Gymns move out of bottom two with win
SIX-POINTER: Ramseys Matty Montgomery (left) challenges Gymns Mark Connor during Saturdays Premier League clash at Tromode
GYMNS moved out of the Canada Life Premier League’s relegation zone on Saturday with a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Ramsey at Tromode.
Goals from Mark McCarrick, Jeremy Lovett and Simon Dixon ensure Ken Hedley’s side now hold a point cushion over the weekend’s opponents who now slip into the top-flight’s bottom two.
Ramsey probably went into the fixture as marginal favourites having dispatched bottom side Marown 6-1 in their previous outing. However, it was Gymns that made the better start to the match and edged ahead with just seven minutes played on referee Willie Cowley’s watch when McCarrick prodded home Lovett’s deep cross to the back post from the left flank.
With only one win between them prior to kick-off, it was little surprise when the match descended into a scrappy affair with both struggling to maintain possession on a bobbly Tromode surface.
However, spurred on by the sprightly wing play of September’s Young Player of the Month Mikey Booth, Gymns began to shade proceedings and Ramsey’s Bulgarian goalkeeper Kiril Velev had to be alert to produce a good save to deny Lovett, after the former Marown attacker had broken free of the northern rearguard.
At the other end of the pitch Ramsey looked a little disjointed in attack their cause not helped by the withdrawal through injury of midfielder Lewis Qualtrough just 20 minutes in.
Eventually Brian Carney’s visitors did test Ste Downward in the Gymns’ goal, but found him in good form. First the Gymns custodian was out well to deny new Ramsey striker Sam Critchley, before Gymns uncompromising centre-back Farell Iveagh produced a flying block to deny Michael Fernandes’s follow-up effort.
Downward’s stock then grew higher on the half-hour mark after he denied John Roberts from the penalty spot after Daniel Tate had been brought down by Barry Hardinge in the area.
Downward’s penalty save spurred on his side as they finished the half the stronger. Midfielder Mark Connor fired over Booth’s low corner from the right before Jonathan Broad’s defence-splitting through ball played in Ste Cretney only for the journeyman striker’s resulting effort to hit the base of the post.
In injury time at the end of the first period, Gymns deservedly doubled their lead when Lovett fired in a peach of a volley from eight yards out.
Ramsey improved after the break, but it was Gymns who enjoyed the second-half’s first real chance. Booth saw his well-struck shot deflected wide for a corner.
From the resulting corner Lovett’s effort was blocked by Matty Montgomery the ball falling to central midfield counter-part Danny Rose, whose rasping shot cannoned back off the Ramsey cross-bar with Velev beaten.
The northerners tried once again to hit back and Critchley was unlucky not to pull one back for the Ballacloan outfit when his header from a corner was cleared off the line by Iveagh.
Hampered by a lack of subs, Ramsey continue to toil and enjoyed their best spell of the match midway through the half. Fernandes went close after being found by full-back Robbie Callister before the northerners finally found a way through the stout defence of Messrs Iveagh, Hardinge, Broad and Swann in the 82nd minute.
Former junior island international Tate’s curling effort from the edge of the area went in via an upright despite the best efforts of a Gymns defender on the line.
This set up a frantic final 10 as Ramsey surged forward for an equaliser, but Gymns stoic rearguard action continued as they survived several northern sorties into their box and a fervent late appeal for a penalty.
Gymns sealed what could be a vital three points in injury time when Connor’s corner from the left was headed onto the bar by Cretney. Substitute Simon Dixon was on hand to force home the rebound and secure Gymns’ first win of the campaign ahead of this weekend’s trip to bottom side Marown.
Team check
Gymns Ste Downward, Jonathan Broad, Barry Hardinge, Farrell Iveagh, Daniel Swann, Mark McCarrick, Danny Rose, Mark Connor, Mikey Booth (Mark Dunn 75m), Ste Cretney, Jeremy Lovett (Simon Dixon 84m). Sub not used Wayne Mears.
Ramsey Kiril Velev, Robbie Callister (Jabrane Moutiq 88m), Alex Yates, John Roberts, Jamie Arneil, Lewis Qualtrough (Robbie Campbell 21m), Daniel Tate, Matty Montgomery, Liam Parker, Sam Critchley, Michael Fernandes.
Referee Willie Cowley
Booked McCarrick (Gymns)
Man of the Match Broad (Gymns) Tromode stalwart linked up well down the left flank with Booth and then impressed at the back along with Iveagh and Hardinge when called upon in the second half.
Match rating HHHHH
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: North west
