Atherton best FC Isle of Man at The Bowl

Ravens slump to back-to-back home defeats

It's now back-to-back losses for FC Isle of Man as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Atherton Laburnum Rovers in the NWCFL Premier Division tonight (17 October).

In a cagey first half, the visitors produced the one true moment of quality in front of goal when George Chadwick's deft header put Atherton in front on 29 minutes.

As the Manx side toiled away in the second period without success, Atherton then secured all three points when substitute, Cal Hunter slotted home deep into second-half stoppage time.

It's the first time in the current campaign that FC Isle of Man have both lost consecutive matches and gone two games without finding the net.

Hoping to bounce back from a first home loss of 2026/27 seven days previous, FC Isle of Man were taking on an Atherton side entering a new era with manager, Leighton Mills taking charge of his first match for the away side.

Just four minutes in, FC Isle of Man carved the first opening when Charlie Higgins on the left squared a low pass to Freddie O'Donoghue who - from around 16 yards out - curled an effort just wide of the post.

That was one of the very few sighters either side had in front of goal in the first half, until the clock struck 29 minutes.

An Atherton attack initially broke down with the ball cleared to Edward Jones on the left who whipped a pin-point cross into Chadwick who - from around ten yards or so - glanced a header beyond FC Isle of Man goalkeeper, Adam Killey and into the back of the net to open the scoring.

The second period - much like the first - largely passed with little notable action in the final third as FC Isle of Man struggled to find a leveler against a disciplined Atherton defence.

On 60 minutes a Dean Pinnington cross from the left took a deflection off an Atherton boot, sending the ball towards goal and forcing a quickfire stop from Atherton goalkeeper, James Aspinall.

As time ebbed away late on for 'The Ravens' to make an impact, they were nearly punished at the other end when Atherton's Mark Pearson fizzed a low cross from the right into Hunter who could only send a first-time effort into the side-netting at the near post from close range.

Having provided a warning sign to FC Isle of Man, Hunter wouldn't be denied as he punished the hosts in second-half stoppage time whilst FC Isle of Man were pushing forward in search of an equaliser.

A floated cross down the right saw Hunter pick the ball up by the corner flag before he danced past three challenges into the penalty area and sent a low strike home at the near post to make sure of a third straight win for Atherton over the Islanders.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against Maghull in the Macron Cup Second Round on Saturday, 24 October, kicking-off at 6pm.

Man of the Match: George Chadwick (Atherton LR)