FC Isle of Man continue winning run against ten-man Abbey Hey

Doyle and Pinnington on form as Ravens victorious at The Bowl

FC Isle of Man's winning streak has now stretched to four games after they managed a 3-1 victory over ten-man Abbey Hey in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (2 November).

It was Abbey Hey who stormed out the blocks to lead inside two minutes through Saul Henderson before Doyle nodded home from close range to level on 20 minutes.

Pinnington's cool one-on-one finish ten minutes later gave 'The Ravens' the lead with Abbey Hey boss Simon Heaton sent off moments later for dissent.

Doyle finished a slick counter-attack with a diving header in the second half on 59 minutes to seal the points against a visiting team who played the last 12 minutes with ten men following a straight red card for Trey Turner.

Ahead of tonight's meeting both sides were hoping to continue respective records of four wins in their last six, and it was Abbey Hey who struck early with just under two minutes played.

A whipped pass down the right found Jamal Crawford who beat FC IoM's Jacob Crook for pace before sending in a pin-point cross to an unmarked Henderson to tap first-time into the top corner from around 12 yards out.

In a pulsating opening to the game, the hosts were level on 20 minutes when a Ste Whitley cross from the right looped to the back post which was retrieved by Luke Booth to find Doyle close by to nod home from point-blank despite Abbey Hey claims the ball had gone out of play.

The first half continued in a nip-and-tuck style before the Manx side led for the first time on 31 minutes.

A Crook cross down the left found the sprinting Pinnington who - with Abbey Hey defenders asking for an offside - charged in one-on-one to slot a low effort past Abbey Hey goalkeeper, Joe Lawton into the far bottom corner.

In the aftermath, a verbal altercation saw Abbey Hey manager shown a straight red card by referee Declan Dunn for dissent.

Trailing for the first time going into the second period, Abbey Hey started the second 45 as brightly as they started the first, controlling much of the ball as 'The Ravens'' defence held firm.

That changed as, with just under an hour gone, FC Isle of Man broke through Crook down the left who charged into the Abbey Hey half before sending an inviting cross to the near-post for Doyle who - all alone - arrowed a diving header past Lawton to extend FC Isle of Man's advantage.

Facing an uphill task in the closing stages to get back into the contest, Abbey Hey's job to do so got all the more difficult in the 78th minute.

Challenging FC Isle of Man substitute Tom Creer for a loose ball, Turner flew in with a sliding tackle catching Creer who went to ground and -  following a brief pause - Dunn produced his second red card of the night for Turner to cap off a frustrating night for the Manchester-based side.

By taking maximum points for a fourth game running, FC Isle of Man maintain their current placing in the NWCFL Premier Division promotion play-off spots in fifth position.

FC Isle of Man's next game will be away against Squires Gate on Saturday, 9 November, kicking-off at 1pm.

Man of the Match: Sean Doyle (FC Isle of Man)