FC Isle of Man showed some much needed bouncebackability to overcome Abbey Hey on a rather cool Manchester night.
A goal from Ben Wosser on his first start and a second half strike from Ste Whitley secured the win.
The Ravens started the game on the front foot, with Danny Gerrard earning an early freekick after good play between Callum Sherry and Whitley down the right.
After the latter’s cross was half-cleared, Gerrard nipped in to draw the foul, sadly Jack McVey could not repeat his weekend heroics and saw his freekick sail into the Manchester evening sky.
Adam Killey, restored to the side after being unavailable at the weekend, was called into action just before the 10 minute mark as Saul Henderson’s knockdown gave Dillon Edmundson a golden chance to score for the hosts, but he fired straight at Killey.
Shortly after Ronan McDonnell’s crossfield ball picked out Whitley who beat his man but saw his effort stopped at the near post by Connor Beard in the Abbey Hey goal.
Luke Booth was the next to have a sighter at goal, but his left foot effort just curled wide from about 30 yards.
The Ravens would take the lead after Whitley was fouled, he played in Sherry from the resulting freekick who in turn cut it back across goal where Wosser was in the mix with the home side’s defenders.
Wosser says he got the decisive touch to prod home, either way, it was 0-1 to the Ravens at the break.
Abbey Hey came out swinging in the second half and when a slow ball didn’t quite reach Killey’s box, it broke to Henderson, who could only fire against the post to give the Ravens a real let off.
The home side drew level as a corner was whipped in and Marcus Dibble was given too much space to head home from around the penalty spot to make it 1-1.
Edmundson nearly gave Abbey Hey the lead just after the hour as he took a touch to set himself on the edge of the area before curling an effort off the bar.
As the clock ticked towards 70 minutes, Sam Baines picked up a loose ball and played a defence splitting pass through to Whitley who scored his fifth in three games when he slotted the ball past Beard to give the Ravens the lead, 1-2.
Charlie Higgins, off the bench, had a chance to secure the points when he rolled his man and saw his shot saved at the near post before his follow up hit the post.
After referee (insert name) saw a foul that not even the home side appealed for in the 93rd minute, Edmundson again rattled the bar from the resulting free kick, but the Ravens, lacking in luck in recent weeks, were living a charmed life and saw out the game to secure the three points.
That win takes the Ravens eighth, one point behind Bury in third.
FC Isle of Man’s next game is on Saturday September 28 away at Barnoldswick Town, kick off is at 2pm.
