In a reverse of fortunes from their previous fixture, The Non-League Reds secured all 3 points deep into stoppage time, as the returning Caleb Jones proved his set-piece skills once again.
AFC started the match positively, winning an early corner from which Matty Brown fired an effort over the bar. Both sides created half chances in the early stages with Dean Pinnington forcing Dave Parkinson into a decent save. On 13 minutes, AFC switched off when a long ball was picked up by FC Isle of Man's left-back Crook on the left side of the box, he crossed for Hattersley who headed wide from 7 yards when really he should have scored. Pinnington then went close again, as Parkinson had to push another shot from the edge of area out for a corner. The Non-League Reds reacted well and on 20 minutes a patient build up ended with Nathan Giblin playing a fine through ball to Elliot Taylor. He controlled it well as he ran into the area, cut inside onto his right foot and struck the ball into the bottom corner of the net, to give AFC the lead and notch his 21st of the season.
Elliot Taylor gives AFC Liverpool the lead.
Taylor was put through again a couple of minutes later, but the keeper saved well and the ball was cleared from the line. Tom Beckett went close on 33 minutes, just chipping his effort over the bar. AFC should have extended their lead a minute later, when Owen Fisher-Jones broke superbly from the back. He could and perhaps should have gone on himself, but chose to pass to Taylor and he was denied by Killey in the FC Isle of Man goal, who then made an even better save to deny Adam Moorcroft from the rebound. The visitors should have punished AFC for the miss when Gerrard was handed a glorious chance 7 minutes before the break, but he missed the target from close range and the home side held on to lead at half-time.
FC Isle of Man went close at the start of the 2nd half, as Hattersley curled an effort wide. The big striker went close again shortly afterwards, as his header was held well by the diving Parkinson. Caleb Jones almost scored direct from a corner on 54 minutes but McVey cleared well from near his own goal line. Hattersley had another chance that went narrowly over for the visitors, before being replaced by Sean Doyle who immediately became a threat each time they attacked. On 63 minutes, substitute Luke Booth got the ball on the left wing and crossed it towards goal; unfortunately for AFC the ball looped over Parkinson and into the net for the equaliser. A few minutes later, Sean Doyle rose to meet a corner and glanced it onto the crossbar, as FC Isle of Man started to take control. With 15 minutes to go, Pinnington broke free and with only Parkinson to beat, put his shot wide. In the 88th minute a good exchange between Caleb Jones and Joel Skillen created an excellent chance for Jones to win it, but he surprisingly missed the target. The referee signalled 5 minutes of injury time as it looked like the points would be shared.
FC Isle of Man's centre-half Sherry, who had been excellent throughout, was then sin-binned for dissent, meaning the visitors would have to play out the closing moments with 10 men. As the game drifted deep into added time, Caleb Jones looked like he was fouled on the edge of the area, the referee signalled an advantage as the ball broke to Louie Lancaster, he struck a brilliant shot that looked destined for the top corner, only for Killey to make a fine save and tip it over for a corner. Jones ran over to ensure there was enough time to take it, curled it in right-footed, Matty Brown rose to try and get his head on it but the ball evaded everyone and found its way into the back of the net. The celebrations that followed showed how much it meant to players and fans alike, as AFC came out on top in a very closely contested game.
Caleb's corner finds the back of the net for the winner
The Non-League Reds have another tough home game this coming weekend, as Cheadle Town visit The Marine Travel Arena. The kick-off time for this one is the usual 3pm. If you're not going to the Merseyside Derby, get down and give the lads your support and I'm sure the game will be on in the bar before the main event starts!
FINAL SCORE: AFC Liverpool 2 v 1 FC Isle of Man
LINE-UP: 1. Parkinson 2. Cunningham 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Brown 6. Fisher-Jones
7. C. Jones 8. Mahaffy 9. Taylor 10. Beckett 11. Bavelock
Subs Used: Rooney, Wright-Ocana, Lancaster, Skillen,
(Pics courtesy of Paul Moran)
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