WREXHAM, who have won the Isle of Man Football Festival a record four times, lost their opening group game to First Division Burnley in Douglas yesterday.

The Clarets, beaten 1-0 in last year's final by Wrexham, stormed into a 3-1 first-half lead, but battling Wrexham came back to make it 3-3 by the interval with two goals from Hector Sam - voted man of the match - and another blistering strike by Lee Jones.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock in the second half and then a bizarre twist saw Wrexham lose former Wales international goalkeeper Andy Dibble with a knee injury 11 minutes from time.

Wrexham had brought Dibble as their only goalkeeper so Burnley's Nick Mickopoulos, who had been earlier substituted by Burnley, went in goal for the Dragons.

Sam, Andy Morrell and Steve Thomas all scored their penalties for Wrexham, but they lost as Lee Trundle and newcomer Paul Edwards had their spot kicks saved by Marlon Beresford.

Wrexham, who play promoted Luton tonight, hope Dibble will be fit. If he isn't they will have to fly out a replacement 'keeper. No.2 'keeper Kristian Rogers has got sore shins so the responsibility may fall on the young shoulders of Paul Whitfield, who showed up well in the 4-0 win at Colwyn Bay last week.