FC IoM blast past Barnton to go second

Ravens hit four and grab another clean sheet

FC Isle of Man have gone up to second place in the NWCFL Div 1 South after a 4-0 victory over Barnton at The Bowl last night (29 January).

The Ravens went into the game hoping to maintain their 100% start to the New Year whilst the visitors arrived having lost only one of their last eight games.

The first half was a tightly-contested affair with both sides coming close to grabbing an opener.

Dan Simpson tested Barnton stopper, Arran Lyons, after seven minutes with a low effort, before Barnton’s Ross Avies then hit the crossbar six minutes later with an audacious lob.

On 22 minutes, Lyons was spared embarrassment after he was second to the ball rushing out of his goal before Lee Gale squared to Sean Doyle who, with virtually an empty net, scooped an effort over the bar from around 12 yards.

Despite not hitting their highest gear, FC IOM took the lead on 38 minutes thanks to a moment to forget for Barnton defender, Ben Forster.

Ravens midfielder Michael Williams was fed through on goal and squared across the keeper and Forster, under no real pressure, smashed the ball into his own net from around six yards.

After taking a fortunate 1-0 lead into half time, the Manx side took the tempo up several notches at the start of the second half.

They were rewarded for their strong start seven minutes into the second period when Dan Simpson controlled a wonderful cross from Jack Camarda on the left flank before cutting inside and onto his left foot before striding into the penalty area and smashing a low effort into the bottom corner.

The home team pushed relentlessly during the rest of the second period with little in attacking threat coming the other way from Barnton, and FC IOM increased their lead again on 79 minutes.

A long throw from Simpson on the right was met at the near post by Sean Doyle who flicked the ball on and past the stretching fingertips of Lyons into the far corner.

The Ravens then put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal with almost the last kick of the game deep into stoppage time when Simpson again became provider with a pinpoint cross from the left to find substitute Ste Whitley between the two central defenders six yards out to nod home a header from close range.

FC IoM Manager, Chris Bass, thinks their first half display left a lot to be desired, but his side reacted well after the break:

FC Isle of Man’s 4-0 victory lifts them to second in the table ahead of New Mills on goal difference.

Their next game will be away against Brocton next Saturday (5 February)

Attendance: 1,505

Man of the match: Dan Simpson (FC Isle of Man)