Squires Gate pile more misery on Ravens

FC Isle of Man slump to defeat against relegation-threatened visitors

FC Isle of Man's latest barren spell in the NWCFL Premier Division continued this evening (8 March) as they slumped to a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Squires Gate.

Jack Coop had the visitors in front with a close-range finish on 16 minutes before Tom Creer equalised for the hosts just before half-time.

Coop netted his and his side's second in the first minute of the second period before Squires Gate captain James Boyd's well-placed volley gave the travelling side their third ten minutes later.

Substitute Charlie Higgins found the net with a late lifeline for the Islanders as he and Dean Pinnington squandered major chances to snatch a late point.

With their play-offs hopes all but extinguished, a much-changed FC Isle of Man were hoping to bounce back from defeat the previous week against a Squires Gate side bottom of the table and five points from safety.

It was the latter of those teams which got the opener with just over 15 minutes gone.

A low Joshua Edwards cross from the left found Coop six yards out who controlled before sliding a low shot into the bottom corner.

In response, the Manx hosts began to up the pressure against a stubborn Squires Gate back line.

However, 'The Ravens' found a breakthrough in the 41st minute as Callum Sherry skipped past a challenge on the right edge of the box before squaring a ball to Creer sliding in at the near post who poked his low effort past Squires Gate goalkeeper Josh Taylor and in at the near post.

With the game finely poised at the break, Squires Gate made a blistering start to the second period, taking the lead for the second time inside 60 seconds of the restart.

A long ball over the FC Isle of Man in defence caused chaos in the FC Isle of Man defence as Alex Maitland and Jack McVey clattered into one another, allowing Coop to stride through on goal and smash an effort into the top corner.

Ten minutes later, another direct pass through the Manx side on the left found Coop between McVey and Maitland - the striker tucked inside and saw his effort denied by FC Isle of Man 'keeper, Adam Killey with the looping rebound falling to Boyd who arrowed a well-placed volley into Killey's top right corner to add a third for the visitors.

With a mountain to climb, a raft of changes came for FC Isle of Man to try and claw a way back into the contest.

Substitute Dan Simpson - making his first FC Isle of Man appearance in over a year after a long-term injury - squared a ball from the left into the box in the 71st minute which missed Ben Wosser and found Higgins who steadied himself from ten yards before blazing wildly over the crossbar.

Ten minutes after that, however, Higgins found his mark from a near-identical Simpson cross from the left and slammed a strike into the bottom corner to give the home side a lifeline.

FC Isle of Man then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to level late on in the 89th minute when Pinnington was sent through one-on-one and  - with the keeper to beat - chipped a tame effort into the arms of Taylor as Squires Gate saw out the game to claim their first victory of 2025.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against Pilkington on Saturday, 15 March, kicking-off at the earlier time of 3pm.