Three goals in seven minutes ensured that the Isle of Man women’s team got off to a winning starting in the NatWest Island Games on Sunday, defeating Ynys Mon 3-0 at Vaskinde.

In a match that the Manx dominated, it was very much a frustrating first half which finished goal-less, as Ynys Mon’s goalkeeper Nickola Davies was their standout player pulling off a number of impressive saves.

The Isle of Man made their intentions early on, Sarah O’Reilly’s long-range effort was tipped onto the crossbar but no-one followed up, before Jade Burden’s header narrowly flew over the target following a telling cross.

Chances continued the IoM’s way. Burden peeling away from her marker but her angled shot was parried, before Eleanor Gawne capitalised on the rebound only for her strike to be pushed wide.

Burden was also sent clean through on another occasion and opted for the near post but her shot was well saved.

Alex Honour also went close, dispossessing a defender before her shot was acrobatically denied by the Welsh shot-stopper.

With the Manx creating a number of other opportunities and chances going narrowly wide or straight at the net-minder, they couldn’t find a way through before the interval.

After the break the Manx yet again dominated. Gawne was put clean through only to be denied by an outstretched palm that repelled her effort wide. From the resulting corner, Kym Hicklin steered her shot just wide.

The Isle of Man continued to press as Burden had a strike that just fizzed wide following some good build-up play while Anna Dillon’s effort was well-claimed.

The breakthrough eventually arrived on 69 minutes. The Isle of Man countered after regaining possession from a Welsh throw-in, Dillon’s cross-field pass on the left was collected by Wignall who out-muscled her marker and, clean through, drove a low powerful shot into the net.

Three minutes later the Manx extended their lead. Wignall slipped a through-ball to Gawne who raced clear and homed towards goal before chipping her effort inside the left post to make it 2-0.

The Isle of Man scored a deserved third on 76 minutes. Dillon was free on the right and showed some skill before passing inside and, while Gawne’s initial shot was parried, she made sure at the second attempt for her 20th Island Games goal to ensure the women’s team completed a fourth consecutive opening Games fixture with a victory

IoM v Ynys Mon: Kayleigh Greggor, Melissa Bell, Anna Dillon, Kym Hicklin (captain), Casey Halsall, Sarah O’Reilly, Sarah Wignall, Holly Sumner (Becky Corkish 65m), Eleanor Gawne, Alex Honour (Lisa Costain 72m), Jade Burden (Chloe Teare 77m).

PAUL HATTON

Twitter: @Hatty1970