Killey inspires as Ravens beat West Didsbury & Chorlton

Goalkeeper shines whilst Sherry nets late winner

A late Callum Sherry strike and an inspired goalkeeping display from Adam Killey helped FC Isle of Man to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Didsbury & Chorlton in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (2 March).

In an intense and at times physical battle between the sides, Killey produced a string of crucial saves in the first and second half to keep the visiting side at bay.

The Ravens then struck the decisive blow in the 79th minute through Callum Sherry's calm finish to snatch all three points at The Bowl.

The result lifts the Island side up three places in the league to 11th spot and ended a previous run of back-to-back defeats.

Both sides came into tonight's contest with near-identical form over the last six games and separated by just a single point.

Whilst the contest became a high-paced battle from the start, both struggled from the early stages to find quality in the final third.

The best two chances of the opening 45 fell the way of 'West' - first when a Billy Matthews cross from the left on the counter-attack found Benjamin Elliott six yards out who sent his header narrowly wide.

Next on 33 minutes, a well-struck first-time effort from Matthews on the edge of the box forced Killey into a diving stop down to his left.

After a goalless and largely uneventful first half, West Didsbury & Chorlton upped the pressure in the opening exchanges of the second.

With 69 minutes gone, a pin-point cross from Matthew Cook on the right found Elliott between two defenders a few yards out with Elliott's resulting header denied by Killey who produced a fingertip stop to force the ball over the crossbar.

FC Isle of Man had Killey to thank again five minutes later as he once again foiled Elliott, this time with a stop at his near left post from Elliott's low strike from a tight angle.

But with eleven minutes remaining, it was the hosts who then broke the deadlock.

A Sean Doyle through-ball found Charlie Higgins on the left flank who fizzed a low ball across the box which just evaded substitute Furo Davies but was met at the far post by Sherry twelve yards out who calmly struck back across goal into West Didsbury & Chorlton goalkeeper, Alexander Hughes' bottom right corner.

As the Manx outfit looked to hold out, Killey came to the rescue again in the fifth minute of stoppage time when West Didsbury & Chorlton's Lee Grimshaw cushioned a header into the path of substitute Kieron Molloy who, in on goal, saw his low effort smothered by Killey with almost the last kick of the game to help the hosts hang on for the three points.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against Longridge Town on Saturday, 9 March, kicking-off at 6pm.

Man of the Match: Adam Killey (FC Isle of Man)