Taking from the famous Star Trek phrase, Manx football is ’boldly going where no man has gone before.’

This season will prove to be a campaign of entering the unknown with FC Isle of Man and all the challenges that may arise at a local level.

There was further evidence of this when two teams tipped to do well this season in last week’s Manx Independent FourFiveOne football pull-out, Corinthians and Ayre United - now under new management - played out a 2-2 draw at Ballafletcher on Saturday.

With both sides having players off-island on holiday, Corinthians also had the extra burden of having seven players involved with FC Isle of Man which saw their squad stretched to breaking point.

As such, the two teams fielded were not reflective of the first choice starting XIs.

The Whites went about their business though, taking a lead after three minutes. Kane Ridings cut in from the left and worked a one-two before feeding Adam McCullough who, with his back to goal, turned his marker and drove a low diagonal shot into the net.

With so many changes and the unfamiliarity of not playing together as a unit, the Whites misplaced a number of passes and Ayre started to impose themselves.

Johnny Shields drove a shot just wide before the Tangerines equalised on 17 minutes. A stray pass from the Whites’ back-line saw Ayre quickly return the ball into the opposing half and Deacon Lombard-Chibnall ran across his marker before chipping over the stranded Adam Killey and into the net.

Jamie Callister went close for the visitors, heading wide from Christian Penswick’s free-kick, but it was Corinthians who finished the first half stronger with McCullough and Danny Gerrard driving shots wide and Phil Kelly having a header cleared off the line.

After the break, Callister again nearly got on the scoresheet when he drove a shot straight at Killey from close range.

On 58 minutes, Corinthians restored their lead when Gerrard’s pass was laid off by Joe Middleton to Sammy Gelling who worked a shooting chance before driving a low shot past goalkeeper Nick White and inside the left post.

Corinthians began to find their feet, making the pitch small with their short passing game and at times pushed Ayre onto the defensive back foot, but the Whites couldn’t extend their advantage. The closest they came was when Kelly curled an effort wide.

Playing down the clock in the closing stages, this cost Corinthians maximum points when Ayre equalised on 88 minutes. A throw-in was flicked on by Callister and the ball went across goal where Jed Fisher pounced to drive home and make it 2-2.

Corinthians then nearly won the match with the last attack of the match when Gerrard’s surging run teed up Callum Taylor just outside the penalty area but his shot dipped agonisingly wide as the points were shared in this opening fixture.