Guernsey were unable to spoil the party as a first-half penalty from Jack McVey ensured FC Isle of Man won their first ever game at The Bowl in Douglas on Saturday evening.

Tony Vance welcomed back Dave Rihoy to the starting line-up after a year out with a knee injury, while Blair Howitt (replacing the injured Kyle Smith in the travelling squad), Glenn Le Tissier and Tom Martin all on the bench having each not represented the Green Lions in a few years.

Buoyed by an enthusiastic sell-out bumper crowd at their 3,000-capacity ground, the Ravens started the brighter with Frank Jones rattling the crossbar inside seven minutes and a header flying just wide on 24 minutes.

Ste Whitley and Luke Murray saw efforts blocked shortly after the drinks break Dave Rihoy turned and forced a save from Dean Kearns in the Green Lions’ first real chance. A succession of blocks from GFC defenders then kept out a flurry of attempts from the hosts after pinball in the penalty area.

The hosts had a golden chance to net their first ever goal three minutes before the break. Luke Murray chased down a lost cause, forcing a mistake between Josh Addison and Tom Strawbridge, with the Guernsey defender adjudged to have committed a foul. McVey tucked the penalty away coolly.

They could have doubled their lead just before half-time after a well-worked corner, but Rihoy was in the right place to clear off the line.

Having already made one change in the first half, the Ravens made another 10 at the break to sent out a fresh new side. Guernsey’s solitary change was to send on Jacob Fallaize for Strawbridge.

The visitors made a much brighter start to the second half, with Glenn Walker comfortably saving Allen’s header before showing alertness to divert the danger as substitute Glenn Le Tissier look to get in behind.

The Green Lions had a penalty shout of their own inside the last 20 minutes as Louis Graham went down after beating his man to the ball, but the referee waved it away. Allen then hit the wall from a free-kick.

The Ravens had another claim for a penalty but it was turned down with the referee deeming substitute Blair Howitt to have got a toe to the ball. Jamie Johnston and Sean Doyle then fired just over for the hosts in quick succession.

GFC came close to spoiling the party in the closing stages as Ross Allen fired just over and Walker tipped over a header from Jamie Dodd’s long throw.

Congratulations to the Isle of Man on winning their first-ever match, and good luck as you begin your exciting journey.

GFC XI: 1 Josh ADDISON, 2 Frank TOBIN, 3 Jamie DODD(c), 4 Simon GEALL, 5 Tom STRAWBRIDGE, 6 Louis GRAHAM, 7 Liam MAHON, 8 Steve RENOUF, 9 Charlton GAUVAIN, 10 Ross ALLEN, 11 Dave RIHOY. Subs used: Blair HOWITT, Jacob FALLAIZE, Tom MARTIN, Glenn LE TISSIER.