Down at Castletown Stadium, FC IOM met Peel AFC, the reigning Canada Life Premier League champions, in their final friendly before the NWCFL league kicks off this COMING weekend.
Right from the start, the intent and intensity was clear to see! Peel’s Lee Gale took a free kick 2 minutes in which sailed wide of the far post.
This kicked FC IOM into gear. Killey launched a long ball that found Doyle, who made a pinpoint pass to Pinnington, he cut in from the left, rode the challenge of a couple of defenders and slotted it home from close range to make it 1-0 after 3 minutes.
And just 2 minutes later, Doyle pulled off some fancy chest control, smashing home a ferocious volley, doubling FC IOM’s lead.
FC IOM dominated the first 10 minutes, playing some nice pass and move football, whilst hounding their opposition in the press
Peel tried to respond in the 13th minute, beating the press and creating a chance, but Killey stood firm.
Leece drove down the left and delivered a perfect cross to Doyle, who flicked it on to Pinnington to get his second of the game, making it 3-0 on 18 minutes.
Pinnington’s prowess continued as he crossed for Williams, who almost headed it in, in the 27th minute, but it went narrowly wide. Again on the 30th minute, Pinnington surprised everyone with a wicked cross that Tate tipped on to the bar, the ball then bounced off it and hit Doyle’s head before ending up in the net to make it 4-0.
The second half began with a whole new team for FC IOM. Whitley had a chance in the 54th minute, but a peel defender got back in well to clear it off the line!
Peel came back strong in the second half, countering FC IOM’s press. The game became tense, with FC IOM trying their luck from range, but Peel’s Dawson stood tall, stopping them in their tracks. Peel had a go too, with Woods heading wide for their first real chance of the half after 70 minutes.
But FC IOM kept piling on the pressure! And in the 86th minute, Sam Gelling had a long-range effort, Dawson spilt it onto the diving head of Walters who was following in, and it found the net for the fifth!
With a 5-0 victory for FC IOM, the match exhibited both FC IOM’s intended playing style for the forthcoming season and Peel’s endurance. It was a perfect pre-season closer for the Raven’s who welcome Wythenshawe Town to bowl on Saturday for their season opener.
