Isle of Man Football Squad beat Manchester in National League Systems Cup
28th March, 2009
NEW Captain, Sean Quaye led out the Isle of Man team as International football returned to Manx shores for the first time in a year when the Island hosted opponents, Manchester on Saturday in the preliminary round of the National League Systems cup at Peel AFC's Douglas Road ground. In what was a rowdy full house, supported by the Isle of Man's very own "Barmy Army", Kevin Manning's charges took to the pitch to begin their quest to recapture the NLS Cup that they won so convincingly in 2006 which resulted in the squad going on to represent England in the UEFA regions cup in the Czech Republic.
The Manx team had the majority of possession for large spells of the game and could have taken the lead in the first-half when both Marc Kelly and new skipper Sean Quaye hit the woodwork. The solid Manx defence restricted opportunities for Manchester and Kevin Megson's penalty in the tie's 56th minute proved enough to settle the game in the IoM's favour.
Manchester improved after the break, but rarely tested Mark Blair in the Manx goal.
Sean Quaye, (pictured above) is our Warehouse Supervisor at Snugborough and as well as being Captain of his own club, St Georges AFC, he was pleased to have won the accolade of Island Squad Captain. As well as competing in the National Systems League, the team will be competing at the Island Games in Aland in July 2009. The islands consist of the main island Fasta Ă…land (where 90% of the population resides) and an archipelago to the east that consists of over 6,500 skerries and islands, The islands were granted extensive autonomy by Finland in 1920.