack McVey from the penalty spot and he dispatched a cool low strike into Goodwin’s bottom left corner to put the home side 3-1 up.

Now in control, FC Isle of Man then got a decisive fourth seven minutes after when a Whitley corner from the right was whipped into the six-yard area with midfielder Michael Williams up to meet the cross with a bullet header from close range which he hammered into the net.

As Irlam pushed for a way back into the contest, tempers began to boil over between both sides with referee, Daniel Woodyatt, forced into handing out a series of bookings for both sides.

Despite their advantage, FC Isle of Man found themselves down to ten men in second-half injury time when Davies was shown a straight red card after a hefty challenge on Irlam substitute, Alfie Walker - however, it didn’t stop the Island side holding on for a vital three points to move them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

FC Isle of Man remain 20th in the NWCFL Premier Division following the result, with their next game away against Ashton Athletic on Saturday, 18 February, kicking-off at 2pm.

Man of the Match: Ste Whitley (FC Isle of Man)