Doyle double dispatches Wythenshawe FC

Ravens earn big three points against high-flying opponents in Manchester

Another clinical double from Sean Doyle saw FC Isle of Man upset the odds with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over second-placed Wythenshawe FC in the NWCFL Premier Division this afternoon (28 October).

The Ravens striker had put the visitors in front on 22 minutes with a close-range header after Wythenshawe's Samuel Adewusi had struck the post for the hosts ten minutes earlier.

Wythenshawe then levelled on 39 minutes as Bryan Ly converted from the penalty spot after he was brought down by FC stopper, Ben Wilkinson, in the Ravens' box.

The Island side then restored their lead shortly after half-time with Doyle again on target directing home a cross in the 52nd minute to see FC Isle of Man claim a second league win of the season against the Manchester-based side.

Hosts Wythenshawe set about putting pressure on FC Isle of Man from the outset with Wythenshawe's Arron Hevingham and Darrhyl Mason spurning opportunities whilst Samuel Adewusi saw an effort cannon off the inside of the post on 11 minutes.

However, the Manx side began to steady the ship and began to up their performance in the following minutes before taking the lead on 22 minutes.

Sean Doyle rose highest from a corner to net his seventh goal of the campaign so far, moments after he'd been denied by a finger-tip save from Wythenshawe's Kyle Haslam.

The Ravens then nearly doubled their advantage on 35 minutes, but Dean Pinnington saw his 20-yard free-kick brilliantly turned away by Haslam.

Despite applying the pressure, FC Isle of Man then suffered a setback on 38 minutes when Wythenshawe striker Bryan Ly was brought down in the Ravens' penalty area by goalkeeper, Ben Wilkinson with the referee pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Ly to coolly slot home from 12 yards for the hosts to level the contest.

Level at the break, it was the Island outfit who started the second period the brightest by taking the lead once more seven minutes in, with Doyle again the man of the moment, dispatching a close-range effort after a pinpoint cross from Charlie Higgins on the left flank.

Chances at either end began to dry up as the half wore on with both sides looking to change the face of things with a flurry of substitutions.

The home side then came close to drawing level in the 83rd minute with Mason shown a sight of goal, but his effort went agonisingly wide of Wilkinson's far post.

A late charge from Wythenshawe in search of an equaliser saw FC Isle of Man pushed back in their own half during six minutes of second-half stoppage time, but it wasn't enough to stop the Ravens securing three points come the full-time whistle.

FC Isle of Man's next fixture will be a rearranged league tie away at Irlam on Tuesday, 31 October, kicking-off at 7.45pm.