In a nail-biting encounter at The Bowl, FC Isle of Man suffered a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat against Cheadle Town, as Lee Knight’s dramatic header in the 94th minute secured a last-gasp victory for the visitors.
The initial 45 minutes unfolded as a cautious affair, with both teams probing for an opening. The major talking point came in the form of a potential penalty shout for Cheadle’s Jack McConnell, but referee Samuel Oldfield waved away the away side’s fervent protests. The Ravens defence, led by goalkeeper Ben Wilkinson, held firm against Cheadle’s attacking endeavours, maintaining a goalless deadlock at halftime.
The second half began with a continuation of the midfield battle, and it wasn’t until the 60th minute that the game really sparked to life. An attempted back pass was seized upon by Cheadle’s Jordan Lazenbury, but Wilkinson denied him one-on-one with a crucial save, keeping the Ravens in the contest.
As the tension mounted, both sides struggled to carve out clear chances. Striker Sean Doyle had a golden opportunity with eight minutes remaining, but his strike was then tipped over the bar by Cheadle’s goalkeeper, Jordan Latham.
In a cruel twist of fate, with the game seemingly destined for a draw, Cheadle Town broke the deadlock in the dying moments. A precise cross from Max Sutton found Lee Knight at the far post, whose header looped over Wilkinson, kissed the underside of the crossbar, and crossed the line. Sparkling wild celebrations among the Cheadle Town players and bench!
The defeat leaves FC Isle of Man in ninth place, six points adrift of the coveted playoff spots. Despite the disappointment, Jamie Corlett earned the Bridson & Horrox Man of the Match honours for his standout performance amid the challenging circumstances.
Looking ahead, FC Isle of Man aim to bounce back as they face Squires Gate at The Bowl on Saturday, December 2, kicking off at 6 p.m. You can get your tickets for that one here.
