A sensational late winner from substitute Rob McCowliff at Croit Lowey on Saturday helped keep Laxey on the coattails of champions St George’s in this season’s exciting Canada Life Premier League title race.
After a disappointing opening period, the match sprang to life in the second half with the home side at times pounding the visitors’ goal.
The hosts could well have taken the lead during the opening minute of the game but in-form striker Michael Williams fired over after being in a one-to-one situation with goalkeeper Andy Perry.
Gradually the Miners worked their way into the contest but, remarkably, most of their shooting was from long distance.
Then midway through the half the deadlock was finally broken. The busy Ashley Webster fired a fine effort on goal which was well saved by home keeper Tom Strivens. Laxey’s top marksman Mark Wolfenden then met the rebound and vollied the ball against the underside of the crossbar before it bounced down and was eventually cleared.
However, assistant referee Peter Crompton had little doubt that the ball had in fact crossed the line and a goal was awarded by referee Mark Thomas.
The Glen Road side certainly got the better of the first-half exchanges and could well have increased their advantage had an effort from the highly promising Jackson Brown not missed the target by inches.
The second half, however, was a totally different affair with the southerners set for an equaliser almost straight from the off.
Steve Riding was a constant threat from the left and it required a vital challenge from defender Gary Williams to deny him an early scoring opportunity.
The pressure on the visitors’ goal looked likely to provide an equaliser but efforts from Jack Saxon, Aaron Hawley, Riding and Williams were all denied by impressive saves from Perry.
Mark Haywood’s side appeared to be completely out of luck when Hawley produced a superbly-placed chip that beat Perry before skimming the angle between post and upright.
Then moments later the equaliser finally arrived when Chris Shimmin delivered a cross from the right which deceived both defenders and attackers alike before nestling in the far corner of the goal.
A stunning victory then looked odds on for the Spaniards before there was a remarkable twist in the tail.
With only minutes remaining Wolfenden avoided the offside trap before racing clear to deliver the perfect cross which allowed McCowliff to score with relative ease. The goal brought joy to the face of Laxey manager Steve Falconer at the end of the game, but left the home side to feel just a little hard done by.
TEAM CHECK
Rushen: Tom Strivens, Alex Maitland, Gareth Lloyd (Michael Baker) Adam Cregeen, Alex Guy, Jordan Watterson (Harvey Kneale) Jack Saxon, Chris Shimmin, Michael Williams, Aaron Hawley, Steve Riding.
Laxey: Andy Perry, Gary Williams, David Corlett, Sam Theobald, Ryan Williamson, Paul Rowley, Sean Kelly (Rob McCowliff) Jackson Brown (Declan Cummins) Ashley Webster, Mark Wolfenden, Johnny Callow.
Referee: Mark Thomas - always in control of what was at times a difficult game, the most important decisions being made by his assistants.
Assistants: Tommy Crowe and Peter Crompton.
Man of the Match: Andy Perry - shaded the award with some vital saves when the Green and Whites were under real pressure in the second half of the game
Match rating: HHHII
Attendance: 110