Ayre edge six-goal thriller
TITLE HOPEFULS: Ayre United, under the guidance of new manager Steven Jauncey, are hoping for an immediate return to the Premier League and got off to a good start with a 4-2 win over Douglas Royal on Saturday
TWO teams picked up on the pundits’ pre-season prediction radar met in the opening match of the 2012-13 season on Saturday afternoon.
Ayre Utd came face-to-face with Douglas Royal at the Andreas Playing Fields and it was the village side that got their JCK Division Two campaign off to a perfect start with a 4-2 win.
Falling through relegation’s trap door last season and now under the managerial helm of Steven Jauncey and assistant Paul Allison, this victory will provide the Tangerines with a much-needed fillip.
Both sides were keen to lay down an early marker and, with the match nine minutes old, the hosts got a dream start.
Stephen Jordan’s corner was only half-cleared into the air and, as goalkeeper Ian Took went to claim the danger leaving the net unguarded, a Royal player’s attempted clearance went straight to Jason Craine who slotted into an empty net.
However, the lead only lasted two minutes. Winning possession in midfield, Greg Hoskisson pushed a perfectly weighted through-ball for Paul Whitley to latch onto and he successfully dispatched the equaliser.
Robust challenges flew in from both sides as Ayre continued to create several chances. Chris Duggan came close hitting the side of the goal and Tony Corlett’s low drive was pushed away. However, Royal finished the first half with flurry but Whitley’s usually-clinical finishing deserted him when it mattered.
With the match in added time at the end of the opening 45 the visitors conceded a free-kick. Royal froze, Ayre pounced. The set-piece was quickly taken, catching the Whites off-guard and Craine planted his header into the roof of the opposing goal to complete an action-packed and competitive first-half.
After the intermission, Royal looked sprightly with chances falling their way, Gavin Gawne had the best of them when his free-kick clipped the crossbar.
However, the Tangerines secured a further foothold with a third goal soon after. Duggan received a through-ball from Elliot Cureton and guided his diagonal shot past Took and into the bottom corner of the net.
As referee Peter Lewis continued to administer the lectures and deal out the yellow cards as both teams continued to slog it out, Royal were by no means finished and managed to pull a goal back when Whitley scored the goal of the game. The striker received a through-ball from James Dooley, flicked it into the air and drove an unstoppable shot into the net.
Royal looked to build a bridgehead but when they were given the perfect opportunity, blew their chance. A penalty was awarded in the visitors’ favour but Whitley, who was on a hat-trick, drove it straight down the middle which goalkeeper Andy Ball parried.
Ayre regained possession and, like a spring released, unleashed the perfect counter as Phil Quayle scored their fourth and celebrated with fans gathered by the advertising boards.
TEAM CHECK
Ayre United: Andy Ball, Mark Caine, Mark R. Teare, Stephen Parrish (Elliot Cureton 24m), Christian Penswick, Tony Corlett, Stephen Jordan, Johnny Kelly, Phil Quayle (James Teare 83m), Jason Craine (Chris Murdoch 83m), Chris Duggan
Douglas Royal: Ian Took, Stuart Foley (Adam Boyd 79m), Adam Pate, Richie McCann, Kevin Ballard, Greg Hoskisson, Paddy Dempsey, Darren Dooley (Darren Flanagan 79m), Paul Whitley, James Halliday (Richard Winn 60m), Gavin Gawne
Referee: Peter Lewis
Bookings: Ball, Corlett (Ayre), Hoskisson, Dempsey (Royal)
Man of the Match: Craine (Ayre)
Match rating: 4*
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Canada Life Premier League
Union Mills 1 DHSOB 5
Steven Quine Lee Gartland 2
Callum Stewart 2
Ian Kirk
Not received
St Mary’s 2 Marown 0
Stephen Whitley
Steven Priestnal
St John’s 4 Ramsey 0
Nick Hurt
Andy Glover
Jamie Moffatt
Michael Peace
Castletown P St George’s P
Peel 3 Laxey 4
Marc Kelly 2 Mark Wolfenden 2
Danny Bell Ashley Webster 2
Rushen 3 Corinthians 3
Aaron Hawley Jamie Story
Chris Shimmin Danny Gerrard
Mike Williams Lewis Thornton
JCK Division Two
Ayre 4 Douglas Royal 2
Jason Craine 2 Paul Whitley 2
Chris Duggan
Phil Quayle
Malew 1 Douglas and District 3
Daniel Thirwell Warren Wilson
Jamie Spicer
John Conroy
Ronaldsway 3 Douglas Athletic 3
Dave Kelly Alex Yarker
Jamie Heaney Stephen Cowan,
Luke Collister Danny O’hare
Colby 3 Pulrose 1
Jim Collett Ben Cowin
Ollie Swales
Steve Kelly
RYCOB 4 Braddan 1
Jamie Brew 3 Michael Shimmin
Robert Morton
Michael 11 Foxdale 3
Paul Corlett 7 Stuart Morrison 2
Matthew Brand 2 Gavin McLaughlin
Peter Fisher Not received
James Ford
Canada Life Combination One
DHSOB 5 Union Mills 3
Darren Hudgeon 3 Eddie Howland
Max Burman Danny Shover
Own goal Peter Wilson
Marown 1 St Mary’s 8
Richie Pyatt Lee Camilleri 2
Danny Doyle 2
Stuart Pacey
Dean Spencer
Mark Watson
Nathan Halsall
Ramsey 1 St John’s 1
Jonathan Leece Brett Kitchin
St George’s P Castletown p
Laxey 2 Peel 0
Fraser Vaughan
Antony Leech
Corinthians 5 Rushen 2
Nigel Moody 2 Joe Reid
Rob Bentley 2 Matthew Lang
Matt Palmer
JCK Combination Two
Douglas Royal 0 Ayre 6
Juan Watney
Aidan Lamb
Mikey Hodgett
Jamie Callister
James Brown
Own goal
Douglas and District 3 Malew 1
Konrad Kumor 2 mark corrinKevin Doyle
Douglas Athletic 5 Ronaldsway 0
Karl Breadner
Ben Bradley
Graham Druggan
Leon Dawson
Own goal
Pulrose 1 Colby 3
Not received Brandon Moore 2
Joe Callaghan
Braddan 5 RYCOB 3
Peter Langridge 3 Richard Lowe
Mark Watterson Shane Kinrade
Andrew Barbour Ray Leech
Foxdale P Michael P
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Sunday 26 May 2013
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