Ten-man FC Isle of Man suffer third straight defeat

Ravens lost late on at home to Cheadle Town

FC Isle of Man have suffered a third straight home defeat following a late 2-1 loss against Cheadle Town in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (21 March).

'The Ravens' made a bright start and took the lead on 19 minutes when Jacob Crook swivelled in the box and fire home.

In first half stoppage time, the visitors levelled through an Oliver Kvaternik penalty after FC Isle of Man's Callum Sherry was sent off for a foul on Cheadle Town's Sheriff Njie.

At a man disadvantage for the remainder of the game, the hosts held out until the 81st minute when Cheadle Town grabbed a winner through Jonathan Nixon's calm finish.

Hoping to end a run of back-to-back losses on home soil, FC Isle of Man hosted a Cheadle Town side also hoping for some more momentum after one victory in their last five.

In a fast-paced start to the contest, Cheadle Town were the first to come close on six minutes when Arron Hevingham's curling low effort from the edge of the box clipped the outside of the post.

But the home side would break the deadlock with just under 20 minutes gone when a low cross from Sherry from the right was flicked towards goal by Charlie Higgins - Crook picked up the loose ball and, with Cheadle Town goalkeeper, James Hodges, just behind him, spun on the spot and directed an effort into the top corner.

As the first half wore on, Cheadle Town grew into the game and found their breakthrough on the stroke of half-time.

A deflected pass through the FC Isle of Man defence was pounced upon by Njie who - as he tried to round FC Isle of Man stopper, Mark Blair - was brought down in the penalty area by Sherry.

Referee, Lewis Mason pointed to the spot and duly gave Sherry his marching orders for denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Kvartenik stepped up from the spot and sent his spot-kick down to Blair's left and into the net to equalise.

Despite heading into the second half a man down, FC Isle of Man continued to hold their ground in a more frantic following 45 minutes.

On 78 minutes, Blair was called upon twice in quick succession - first to deny a strike on goal by Kvartenik from around 15 yards and then recovering to stop the follow-up effort from Harlan Rodgers-Morris with a fine double-save.

FC Isle of Man then went straight up the other end with a chance of their own as a mazing run from Dean Pinnington on the counter-attack ended with the midfielder sending a low strike on target from 20 yards out, forcing a smart stop from Hodges down to his left.

With just under ten minutes to go, Cheadle Town found the second they'd been craving when an inch-perfect through ball from Hevingham through the FC Isle of Man defence found Nixon who timed his run to charge through on goal and smartly place an effort past Blair into the bottom corner.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against City of Liverpool on Saturday, 28 March, kicking-off at 6pm.