Last-gasp Pinnington strike rescues point for Ravens

FC Isle of Man hold Kendal Town to draw in torrid conditions

A last-gasp Dean Pinnington goal deep into second-half stoppage time saw FC Isle of Man battle to a 1-1 draw against Kendal Town in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (20 January).

In a scrappy first half in torrid conditions, Kendal Town took the lead through James Bailey's pin-point header from a Ryan Winder free-kick 18 minutes in.

Kendal Town missed a priceless chance to secure the win with eight minutes to go when Matthew Dudley blazed wide from the penalty spot after Finley Lynch was brought down in the FC Isle of Man box.

FC Isle of Man then struck back in the 92nd minute as Dean Pinnington headed home a Charlie Higgins cross from close range to snatch a point for the Manx side.

Surrounded by swirling and rain under the floodlights at The Bowl, tonight's clash gave FC Isle of Man another chance to turnaround their recent poor run of six defeats in their last seven games.

They came up against a Kendal Town side who knew that a win on Manx shores could see them move back into the promotion play-off spots.

The poor weather conditions impacted the game from the outset with neither side able to stamp their authority and test either goalkeeper during the opening exchanges.

The first real moment of quality on 18 minutes arrived through Kendal Town as Winder's whipped free-kick from 30 yards out found Bailey ten yards from goal who thundered a header past FC Isle of Man goalkeeper, Ben Wilkinson into the top corner to open the scoring.

Following a largely uneventful first 45, the second period began on the same note as both sides struggled to gain control in a continuously scrappy affair.

On 55 minutes, a Pinnington corner from the right went in the direction of Callum Sherry at Kendal Town's far left post, but the Ravens defender was unable to connect from point-blank range.

It wouldn't be until the 82nd minute of the contest when another pivotal moment occurred as Kendal Town substitute Finley Lynch went down under a challenge from FC Isle of Man's Jacob Crook in the Ravens' penalty area with referee Daniel Woodyatt pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Matthew Dudley from twelve yards with a chance to put the game to bed - however he blazed his spot kick wide of the right post with Wilkinson sent the wrong way.

This seemed to galvanize the FC Isle of Man home support, and in response the Kendal Town defence came under siege in the closing stages from wave after wave of FC Isle of Man attacks.

As time ebbed away, the home side finally made a breakthrough with almost the last kick of the game two minutes into additional time at the end of the second half.

Higgins danced past two Kendal Town challenges on the left edge of the penalty area before clipping a deft cross over Kendal Town 'keeper, Christopher Cheetham to Pinnington who - unmarked just two yards out - cushioned his header into an empty net to salvage a late point for the hosts.

FC Isle of Man's next match sees them face Irlam at The Bowl next Saturday (27 January), kicking-off at 6pm.

Man of the Match: Jacob Crook (FC Isle of Man)