Jack McVey’s first-half penalty secured FC Isle of Man a 1-0 win over Guernsey FC at a sell-out Bowl on Saturday evening.

The St Mary’s midfielder cooly slotted home from the spot just before the half-time break after Corinthians’ attacker Luke Murray was adjudged to have been impeded in the box by Guernsey centre-back Tom Strawbridge.

The newly formed Manx side, who will follow in their opponents’ footsteps and join the English non-league system when the season hopefully begins in October, created the lion’s share of the friendly match’s goalscoring chances and should have perhaps won by more than the single goal they did.

Captain Frank Jones went close twice in succession as the Ravens made a vibrant start at the sun-kissed national stadium, striking the top of the bar with a dipping volley.

A goalmouth scramble then nearly bore fruit for the hosts only for the Guernsey defence and keeper Josh Addison to combine to keep their goal in tact.

The Manx side’s impressive first-half performance in front of more than 2,000 fans continued and ever-green defender Sean Quaye saw a header cleared off the line from a dangerous Ste Whitley corner.

FC Isle of Man manager Chris Bass Sr made 10 changes at half-time, Rushen defender Adam Cooil having already entered the fray in the first half for the injured Sam Caine.

This disrupted the flow of the game and both teams struggled to find their rhythm at the start of the second half.

Referee Stuart Kneen turned promising-looking penalty shouts down for both sides, before the fresh legs of the Manx who made half a dozen changes more than their opponents began to tell towards the end of the match.

Jamie Johnston fired narrowly over before Sean Doyle, who made an impressive 15-minute cameo in attack, sent a header just wide.

Guernsey, however, almost spoilt the party late on only for St George’s goalkeeper Glenn Walker to tip a goal-bound header over the bar.

Reaction, photos and more in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.