FC Isle of Man beat Burscough to end losing streak

Ravens end 2023 with victory after clinical display

A ruthless first-half display saw FC Isle of Man end 2023 on a high with a 3-1 victory over Burscough in the NWCFL Premier Division at The Bowl this evening (30 December).

All three of the Ravens' goals came in the first 45 courtesy of a brace from Sean Doyle and Charlie Higgins' calm close-range finish.

Burscough pulled one back early in the second period thanks to an exquisite 25-yard strike from Charles Ball.

But the visitors failed to muster a full comeback, meaning FC Isle of Man brought an end to a torrid run of four straight defeats.

Tonight's clash between the sides held promise after the previous three meetings between them over the last two seasons had already produced 23 goals.

After a flying start, FC Isle of Man added to that tally by taking the lead just four minutes in as a Jack Higgins cross from the right found the feet of Sean Doyle whose low effort six yards out was deflected past Burscough stopper, Jack Atkinson.

The hosts pushed further to extend their early dominance and Doyle was on target yet again in the 21st minute as a Dean Pinnington free-kick just inside the Burscough half was floated into the visitors' penalty area with Doyle providing a deft diving header to glance the ball into Atkinson's bottom left-hand corner for 2-0.

The visitors' clearest opening of the half came 15 minutes later as the lively Jesse Dowling cut in from the right flank before lashing a low effort across goal only to be denied by a fingertip save from FC Isle of Man's Ben Wilkinson.

As the break beckoned, the Ravens were gifted a third as Burscough's Kian Bell scuffed a clearance across his own penalty area straight to the feet of Charlie Higgins who, one-on-one with Atkinson, coolly slotted into the bottom corner.

With a mountain to climb in the second period, Burscough emerged from the interval the brighter with Cian McDermott forcing a sharp low stop from Wilkinson after a stabbed effort from the edge of the box in the 54th minute.

The Lancashire outfit then got on the scoresheet five minutes later as Charles Ball, with space on the left edge of the Ravens' box, curled a sumptuous strike into Wilkinson's top corner to hand Burscough a lifeline.

As the travelling side struggled to make further inroads, FC Isle of Man nearly put things beyond all doubt on 75 minutes as Jacob Crook's fizzing low ball from the left was met first time by Doyle whose point-blank touch was denied by Atkinson at the near post.

Meanwhile, despite their best efforts, Burscough remained frustrated in front of goal in the closing stages and unable to stop FC Isle of Man claiming maximum points and conclude the calendar year on a positive note.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against Charnock Richard on Saturday, 6 January, 2024, kicking-off at 6pm.

Man of the Match: Ben Wilkinson (FC Isle of Man)