Isle of Man FA manager Paul Jones admitted he had mixed emotions despite seeing his side stage another dramatic comeback against Liverpool County in the FA Inter-League Cup on Saturday.

The Men trailed 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 before mounting a stirring fightback to level matters in the 89th minute, prior to dominating extra-time and eventually triumphing 7-4.

This fixture had provided a memorable night five and half years ago when the Manx side came from 3-0 down to defeat the Merseysiders 5-3 in a match which featured thunder, lightning and a snow storm. Whilst not quite as memorable this time around, the Isle of Man certainly did it the hard way under the floodlights at a wet and windy Bowl on Saturday.

Speaking after the match, new island manager Jones commented: ’I’ve got mixed emotions about it to be honest. It’s great that we put on a decent game for people to watch and it’s been exciting and end-to-end in some ways in coming from behind, but when you’re a coach or a manager, it’s not the sort of game you enjoy watching! It basically means that you’ve not defended well and you’ve not taken all of your chances that you should have had.

’It was a good game though: Liverpool played well for 20-25 minutes to half an hour in the first half and they looked a half-decent side with some very good players, but then their fitness just died a little and they tired, so we gave them everything they got really. I’m really pleased with the effort and endeavour of the lads, they tried to stay patient and kept trying to do the right things - they didn’t just lump the ball forward in a hit and hope. That was the most pleasing thing, they believed in what they were trying to do, but obviously there’s lots to go away and work on.

’We were obviously very disappointed to go two goals down but then as soon as we scored that first one, you could see their (Liverpool’s) heads go down: their body language had gone and they’d given all that they could give.

’We then gave them a penalty just by being the wrong side of a man and up end up putting your hand on their back and they go down - it probably is a penalty. So then you go back to two goals down and that gives them a little bit more impetus to get through to half-time - that’s the frustrating bit.

’In Scotland (at the Umbro Quadrangular) we spoke about giving people goals and making mistakes and then we’ve gone and done it four times again tonight.

’In a weird way, Liam (Cowin’s) injury helped us a bit, it allowed us to change things a bit and drop Frank Jones back a little bit towards Daniel Bell in midfield and Furo Davies came on.

’It was a tough call to leave Furo out if I’m honest - we’ve got so many good players to select from that you’re going to end up making decisions just on intuition and your gut more than anything else.

’He came on the pitch and I just said to him "Just go and prove me wrong" and he did - he was brilliant. Having worked with him at Rushen, he’s at his best when he feels he’s got a point to prove or he feels there’s something against him - I knew I’d get a reaction from him off the bench and I knew he would come on and do well.

’I was thinking it would be later on in the game than it did happen but I think it changed the game a little in our favour and Frank’s energy in midfield helped cover some of the gaps that were appearing earlier in the game, so it worked out, although I can’t say it was all my good judgement!’

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