Spectators at the Bowl were treated to a close and cagey Under-18s Football League encounter on Wednesday night as Laxey battled their way to a gritty victory over Corinthians with a late winner.

A tight affair between the Miners and the Whites saw both sides going close in the first half. Dominating possession in the opening half-hour, Laxey created an opening worthy of a goal when Jacob Stones ran onto a through ball in behind the defence, but Corinthians shot-stopper Elliot Nelson was quick to react and gathered the ball.

The Whites upped the tempo late on in the first half, pressing Laxey’s defenders to win the ball high up the pitch before firing in a low cross towards striker Joe Middleton. Under pressure from the centre halves though, Middleton was unable to hit the target from inside the penalty area.

An equally-precarious opening to the second half offered very little in the way of chances and it was not until Middleton pounced onto a backpass to Laxey goalkeeper Jack Corran that the first chance of the half arrived.

Attempting to round the onrushing keeper, Middleton was brought down inside the box for a penalty. After a long wait because of protests from the Miners, Corran saved brilliantly in the bottom right-hand corner to keep the score goalless with only 20 minutes to play.

The breakthrough finally came with five minutes remaining as Laxey substitute Joshua Molokwu gathered the ball in the final third with a phenomenal touch past the Corinthians defenders. He matched the touch with blistering pace to find himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slot home the winning goal.

With two goals from Harry Grant, a Jack Gilbert screamer and a neat Max Corrie finish, RYCOB stormed to a 4-2 win over Onchan in the early kick-off.

Despite taking the lead through Tom Creer, Onchan suffered their first defeat of the season having picked up three crucial points against Laxey on the opening matchday.

LUKE HEGARTY