Ravens rule Lions
JACK MCVEY’S first-half penalty secured FC Isle of Man a 1-0 win over Guernsey FC at a sell-out Bowl on Saturday evening.
The midfielder cooly slotted home from the spot to etch his name into the club’s history books just before the half-time break after Luke Murray was adjudged to have been impeded in the box by GFC centre-back Tom Strawbridge.
The newly formed Manx side, who will follow in their opponents’ footsteps and join the English non-league system when the North West Counties League Division One season hopefully begins in October, created the lion’s share of the friendly match’s goalscoring chances and should have perhaps won by more than the single goal they did.
Captain Frank Jones went close twice in succession as the Ravens made a vibrant start at the sun-kissed national stadium, striking the top of the bar with a dipping volley.
A goalmouth scramble then nearly bore fruit for the hosts only for the Guernsey defence and keeper John Addison to combine to keep their goal intact.
The Manx side’s impressive first-half performance in front of more than 2,000 fans continued and ever-green defender Sean Quaye saw a header cleared off the line from a dangerous Ste Whitley corner.
Guernsey’s best chance of the half fell to Dave Rihoy, but his shot was easily fielded by home keeper Dean Kearns.
FC Isle of Man manager Chris Bass Sr made 10 changes at half-time, defender Adam Cooil having already entered the fray in the first half for the injured Sam Caine.
This disrupted the flow of the game and both teams struggled to find their rhythm at the start of the second half.
Guernsey, who will start the season two rungs higher up the league pyramid than the Manx, nearly drew level when sub Glenn Le Tissier scampered clear only for Peel defender Tom Wood and goalkeeper Glenn Walker combined to snuff out the danger.
Referee Stuart Kneen turned promising-looking penalty shouts down for both sides, before the fresh legs of the Manx, who made half a dozen changes more than their opponents, began to tell towards the end of the match.
Dan Simpson saw a low shot well saved by Addison before the industrious Jamie Johnston fired narrowly over a great chance after being teed up by Sean Doyle on the edge of the box.
The tall frontman who made an impressive 15-minute cameo then sent a header just wide from Cooil’s free-kick into the box from deep.
Guernsey, however, almost spoiled the party late on only for Walker to tip a goal-bound header over the bar.
