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 North West Counties Premier Division on Saturday.

Hoping to bounce back from a first home loss seven days earlier, the Ravens faced an Atherton side entering a new era, with manager Leighton Mills taking charge of his first match for the visitors.

Only four minutes in, the hosts created the first opening when Charlie Higgins squared to Freddie O'Donoghue who, from around 16 yards out, curled an effort just wide.

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 to George Chadwick 10 yards out. He glanced a header beyond Thomas Crosbie 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 FCIoM struggled to find a leveller against a disciplined defence.

On 60 minutes, a Dean Pinnington cross from the left took a deflection off an Atherton boot, forcing a smart stop from goalkeeper James Aspinall.

As time ebbed away, the Ravens were nearly punished at the other end when Mark Pearson fizzed a low cross into Cal Hunter who fired a first-time effort into the side-netting from close range.

Having provided a warning sign to the Ravens, Hunter wasn’t to be denied as he punished the hosts in stoppage time.

A floated cross saw Hunter collect the ball by the corner flag before dancing past three challenges and firing home a low strike at the near post to clinch a third straight win for Atherton over the islanders.

- FC Isle of Man host Maghull in the Macron Cup second round this Saturday, kicking off at 6pm.