Ellan Vannin 4-1 Cascadia

Ellan Vannin ran out comfortable winners at Gander Green Lane this afternoon, as the CONIFA World Football Cup kicked off in London.

The opening exchanges were frantic, and chances fell at either end. Cascadia pushed for an opener but the Ellan Vannin goalkeeper matched his efforts.

Ellan Vannin took the lead early on with a fabulous finish by Stephen Whitley. Decisive wing play saw the ball drop to the Ellan Vannin man, who placed the ball into the top corner with the outside of his boot.

Cascadia, having never played an international game together before, looked organised in the opening stages and equalised almost immediately. Doughty was the man to level the game from inside the area.

Before the stroke of half time, Ellan Vannin restored their lead. Frank Jones reacted quickest in the area to put his side firmly on the front foot.

Midway into the second half, Sam Cane stole the headlines with a brilliant solo goal. The fullback picked the ball up from deep in midfield and tricked his way through the Cascadia defence. With only the goalkeeper to beat, the fullback prodded home, prompting euphoric celebrations from the subs bench.

As the goals kept coming, so too did the quality. Ellan Vannin won a free kick 30 yards out, and Jack McEvey scored a goal worthy of any World Cup to put the game beyond Cascadia.

Cascadia tried to salvage something from the game, with James Riley going close, but it was too little too late as Ellan Vannin ran out worthy winners.