Taking advantage of Pulrose United’s postponement on Saturday, Castletown entered the festive period top of JCK Division Two.

This was thanks to a 4-1 victory over fellow challengers Marown at the Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Following a blip at the start of the season with defeats against Pully, Foxdale and Governor’s Athletic, Town have refocused their efforts and have now become one of the form teams in Manx football, winning their last nine consecutive fixtures.

Despite the setback for Marown, they are very much in the hunt for the Gold Cup and promotion places, and will be left to rue the main talking point of the match.

In a match that for most of the opening half hour saw defences on top and a midfield battle, the only chance on target during that time resulted in the opening goal.

Paddy Cooper worked an opening on the right, his cross was met by Alex Crawley’s near-post run whose first attempt saw goalkeeper Sean Jackson parry, but the striker headed home the rebound.

The Reds gained a further foothold on 28 minutes after doubling their lead. Ashlee Sansbury’s swerving corner was met by Richard Foden at the far post and he headed across goal to direct the ball into the net.

Marown replied three minutes later. Connor Gilbert led the counter-attack coming in from the left before passing inside and the resulting half-clearance was seized upon by Ryan Dean who smashed home an impressive strike just inside the left post.

Neither side could add to their scoreline on the approach to half-time but after the restart, despite a chance from Marown’s Joey Rothwell, it was the hosts who struck again.

Following Paul Camarda’s goal-kick and the resulting interchange of play, Cooper flicked the ball over the top to put Crawley clear and he smashed the ball into the net.

Then came the match’s main talking point. Following a corner, Ashley Higginbotham’s effort hit the wheel on the frame of the goal, thus the ball had left the field of play before the ensuing scramble resulted in Rothwell netting.

Marown turned away celebrating after referee Mark Thomas awarded a goal, but closer inspection and the protests from the Castletown players eventually saw the goal ruled out.

Following Marown’s euphoria that was quelled, the Crosby side found it hard to pick themselves up which the Reds capitalised upon with a fourth to seal the three points.

Another Camarda goal-kick led to Connor Garrett slipping a diagonal through-ball to Crawley who drove home a low diagonal strike, meaning Crawley has now netted three consecutive hat-tricks.

Despite the efforts from both sides in the closing stages, neither team could add to the scoreline, therefore it is Castletown who enter the second phase of fixtures with renewed confidence.

TEAM CHECK

Castletown: Paul Camarda, Noah Sansbury, Ashlee Sansbury, Euan Dawson, Paddy Cooper, Ciaran Brown, Richard Foden, Connor Garrett, Alex Crawley (78m), Aaron Allcote, Jay Cadwallader. Sub not used: Ross Mulligan

Marown: Sean Jackson, Lewis Brew, Cameron Avery, Matthew McQuarrie, Andy Marshall, Ryan Dean (Stuart Norris 63m), Kevin Druggan, Connor Gilbert, Ashley Higginbotham, Andrew O’Neill (Alex McQuarrie 70m), Joseph Rothwell. Sub not used: Sean Shimmin

Referee: Mark Thomas

Bookings: Gilbert , A. McQuarrie (Marown)

Match rating: 2*

Man of the match: Crawley (Castletown)