Report: FC Isle of Man 2-5 Chester

Chester earned their first win of pre-season as they comfortably dispatched of a spirited FC Isle of Man side at The Bowl.

After a closely fought opening ten minutes, Iwan Murray put the Seals in front with his composed finish finding its way into the bottom corner after good work from the lively Tom Peers.

The hosts equalised just before the half hour mark, with Dean Pinnington racing through and delicately lifting the ball over Cam Mason.

A quick-fire double just before the break meant Calum McIntyre and his side resumed control going into the interval. Declan Weeks’ close range finish under pressure put the Yellows back in front, and then less than 90 seconds later Tom Peers was played through by Weeks and finished with aplomb to double our advantage.

After a whole host of substitutions at half time, the hosts were the team to score next with Charlie Higgins bursting through and halving the deficit for the Ravens as his driven shot nestled into the corner.

But the Isle of Man jubilation was short lived, as Tom Peers doubled his tally on the day in superb fashion. Second half substitute Reece Daly teed up the striker, who delightfully curled the ball into the ‘keeper’s side netting.

Summer signing Dan Turner completed the rout to record his first goal for the club, with Cam Mason registering an unlikely assist. Our No. 1 cleared the ball down the pitch and after a miscommunication at the back, an inconspicuous clearance turned into a defence-splitting pass.

Turner still had work to do as he bared down on goal, but he made no mistake as he found the back of the net.

But McIntyre and his players have no time to rest on their laurels, with their next game less than 48 hours away as we face Lancaster City at the Bowl on Sunday morning.

Match Report By Jude Deedigan.

CHESTER: Mason, Hunter (Burke 46), Rawlinson (Williams 46), Pollock (Roberts 46), Heywood (Woodthorpe 46), Bainbridge (Rosenblatt 46), Hancox, Weeks, Murray (Daly 60), Caton (Turner 46) Peers.

SUBS NOT USED: Brown.

SCORERS: Pinnington 28, Higgins 60; Murray 13, Weeks 37, Peers 39 & 62, Turner 68.