FC Isle of Man scored three second half goals to end Sandbach United 5-game unbeaten run in a 4-2 defeat.

Andy Hockenhull made several changes to the squad, as Jack Hart and new signing Shaun Miller came into the starting line-up in place of Aaron Knight and Matt Pearson. Other new signing Callum Parker was named among the substitutes for the midweek clash.

Sandbach got off to a dream start as they took the lead through Hart after only 33 seconds of play. An excellent spin by Bobbie McDonnell beat two defenders before he played the ball down the left-hand side to Hart.

The midfielder drove into the box with the ball before sliding a low ball towards the far post, which nicked off a defender on its way through and rolled past a helpless Kearns into the back of the net.

FC Isle of Man were keen to get back into the game right from the restart, although were a little too keen at times and Chris Bass Jr entered the referee's book after 11 minutes for a reckless sliding challenge on Brad Cooper.

The Ravens began to see much more of the ball throughout the first half but a resolute Sandbach defence limited them to hopeful shots from range, which Danny Hamlett could deal with comfortably.

Hart doubled his and Sandbach's goal tally in the 37th minute, with the assist once more coming from McDonnell. A sumptuous backheel found Hart in space around 16 yards out.

He took a touch before curling a strike towards the bottom right corner, and it beat Kearns once more, albeit with a deflection from a desperate Isle of Man boot.

The visitors instantly hit back through Jack McVey from a set piece. The gigantic Isle of Man side always looked a threat from set pieces, and the captain nodded home a corner in the 39th minute to bring themselves back within one goal.

Sandbach could consider themselves unlucky not to be awarded a penalty 11 minutes into the second half after Miller turned his defender inside out in the box and was hauled down, but the referee waved play on.

Minutes later, the Isle of Man were awarded a penalty after a tussle between Cooper and Williams led to the Sandbach player flattened on the ground with a serious injury, but the referee pointed to the spot.

Cooper could not continue, and the penalty was tucked away to Hamlett's right.

The Ravens then took the lead through a long ball over the defence to top scorer Sean Doyle. With the linesman's flag remaining down, he controlled the pass before lifting a shot over the onrushing Hamlett into the top right corner.

McDonnell then almost levelled the scores for Sandbach when he burst through on goal, but with Pearson open for a tap in he instead opted to shoot with his left foot across goal, and it narrowly rolled wide of the far post.

The Isle of Man immediately countered with another searching long ball and scored from it.

Hamlett seemed to have the situation under control when he dealt with a raking ball in behind, but his pass out from the back was intercepted and Nathan Cardy passed the ball into the open goal for the visitors fourth.

Tempers began to flare after a late pair of tackles on McDonnell resulted in the striker catching McVey on the ankle with a late tackle of his own, and a melee ensued.

The referee signalled for play to be brought back for the original foul on McDonnell, and the Ramblers prepared to loft the free kick into the box.

The referee then called over McDonnell, who was not involved in the short scuffle outside the technical area and brandished a straight red card to the young forward.

With the hosts down to 10-men, the Ravens saw the game out comfortably and moved up into 4th place as a result of their win. Sandbach remain in 7th place, still 4 points ahead of Stafford Town.

Andy Hockenhull said after the game "It's disappointing to lose a game 4-2 after you were winning.

"I didn't think it was a penalty, but we did have chances as well, it was a fast and furious game.

"I think 4-2 is quite harsh on us and doesn't reflect the game itself but football is about taking chances, we didn't take some of our chances similar to Saturday [against Barnton] where we had 20-odd shots!

"Then we make a mistake, and they get the equaliser. If we go on at 2-0 at halftime, it's a different game".

Sandbach now look to their next fixture in the NWCFL; a visit to New Mills FC who are currently 2nd in the league, after scoring a late penalty against Alsager Town to run out 3-2 winners.