Clinical Glossop punish Ravens

FC Isle of Man now without win in first three games of season

FC Isle of Man have endured more frustration on home soil as they fell to a 3-2 defeat to Glossop North End in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (9 August).

Both sides were level in the first half thanks to two goals in two minutes, first Glossop captain Oliver Parker slotting home on 34 minutes before Charlie Higgins equalised for the Manx side.

A Lewis Reilly free-kick and low strike from Aeron Bardsley added a second and third for the visitors to take them on their way to three points.

Luke Booth then headed home a late consolation for 'The Ravens' who're now without victory in any of their opening three games of the season.

Tonight's meeting pitted together two sides looking for their first three points in these early stages of the campaign.

Glossop North End were first to go close in on ten minutes with Jacques Etia firing just wide of the post from the left edge of the box.

The away side then hit the woodwork when Etia's cross from the left found Reilly who diverted an effort from six yards onto the inside of the post.

The deadlock was then broken with 34 minutes on the clock as Reilly and Parker combined with a slick move on the edge of the FC Isle of Man box before the latter chested down from 12 yards and expertly sent a strike into the bottom corner.

This seemed to be the catalyst for FC Isle of Man who were on level terms two minutes later as Higgins danced through three Glossop defenders on the edge of the area before arrowing a low left-footed drive into the far corner.

After the break, Glossop started the second half stronger and were rewarded eight minutes after the restart.

Reilly took charge of a Glossop North End free-kick 25 yards out before bending a powerful effort around the FC Isle of Man wall and into the bottom corner.

With FC Isle of Man struggling following this to break down a stubborn visiting defence, 'The Hillmen' got a decisive third with four minutes of normal time left.

A pin-point cross from right to left by Lee Rick found substitute Bardsley who beat his man on the left edge of the box and then - with the angle against him - fired a strike across FC Isle of Man stopper, Adam Killey and into the net.

The Island hosts did take the chance to make the scoreline more respectable, however, deep into second-half stoppage time as substitute Ste Whitley's floated delivery from the right found an unmarked Booth at the back post to nod in from point-blank range.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be away against Irlam on Tuesday, 12 August, kicking-off at 7.45pm.

Man of the Match: Oliver Parker (Glossop North End)