Goalkeeper Kayleigh Greggor was the heroine for the Isle of Man women’s football team on Thursday, saving two spot-kicks in a penalty shootout to send them into their third Island Games final

The semi-final match had finished 1-1 after extra-time against the Western Isles at Kirkwall Grammar, but Greggor’s efforts help the Manx side win 3-2 in the shootout.

It was a tense affair and, although the Isle of Man side dominated, they couldn’t make things happen in the final third.

It was the Outer Hebrides side that took the lead following a counter-attack that led to a player being tripped in the box. A penalty kick was awarded, which Kyla McMurdo dispatched from the spot to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later though, the Manx side equalised when Chloe Teare’s corner was headed on by Tia Lisy and Rebecca Cole stabbed home from close range to score her fourth goal of this year’s tournament.

Shortly after the break, the Scottish side went close again with an angled effort which bounced off the crossbar.

But, for much of the second half, the Isle of Man were camped in the opposing half searching for a winner.

Cole went close to finding the target again following a mix-up in the defence when her effort hit the crossbar, before Lisy went on one of her trademark surging runs and was clean through after working a one-two, only for a last-ditch interception from a defender to deny her.

With both sides level after 90 minutes, the match went into extra-time with neither side able to find the breakthrough, therefore the semi final entered the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Greggor saved the first spot-kick, but Lisa Costain’s response hit the post. Western Isles and the IoM netted their next two penalties, with Pippa Wallis and Anna Shaw successful for the Manx side.

The Scottish team struck the post with their fourth penalty and Teare successfully dispatched hers to give the Manx a 3-2 lead.

This meant that the Western Isles had to score their penalty, only for the Manx shotstopper to save again and spark jubilant celebrations within the Isle of Man players and squad.

Isle of Man team: Kayleigh Greggor, Stevie Mallon (Shannon Groves 34m), Sarah O'Reilly, Louise Gibbins (Holly Stephen 62), Rebecca Cole (Lisa Costain 86m), Becky Corkish (captain), Holly Sumner (Rosabel Cardy 110m), Lydia Shaw (Anna Shaw 62m), Tia Lisy, Milly Dawson (Pippa Wallis 86m).

The Isle of Man women will now face Bermuda in the final at midday today (Friday).

PAUL HATTON

- Media Isle of Man’s Island Games 2025 coverage is supported by Benbridge Academy.