FC Isle of Man's first game of 2026 ends in narrow defeat

Burscough snatch victory over Ravens in cagey contest

FC Isle of Man's first match of the new year has ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Burscough in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (10 January).

The first and only goal of the contest came on 44 minutes when Burscough's Tom Croughan slotted away a calm finish after a brilliant counter-attack from an FC Isle of Man corner.

Both sides were reduced to few sights of goal for much of the contest, with FC Isle of Man's best chance seeing them rattle the crossbar from a Shaun Kelly long throw on 67 minutes.

A disciplined Burscough would hold firm late on to claim a league double over the Manx side and condemn FC Isle of Man to back-to-back home defeats.

Tonight's meeting featured an FC Isle of Man side hoping to avoid a repeat of their last encounter with Burscough, a 5-0 hammering in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, their visitors arrived on Island off the back of a big win last weekend and starting the day just three points off the play-off places.

The opening 20 minutes were a cagey and timid spectacle with the first real opportunity falling the way of Kelly who saw his volley from ten yards sail over the Burscough crossbar on 27 minutes.

Seconds later, Burscough had a chance of their own at the other end with Callum Laird sent through on goal with his effort at the near post taking a deflection off FC Isle of Man goalkeeper, Adam Killey before clipping the inside of the post and rolling across the goal line before being cleared.

As half-time approached, the visitors found the quality to open the scoring - a fast break from an FC Isle of Man corner saw Christian Mukoko on the left feed Laird on the left of the box before he squared to Croughan who, from the edge of the area, controlled before curling an effort into Killey's top left corner.

After the break, the second period began in the same scrappy and uneventful way the first half did, and onlookers had to wait until the 67th minute for another meaningful effort on goal.

A long Kelly throw-in from the right into the Burscough box was nodded towards goal with the effort cannoning back off the crossbar.

Despite a late spate of possession for FC Isle of Man late on, it wasn't enough to stop a resilient Burscough hanging on to secure three points and a clean sheet to take back to Lancashire.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be away against West Didsbury & Chorlton on Wednesday, 21 January, kicking-off at 7.45pm.

Man of the Match: Goodness Gospel-Eze (Burscough)