League leaders sink FC Isle of Man with last-gasp winner

Padiham score late to put Ravens bottom of the table 

A last-gasp header from Padiham's Finlay Holyoak saw FC Isle of Man fall to a late 3-2 defeat to the NWCFL Premier Division leaders at The Bowl this evening (30 August).

Jack Price's calm finish on 18 minutes put Padiham in front with Dean Pinnington equalising for FC Isle of Man with a low drive from 20 yards six minutes later.

The away side led for a second time in the 72nd minute through a stunning Bradley Knox strike before 'The Ravens' levelled again thanks to Charlie Higgins' well-taken low effort with three minutes of normal time left.

With the contest seemingly headed for a stalemate, Padiham's Finlay Holyoak rose highest from a corner in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to head into the top corner with almost the last kick of the game.

Tonight's meeting featured two sides in contrasting form with FC Isle of Man entering the contest with one win in seven and Padiham with a perfect record of five victories in their first five league games.

After a tight and tense first few minutes under the floodlights, Padiham took the lead on 18 minutes when a perfect through ball from Oliver Roberts found Price in behind the FC Isle of Man defence with Price calmly rounding FC Isle of Man goalkeeper, Matthew Quirk and slotting into an empty net from a tight angle.

The hosts were quick to respond as in the 24th minute, a scrap on the edge of the Padiham box fell the way of Pinnington who set himself before lashing a low strike past Padiham stopper, Bradley A Sullivan into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area.

With both sides locked level at the break, both sides began to carry a threat going forward in the second period.

With 18 minutes to go, Padiham took the lead for a second time when Knox - around 25 yards out - let fly from distance, seeing his powerful effort sail past Quirk and crash into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Just two minutes after, Pinnington nearly had himself a second for FC Isle of Man, only to see a well-struck half-volley after cutting in from the right beaten away by Sullivan up to the goalkeeper's right hand side.

Into the last ten and Padiham thought they'd got a third when Jakub Hebda nodded home a Price cross in the 81st minute from the left, only for it to be ruled out with Hebda adjudged to have pushed a defender in the six-yard box.

And two minutes after that, FC Isle of Man were level again - Pinnington becoming provider with a low cross from the left to an unmarked Higgins on the edge of the box who confidently swept a low strike to Sullivan's left and into the bottom corner.

As a nervy end to the game entered second-half stoppage time, Padiham thought they'd found a winner when a low corner from the left evaded a huge body of players and cannoned off the inside of the far post and was scrambled away by Quirk.

However, referee Feiruz Abdullahi decided the ball hadn't crossed the line despite huge protests from the Padiham players and dugout.

But the league leaders weren't to be denied as they struck a decisive final blow in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

A corner taken quickly on the right resulted in Price lofting a ball into the six-yard area to find an unmarked Holyoak who powered his header into the top corner to hand the visitors all three points.

The result also leaves FC Isle of Man bottom of the NWCFL Premier Division with one win from their opening eight games of the current campaign.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be away at Burscough on Saturday, 6 September, kicking off at 3pm.

Man of the Match: Sam Baines (FC Isle of Man)