Report by Paul Hatton

ISLE OF MAN 3 - 1 MENORCA
 
The Canada Life Isle of Man Women’s team got off to a winning start at the 2023 Guernsey Island Games, beating Menorca 3-1 at College Fields.

This is the first time the Manx faced the Balearic island side, the IOM came close to scoring after a minute played, Rebecca Cole was put through, steered her shot agonisingly wide. On 15 minutes the Manx took the lead, following a counter. Eleanor Gawne - playing her 10th Island / Inter Island Games, slipped a through-ball to Holly Sumner on the right, dinked her shot across goal and inside at the far post. 

Ten minutes later, they doubled the lead; Sumner providing a telling pass for Tia Lisy, who embarked on a powerful run, evading a challenge and tucked home a shot into the bottom left.

However, for some of these players, this was their first experience playing tournament, there was a nervousness within their play, on 40 minutes, the IOM conceded a penalty which Menorca scored from the spot to half the deficit.

Just before the interval, the Manx came close again, Cole having an effort cleared off the line.

After the break, it was more composed performance from the IOM, this was duly rewarded with a third on 61 minutes, Sumner working a one-two with Chloe Teare, the former ran towards goal, fired home a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

Cole missed another chance to make it four, firing narrowly wide following some good work down the right from Eleanor Gawne, just before full-time, goalkeeper Kayleigh Greggor was called into action to superbly tip over a long-range effort over the crossbar, ensuring manager Wayne Lisy gets his debut Island Games off to a winning start.

Team: Kayleigh Greggor, Kayleigh Georgeson (Megan Kelly 73m), Stevie Mallon, Becky Corkish (capt.), Anna Shaw (Lisa Costain 73m), Tia Lisy, Louise Gibbins, Holly Sumner (Erin Sells 79m), Eleanor Gawne, Chloe Teare, Rebecca Cole