FC Isle of Man make winning start to 2023/24 season

Doyle and Leece bag goals for 10-man Ravens against Wythenshawe Town

FC Isle of Man have made a winning start to their 2023/24 NWCFL Premier Division season after battling to a 2-0 win over Wythenshawe Town at The Bowl this evening (29 July).

In a scrappy first half, the Manx side took the lead on 36 minutes courtesy of Sean Doyle's close range header.

The Ravens were reduced to ten men in the second half when midfielder Dean Pinnington was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Despite this, a vicious strike from Dean Leece from 20 yards with nine minutes remaining made sure of FC Isle of Man taking all three points in the curtain raiser to the new campaign.

FC Isle of Man manager, Paul Jones, says although he felt his team took time to get going in the contest, he's praised the players' mentality to grind out a result:

Tonight's game was a repeat of the final game of last season in which FC Isle of Man had defeated Wythenshawe Town 3-1 in April.

Both sides struggled to find momentum in the early stage of today's contest with little in the way of clear-cut opportunities.

The first big opening fell to the visitors when a long free-kick from left found Wythenshawe Town's Emmanuel Omorogbe unmarked from six yards, but he could only send his header flying over the crossbar.

Meanwhile, the Manx side were struggling to carve out much at the other end, but from almost nowhere broke the deadlock 36 minutes in.

A deflected shot from FC Isle of Man's Dean Pinnington on the right looped to the back post for Michael Williams, who squared a header back across goal where Sean Doyle was waiting from less than six yards to nod home into an empty net.

After the break, a much-changed Wythenshawe Town side from last season threatened again in the 63rd minute when a low cross from the right byline fell to striker, Nialle Rodney who, unmarked, scuffed his shot from twelve yards.

The loose ball then fell to his teammate, Matthew Liptrott, who fired a strike at goal which was headed away from danger by Ravens defender, Alex Maitland.

Still only holding a slender lead, FC Isle of Man's challenge to stay ahead go more difficult five minutes later when Pinnington, already booked in the first half, received a second yellow card and was sent off for cynically holding onto the ball on a Wythenshawe Town goal-kick, leaving the hosts down to ten men.

However, Wythenshawe Town were unable to capitalise and, despite being at a numbers disadvantage, FC Isle of Man struck again with nine minutes of normal time to go.

A Dean Leece cross from the left was only half-cleared to the edge of the Wythenshawe Town box and amid a scramble, the ball rolled into Leece who struck a powerful first-time effort from 20 yards which fizzed beyond Wythenshawe Town goalkeeper, Gregory Hall, into the 'keeper's bottom left corner.

Despite having it all to do, the visitors were unable to find some telling quality at the other end in the final stages, with Ravens stopper, Adam Killey, largely a bystander for much of the second half and leading up to the final whistle.

After tonight's victory, FC Isle of Man are back in action again this coming Wednesday (2 August) when they travel to face Ramsbottom United, kicking-off at the Harry Williams Riverside Ground at 7.45pm.

Man of the Match: Alex Maitland (FC Isle of Man)

Attendance: 777