Onchan claimed a deserved three points at the Nivison Stadium on Saturday where a dominant attacking display saw them beat RYCOB 6-3, despite a late rally from the visitors.

Although Onchan controlled possession from the outset, it was Youthie who created the first two chances.

Layton Ballard was afforded too much room 25 yards from goal and rattled the woodwork after four minutes, before Harry Grant used his pace to beat the offside trap two minutes later.

With goalkeeper Callum Dawson racing from his line, Grant attempted to loft the ball over him but could only find the roof of the net.

Those misses quickly proved costly. Onchan took the lead after nine minutes following an excellent move from back to front. Tom Creer drove through midfield before releasing Ethan Leivers, whose low ball found Andy Asbridge at the back post to tap home.

Six minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion. Pressure from Leivers and Asbridge forced a loose clearance to fall towards Creer on the edge of the area.

He allowed the ball to come across him before unleashing a swerving half-volley into the net.

The game became scrappier as the half progressed, with Onchan continuing to see more of the ball as Josh Kennaugh and Tom O’Neill battled with Dylan Parish and Declan Cowell in central midfield.

Youthie continued to carry a threat through Grant whose pace caused problems throughout.

Onchan added their third 10 minutes before the interval. Lucas Watterson was released down the right and delivered an inviting cross towards Asbridge who calmly found the bottom corner from inside the area.

A bizarre fourth followed when Watterson collided with the RYCOB goalkeeper and, with several players stopping amid calls of a head injury, play continued. James Leece collected the loose ball and crossed towards the back post, where Reilly headed home. RYCOB manager Matty Kelly was subsequently cautioned during the protests that followed.

Youthie responded almost immediately as the Os switched off defensively. Parish collected the ball 25 yards out and squeezed his effort underneath Dawson to make it 4-1 at the break.

Onchan began the second half brightly and restored their four-goal advantage after 53 minutes.

Aaron Christian produced an excellent piece of play down the left before delivery a superb cross. Asbridge knocked it back across goal and Watterson was on hand to finish from close range.

Tempers briefly threatened to boil over five minutes later as Christian and Parish were both booked following a confrontation, before Onchan added a sixth just after the hour.

Leivers, who had been involved in much of Onchan’s best attacking play, produced a clever dummy to release Watterson down the right. His cross found Creer, who in turn picked out the continuing run of Leivers to slot home for 6-1.

At that stage the contest appeared finished, but Onchan’s intensity suddenly disappeared and RYCOB took advantage.

A corner was initially cleared before the ball was recycled back into the area, where Mark Nixon rose highest at the near post to shoulder home with 20 minutes remaining.

Five minutes later the deficit was reduced further. Onchan’s defence stopped to appeal for offside rather than playing to the whistle, allowing Grant to race in from the left and finish underneath Dawson.

The momentum of the game had completely shifted. Having controlled proceedings for long periods, Onchan suddenly found themselves on the back foot as RYCOB pushed forward, with Grant in particular continuing to cause problems down the left.

Youthie were unable to make their late pressure count though and Onchan saw out the remaining minutes to secure a deserved 6-3 victory.

DEAN TURTON