Webster at the double as Laxey beat Saints
EPISODE two of Mullen-e-Cloie’s Friday Night Project saw two teams arrive in the west aiming to enhance their respective Canada Life Premier League ambitions.
Ultimately it was Laxey who walked away with maximum yield after defeating St John’s 1-2.
Friday’s match was an indication of the ambition of both clubs who historically before the millennium were the mainstay of Division Two.
Since 2000, St John’s have built some truly excellent facilities and look on course to qualify for the Railway Cup semis while Laxey seek to replicate their achievements of the Grand Slam winning season of 2005-06.
Both sides were keen to make a telling impression in this match, snapping away at challenges, playing ball-to-feet football, but it was the visitors who took the lead with only five minutes played.
Laxey were awarded a free-kick just inside the opposing half, the set-piece was quickly taken, catching the hosts off-guard.
Ashley Webster homed in towards goal and drove his shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal.
Webster was soon in the thick of the action again, finding the net with a superb strike only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
However, at the halfway stage, the footballing tide started to ebb in St John’s favour with waves of attacks inspired by captain Andy Glover.
One of these had a telling reward. Jamie Moffatt’s corkscrew run into the penalty area ended with a diagonal pass to the far post that was met by Stephen Glover’s who tapped in an easy chance.
With time running out in the first half, the visitors recaptured the lead with what would proved to be the winner.
The Johnners conceded possession within their own half, Webster engineered a move along the right.
His searching pass across the opposing goal saw Mark Wolfenden scythed down and referee Tommy Crowe had no hesitation pointing to the spot.
Webster, cool as the night air, dispatching the penalty with consummate ease.
Wolfenden made more of an impression in the second half.
The former Castletown striker had an effort cleared off the line by Sam Ingham and worked a one-two with Webster, curling his effort just wide off the target.
Webster came close to completing his hat-trick, but he headed straight at opposing goalkeeper Damyan Petrov.
The Bulgarian was called into action again, just moments later saving at Max Murley’s feet.
St John’s had their moments too, Johnny Holland’s cross was met by Moffatt who chested onto Perry’s palms, before Stephen Glover’s pile-driver was repelled.
Then Andy Glover sent an acrobatic side-foot just wide.
However, neither side could add to their tally as Laxey briefly returned to the Premier League’s summit.
Team check
St John’s: Damyan Petrov, Eric Kelly, Sam Ingham, Nick Leung, Johnny Holland, Louis Morris, Jamie Moffatt, Nick Hurt, Andrew Glover, Stephen Glover, Michael Peace. Subs not used: Wes Kitching, John Wrigley, Tony Duggan
Laxey: Andy Perry, Garry Williams , Dave Corlett, Sam Theobald, Neil Brogan, Paul Rowley, Nigel Beattie, Max Murley, Mark Wolfenden, Ashley Webster, Josh Thomas. Subs not used: Andy Falconer, Johnny Callow, Tom Williams
Referee: Tommy Crowe
Assistants: Stuart Kneen, Chris Taggart
Bookings: Kelly, Holland, Moffatt, A. Glover, (St John’s), Murley, Thomas (Laxey)
Man of the match: Webster (Laxey)
Match rating: HHHHH
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Weather for Isle of Man
Sunday 19 May 2013
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