Football: IoM national sides impress in weekend fixtures

Women's side take trio of wins with men's team also victorious

It was wins all-round for the Isle of Man's senior national football sides during a series of fixtures which took place over the weekend.

Across a series of fixtures between Friday and Saturday (12-13 July) against Welsh side NFA FC the Island women's team managed back-to-back wins with the men's squad also taking victory in their only outing against the visiting side.

The Manx Under-18 Boys were involved in a six-goal draw in the one match they contested with the women's side claiming a further win off-Island yesterday (14 July) against Lionesses Supporters FC.

The opening fixture of the friendly series on Friday evening (12 July) saw the Under-18's involved in a 3-3 draw against their North Wales opponents with a brace from Connor Clark and a strike from Greg Taylor helping the Island hosts to a stalemate.

The same evening saw the Isle of Man women's side hammer NFA FC 9-0 at The Bowl in Douglas in the first of two games between them with Holly Stephen, Louise Gibbins, Ruby Palmer, Kiera Morgan, Millie Dawson, Erin Sells and Rebecca Cole all on the scoresheet.

Ahead of that match there was also a presentation made to recognise the achievements of Eleanor Gawne who claimed her 50th cap for the Isle of Man during last year's Island Games in Guernsey.

The two teams met the following day at Clagh Vane Playing Fields with the Isle of Man emerging 7-1 winners this time thanks to a brace apiece from Palmer and Holly Sumner with Dawson, Sells and Tia Lisy also finding the net.

Saturday also saw the Isle of Man men's squad return to action as they claimed a narrow 2-1 win over an NFA FC lineup with the home side's goals coming through Morgan Naylor and Shaun Kelly.

The final contest of the weekend saw the Isle of Man women's side head off-Island on Sunday (14 July) where they claimed an impressive 4-0 win over the Lionesses Supporters club side.

An early Chloe Teare strike and a Lisa Costain penalty put the Manx side 2-0 up at the break before further goals in the second half from Stevie Mallon and Erin Sells.