FC Isle of Man suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season as Atherton LR claimed a 2-0 victory in the NWCFL Premier Division on Saturday.
Hoping to bounce back from a first home loss of the season seven days earlier, 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, the Ravens created 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 George Chadwick.
From around ten yards out, he glanced a header beyond 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 leveller 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 Cal 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 the Ravens, Hunter wouldn't be denied as he punished the hosts in second-half stoppage time whilst the Ravens 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.
