Laxey are hungry like the Wolf for the title
SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER: Laxeys Ashley Webster (right)tussles for possession with Peels Daniel Lace during their sides match at Douglas Road on Saturday. Websters two goals helped the Miners secure a 4-3 victory
LAXEY kicked off their 2012-13 title challange with a hard-fought victory by the odd goal in seven against Peel in the Canada Life Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Although there were concerns that many of the day’s fixtures would succumb to the weather, the excellent Douglas Road pitch was bathed in sunshine for the 2.30pm kick-off between two of the Premier League giants.
The Miners are being tipped by many to challenge last year’s Grand Slam winners St George’s this season but their campaign didn’t get off to the best of starts when they fell behind early on in the contest. However, inspired by new signing Mark Wolfenden, the Glen Road side hit back through braces from Wolfenden and last year’s Isle of Man Football Association Player of the Year Ashley Webster.
Despite Peel pulling two goals back late on to ensure a nervy finale, Laxey held on to secure a valuable three points.
The game was six minutes old when the home side broke the deadlock with some style. A long ball downfield was flicked on by Kerron Christian into the path of Liam Harrison who appeared to be bundled over just inside the box. However, play continued with the ball being played out wide to Lee Gale who swung in a superb cross into the area where Marc Kelly time his run to perfection to hammer home a brilliant volley past Laxey’s debutant goalkeeper Andy Perry.
The visitors had to wait until the 13th minute for their first real sight of goal when Josh Thomas’s corner fell to Webster outside the box. His half-volley was deflected into the path of Wolfenden who turn sharply but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by Stuart Morris.
But they were soon back on level terms in almost comical circumstances. Wolfenden won a free-kick right on the edge of the area but he somehow managed to block Danny Foulis’s setpiece, only for the ball to deflect upwards where Webster was able to react quickest to flick the ball back into Wolfenden’s path and the former Castletown striker made no mistake to slot through the keeper’s legs for 1-1.
Rick Holden’s host team almost retook the lead soon after when Liam Harrison rose to meet a Danny Bell corner but his header was deflected into the side netting.
Wolfenden then turned provider when he sent Foulis racing clean through but Morris stood tall and was able to tip the ball wide.
As the half progressed the visitors began to take control and they were rewarded with the lead six minutes before the interval. Thomas received the ball just inside his own half and, looking up, spotted the run of Wolfenden and played a brilliant defence-splitting pass for the striker to race onto and round the keeper before slotting home for 2-1.
Peel tried to respond straight away and should have brought themselves level two minutes later when Gale produced another great cross from the right but this time Christian nodded over the bar when unmarked inside the area.
The Miners doubled their advantage almost immediately when Webster and Wolfenden caused confusion in the Peel defence high up the pitch, allowing the latter to race clean through on goal.
One-on-one with Morris and on a hat-trick, Wolfenden unselfishly squared the ball to Webster who rifled the ball into the unguarded net to give his side a healthy 3-1 lead at half-time.
The second period began at a much more sedate pace than the first, with both sides seemingly content to size up their opponents without taking any risks.
However, the hosts nearly found a way back into the contest seven minutes after the restart when Bell’s corner caused chaos inside the Laxey area and the ball fell to Chris Cain, but his shot from point-black range was somehow hacked off the line to safety.
The Miners introduced Shaun Kelly into the mix juts after the hour mark for his debut and the former Ayre and RYCOB youngster was quickly amongst the action. One of his trademark long-throws reached Webster but his close-range header was repelled by Morris.
With 15 minutes remaining, Webster seemingly put the match beyond doubt when he cut inside from the left and curled a wonderful shot high past Morris and into the top right corner of the net.
However, the game was not over and Peel refused to give up. They were handed a lifeline with six minutes left when substitute Neil Birchenough - moments after being denied by a fine save from Perry - was brought down inside the box and referee Mark Thomas awarded a penalty.
Upstepped Marc Kelly who made no mistake from the spot, sending Perry the wrong way to make it 4-2.
The westerners then managed to reduce the deficit even further in the 90th minute when Bell received a high ball inside the box and acrobatically drilled the ball home with his left foot to make it 4-3 and ensure a tense finale.
However, Laxey were able to keep their cool and see out the game to record what could be an important victory in this season’s title race.
TEAM CHECK
Peel: Stuart Morris, Kevin Megson, Daniel Lace, Chris Cain, Andy Crennell, Rob Cottier (c), Lee Gale, Marc Kelly, Liam Harris (Neil Birchenough 56m), Danny Bell, Kerron Christian. Subs not used: Stuart Fayle and Matthew McQuarrie
Laxey: Andy Perry, Nigel Beattie, Sam Theobald (Ryan Williamson 75m), Gary Williams, Neil Brogan (c), Paul Rowley, Danny Foulis, Josh Thomas (Max Murley 71m), Jackson Brown, Ashley Webster, Mark Wolfenden (Shaun Kelly 64m))
Referee: Mark Thomas
Assistants: Andy Lodge and Dave Murphy
Booked: K. Christian (Peel), R. Williamson (Laxey)
Man of the Match: Neil Brogan (Laxey)
Match rating: HHHII
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
