Island Football Squad through to semi final of FA Inter league Cup
27th January, 2014
The Isle of Man are through to the semi-finals of the FA Inter-League Cup after they beat the West Riding County League 3-1 at the Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
The Isle of Man got off to a great start with a goal in the 15th minute from Frank Jones when he fired in a 30-yard screamer to put the Island in front.
The Yorkshire team hit back just after the half-hour mark to make it 1-1 before Ciaran McNulty restored the IOM side's advantage a few minutes before half time, when he tapped the ball in after a tremendous run down the left by Peel winger Lee Gale.
At the commencement of the second half West Riding had the strong wind in their favour and used it to hem the home side in their own half for the majority of the rest of the game. However, a rearguard action led by goalkeeper Max Thomas and defenders Sean Quaye and Johnny Myers ensured the Yorkshire team couldn't capitalise on any of their spells of pressure that made for a tense 45 minutes for the Isle of Man supporters.
With the game going into injury time, after almost eight minutes extra played at the end of the 90, St George's midfielder Frank Jones added a second goal, banging home Sam Caine's cross with the Yorkshire keeper well off his line to seal the Islands advancement to the last four of the competition that the Island won in 2006.
Elsewhere, cup holders Jersey, who beat the Manx in the 2012 final at the Bowl, lost to Dorset in one of the day's other three quarter-finals. The draw for the semis is expected to take place next week.