Ravens out to respond against West Didsbury & Chorlton

Manager looking for improvement after thrashing last week

After a heavy defeat last time out, FC Isle of Man's manager is calling for a positive response when they return to NWCFL Premier Division action this weekend.

The Ravens welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton to The Bowl on Saturday (2 March) - the two fixtures between the sides on Manx soil so far have produced 15 goals to date.

The Island side received a stark reality check last week when they were on the end of a 6-1 thrashing at Kendal Town.

Paul Jones says they've 'taken their medicine' from that result and is challenging the players to step up against their latest visitors this weekend:

Both sides will come into this weekend's clash having gone back-to-back games without a win.

For FC Isle of Man, that loss in Cumbria last Saturday followed a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of current league leaders Bury on home turf.

The latter of those two is the only time the Ravens have failed to score since the turn of the year and responding with maximum points this weekend could send Paul Jones' team up to three places higher in the table to 11th depending also on results elsewhere.

Meanwhile, West Didsbury & Chorlton currently occupy 11th spot in the table after earning a 1-1 draw at home against Prestwich Heys on Tuesday night (27 February).

That result followed a period of disruption to 'West's' matches - four of their last five fixtures have been postponed due to weather conditions with their last outing before this week being all the way back on 6 February in a narrow 4-3 defeat away at AFC Liverpool.

Both FC Isle of Man and West Didsbury & Chorlton have met once already this campaign back on 14 October 2023 where goals from West Didsbury & Chorlton's Matthew Smyth and Rhain Davis either side of a Sean Doyle header for FC Isle of Man handed this weekend's visitors the victory.

FC Isle of Man vs West Didsbury & Chorlton takes place at The Bowl this Saturday (2 March) kicking-off at 6pm.

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

FC Isle of Man team news

Among a raft of alterations by Paul Jones, a change in goal sees Ben Wilkinson replaced by Adam Killey who's set to make his first FC Isle of Man appearance in just under six months.

Elsewhere, Eoghain Sherrard and Callum Sherry return in defence and experienced striker Furo Davies comes back into the mix - Ryan Burns makes way as does last week's debutant Harley Jackson.

Dean Pinnington is once again absent after also being a late omission from the squad against Kendal Town last weekend - it was revealed last weekend Pinnington has been approached by another club.

FC Isle of Man squad vs West Didsbury & Chorlton

Adam Killey (GK), Connor Birch, Jacob Crook, Furo Davies, Sean Doyle, Tiernan Garvey, Danny Gerrard, Dan Hattersley, Charlie Higgins, Frank Jones, Phil Kelly, Alex Maitland, Eoghain Sherrard, Callum Sherry, Kyle Watson, Ste Whitley