FC Isle of Man slump to Prestwich Heys defeat

Ravens now without a win in last four

It was more frustration for FC Isle of Man on their return to home soil this evening (9 September) as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Prestwich Heys in the NWCFL Premier Division.

The Ravens saw a Dean Pinnington penalty saved in the first four minutes before Jack Coop's pinpoint strike on 30 minutes put the visitors ahead.

As FC Isle of Man pushed harder for an equaliser in the second half, they were stunned late on in the 89th minute as Prestwich Heys' Greg Daniels fired home from close range from a well-worked corner.

Tonight's latest setback for the Manx side means they're now without a win in their last four games.

After six consecutive matches away from home, FC Isle of Man made their return to The Bowl hoping to turn around a recent run of no victories in their previous three outings.

They faced a Prestwich Heys side who arrived on Island with four wins from their last six - a run only bettered by current league leaders, Kendal Town.

FC Isle of Man started brightly and earned a big opportunity after just four minutes when Pinnington was felled in the Prestwich Heys box with referee, Peter Leonard, pointing to the spot.

Pinnington stepped up for the resulting spot kick, but his tame effort was comfortably stopped by Prestwich Heys goalkeeper, Jordan Hadlow down to his right.

Despite the early drama, much of the first half was cagey affair with neither Hadlow nor FC Isle of Man 'keeper, Ben Wilkinson, having any meaningful work to do at either end.

It took a spark of quality to break the deadlock on 30 minutes when FC Isle of Man half-cleared a cross the edge of their penalty area which fell to Prestwich Heys striker, Jack Coop.

With his back to goal on the edge of the box, Coop swiveled and curled a low right-footed effort past the diving Wilkinson into the bottom right-hand corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

That's how it would remain come the half-time break - going into the second half FC Isle of Man began to apply the pressure against a resilient and well-drilled Prestwich Heys defence.

It took until the 85th minute for the Ravens to work a clear opening when Joe Walters met a cross from the left with a diving header six yards out, with Walters' effort being saved well by Hadlow down ot his right.

Sixty seconds later Walters came even closer when a Furo Davies back-heel across the six-yard area found Walters sliding in to strike at goal, but his effort was sensationally saved at almost point-blank range by Hadlow.

Despite creating those openings and energising the home support, FC Isle of Man were then stunned by the visitors at the other end with just one minute of normal time remaining.

A rare second-half break forward from Prestwich Heys resulted in a corner swung in by Bradley Sixsmith to the back post which was guided back across goal by Nathan Bartram-Conway to Daniels who, six yards out, slammed his shot beyond a rooted Wilkinson into the net.

The 2-0 defeat leaves FC Isle of Man on 16 points with 11 games now played.

The Ravens next game will be away against Squires Gate on Saturday, 16 September, kicking-off at 2pm.