Michael 5-1 Ayre
MICHAEL booked their place in the semi-finals of the Cu-Plas FA Cup on Saturday with a 5-1 win over Ayre at Balleira Road.
The westerners came through the hard-fought tie in the west thanks to a hat-trick from Jamie Moffatt and a goal apiece from player-manager Nick Hurt and midfielder Chris Hancox.
The scoreline flattered the victors a little, but an efficient second-half performance in front of goal by Hurt's men proved enough to see them past the spirited relegation-threatened northerners.
Ayre started the weekend's second round tie brightly enough and had the better of the game's lively opening salvos.
Joint player-manager Martin Torr looked most likely to give the Tangerines an early advantage as he latched on to Tony Corlett's first-time ball before he lifted his shot over the bar.
At the other end of the pitch Kieran Quinn's physical presence began to pose questions of the Ayre back line and a scrappy game developed as both sides looked to get a foothold in the match.
The westerners finally broke the deadlock after 27 minutes when Hurt fired in a trademark free-kick from the edge of the area.
The industrious Richard Crowe then had a goal chalked off for offside as the Aces looked to press home their advantage prior to the half-time interval.
Midfielder Crowe then created Michael's next chance when his corner gave Quinn the opportunity to test Stuart Fayle's reactions in the Ayre goal.
The Island keeper had to be on his mettle again moments later to deny Moffatt's stinging left-foot shot from the edge of the area.
Michael continued to finish the half the stronger, Quinn twice going close to stretching the United lead with headers that narrowly missed the frame of the Ayre goal.
Hurt's charges continued the momentum they had built up into the game's second period - Michael Perks breaking the Ayre offside trap only to be denied by the feet of Fayle.
The Tangerines tried to force a way back into the encounter, the introduction of Stephen Parrish adding some fresh impetus to their efforts.
Sadly for the Andreas outfit's substantial travelling support Parrish's introduction didn't muster an immediate equaliser and Michael netted a second goal six minutes into the second-half when Hancox turned in Quinn's flick-on from Raj Nandha's centre.
A moment of magic from Corlett capped Ayre's best spell of the half — the former Ramsey man looping a volley from distance onto the bar.
Steve Jauncey and Torr's men's good spell continued and Parrish flashed a set-piece across the face of goal as the northerners desperately tried to prolong their cup odyssey.
This received a boost when Torr nipped in ahead of Gary Burgess to lift the ball over the big Michael stopper and reduce the arrears to just one with 15 minutes left to play.
Torr and Ayre were visibly buoyed by the goal and only a fine challenge from centre-back Dave Reynolds denied the former St George's man another clean strike on goal.
However, Ayre's buoyancy was soon turned into a sinking feeling as Michael produced some sharp shooting to emphatically seal the match in it's closing stages.
First Quinn's measured flick-on released Moffatt who neatly finished his first strike of the afternoon.
The Michael number nine then doubled his tally with just two minutes left to play when he took advantage of a poor Ayre clearance to net past Fayle despite the best efforts of the visiting custodian.
Moffatt sealed his third goal in 10 minutes during injury time. Ayre full-back Christian Penswick was adjudged to have impeded the forward. Referee Chris Taggart pointed to the spot and Moffatt duly swept home to complete his hat-trick and send his side into the hat for the competition's last four.
Michael Gary Burgess, Kevin Pulman, David Reynolds, Raj Nandha, Chris Hancox, Johnny Holland, Richard Crowe (Mark Reynolds 86m), Nick Hurt (Michael Quine 89m), Jamie Moffatt, Kieran Quinn. Sub not used Juan Collister.
Ayre Stuart Fayle, Matt Montgomery, Christian Penswick, Mark Teare, Martin Radcliffe, Gordon Heward (Neil Brown 54m), James Ford (Stephen Parrish 46m), Tony Corlett, Martin Torr, Jason Craine, James Teare (Phil Quayle 54m).
Referee Chris Taggart
Assistants Karran Halsall, Nick Preskey
Booked Moffatt (Michael)
Man of the Match Quinn (Michael)
Match rating 3*
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
