Whitley gives FC Isle of Man winning end to 2024

Ravens beat ten-man FC St Helens to end recent winless run

A second-half stoppage time winner from Ste Whitley saw FC Isle of Man end 2024 with a 3-2 victory over ten-man FC St Helens in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (28 December).

Michael Ibeto's bullet header from a corner put the visitors in front on 16 minutes before Charlie Higgins' calm one-on-one finish levelled for the hosts on the half-hour mark.

FC St Helens' Josh Hall saw red following a robust challenge on 42 minutes before 'The Ravens' led through a Luke Booth header 90 seconds into the second period.

Substitute Thomas Smith hit back to make it 2-2 before Whitley netted from a Callum Sherry cross to get FC Isle of Man a decisive third deep into added time late on.

Both teams came into tonight's contest in contrasting festive season form, with FC Isle of Man looking to shake off a four-match winless run against an FC St Helens side targeting a third straight win.

The visiting outfit started brightly and led with just over 15 minutes played when a Liam Cuthbert corner from the right was met by Ibeto who directed his header across goal and into the bottom corner.

This was the cue for FC Isle of Man to grow into clash and they were rewarded with an equaliser on 30 minutes.

A Daniel Gerrard ball over the FC St Helens defence found Higgins who controlled the ball before rounding FC St Helens stopper Joe Mason and passing into an empty net.

The next flashpoint came with three minutes of normal time left in the first period as Hall flew in for a challenge on FC Isle of Man's Sam Baines deep in the FC Isle of Man half.

Having initially just given a foul, referee Michael Dermody - after consulting with the linesmen - upgraded his decision to a red card for Hall to put the away side down to ten men.

The Manx side made their advantage count just 90 seconds into the second half with Higgins becoming provider with a cross from the left which sailed over Mason and to an unmarked Booth to head home from close range.

Two minutes later Higgins nearly gave his side a third, but one-on-one once again with Mason it was the goalkeeper who came out on top, parrying the ball away from Higgins before blocking a follow-up strike from Gerrard.

Undeterred by being a man down, FC St Helens rallied back to level the contest again with 65 minutes on the clock.

With space down the left James Flight whipped a low ball to the near post for Smith who swept a shot across goal which sailed past Killey and ricocheted in off the far post.

With the match seemingly headed for a draw in second-half added time, FC Isle of Man popped up with a late winner in the 92nd minute.

Substitute Dean Pinnington found Callum Sherry on the right wing who lofted a first-time cross to the back post and into the path of an unmarked Whitley who nodded low past Mason at his near post to snatch all three points for the home side.

Speaking to Manx Radio's Sport Editor, Rob Pritchard, Ravens' boss Paul Jones said he was pleased with his side's performance:

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against Glossop North End on Saturday, 4 January, kicking-off at 6pm.

Manx Radio will be providing full live match commentary on our DAB and AM1368 channels.

Man of the Match: Daniel Gerrard (FC Isle of Man)