Castletown edge past D&D in only game to survive the weather

The only local football game to survive the elements on Saturday afternoon saw Castletown extend their advantage at the top of Ardern and Druggan Division Two after a hard-fought battle with Douglas and District at the Stadium.

The visitors took the lead in the early stages when Nathan Perager pounced on an error in the Town defence to slot into an empty net.

The hosts responded positively and enjoyed plenty of possession as they looked for the equaliser and the leveller arrived through Jack Wallis who ventured forward from the back and was on hand to turn the ball home from a corner to make it 1-1.

It wasn’t long before the turnaround was completed when Robert Teare slotted home to give the Reds the upper hand 2-1 at half-time.

As the second half progressed, the conditions continued to deteriorate in the stormy weather but it was Castletown who were able to trouble the scorers next when Thomas Moore whipped in a free-kick which was deftly touched home by Ross Crawford to make it 3-1 the southerners.

To their credit, Douglas and District refused to give up and were able to drag themselves back into the contest when substitute Elijah Barlow found the back of the net to set up a nervy finale.

But Castletown held on to claim all three points with a 3-2 victory which makes it seven wins from eight games, the Mets’ best start to a season since 1981.

The result leaves Town sitting four points clear of second-placed Foxdale in Ardern and Druggan Division Two, although they have played one game more than the Billy Goat Park outfit.

Douglas and District remain rooted to the foot of the table still searching for their first win of the campaign, but will be buoyed by pushing the league leaders all the way.