Cheshire League 0 Isle of Man FA 9

JIMMY Bush felt his Cheshire Inter-League representative team got what they deserved, despite a harsh early penalty call going against them.

The former Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds manager said it was 'hard to take' seeing his men - including five starters from Warrington teams - bow out of the FA Inter-League Cup 9-0 to holders Isle of Man at the last 16 stage in Knutsford on Saturday.

"For the first 20 minutes we were actually the better side, and both the first two goals were against the run of play," said the Warringtonian.

"We dealt with the first one horribly and the second was never a penalty but they are given sometimes.

"You have to react from those setbacks in games though, but we just capitulated."

He painted a picture of where things went wrong.

"We were physically way off their pace, and in the end, the scoreline was a fair reflection of the game," he said.

"They were devastating in attack but I just didn't feel we put up anywhere near enough of a fight.

"It's just a massive shame, the way we've been playing the past few months. If we'd put in a performance like that on Saturday, we would have put up a fight."

Now the focus is moving on.

"The lads have set their standards very high and I know they'll be as upset as anyone about the result," he said.

"We have games coming up and we will look to put it right.

"If the Isle of Man can play like that in every round, they'll take some stopping."

Adam Coleman and Nathan Williams (both Eagle Sports), Callum Wilson (Rylands), Lee Vaughan and Connor Yarwood (both Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds) were in the starting line-up as Cheshire fell behind midway through the opening period when Chris Bass Jnr punished a mistake in defence.

By the time Ciaran McNulty converted a penalty - after Ashley Webster went down in the box from a challenge by goalkeeper Conor Yarwood - the visitors were in control.

McNulty made it 3-0 from close range, converting a cross from Bass Jnr who added a fourth from Webster's assist.

McNulty completed his hat-trick shortly after the interval, finishing in style after reaching Sean Quaye's pass.

Webster added his name to the scoresheet after Bass Jnr nudged the ball his way, then Quaye met Lee Gale's corner with a thumping header to make it 7-0.

Further goals from substitute Conor Doyle and captain Frank Jones completed the rout.

"We were taught a lesson in football," reflected Phil Harrison, Bush's right-hand man.

"We can only credit Isle of Man, and I hope they go on to win it again."

Cheshire: Yarwood (GK), Coleman, Williams, Wilson, Jenyons, Newton, Clarke, Pickford, Burgess, Yuille, Vaughan.