Peel kept the pressure up on St George’s at the top of the Canada Life Premier League with an impressive 9-1 win over Rushen on Saturday.
The westerners’ Old Firm rivals were expected to give Steve Falconer’s men a tough test of their title credentials, but an inspired performance from former Rushen man Josh Kelly meant Peel cruised to victory.
The bearded wondered struck five goals, Ashley Webster two, Andrew Crennell one an own goal made up the Sunset City side’s tally in the rout. Dan Pownall’s strike was scant consolation for the Spaniards.
The win keeps Peel four points behind Geordies having played two games less. The latter also hit a big score beating Union Mills 13-1 thanks to goals from Sam Caine (4), skipper Frank Jones (3), Ciaran McNulty (2), Calum Morrissey, Chris Bass Jr and an own goal. Teenager Brody Patience ensured Mills kept up their record of scoring in every league match this season.
Old Boys remain in third after they beat relegated Gymns 3-1 at Blackberry Lane. Robbie Ward, Phil Knox and Callum Stewart netted the goals for John Ward’s men who are now three points ahead of St Mary’s.
In the northern derby, a Shaun Kelly-inspired Ayre beat 10-man Ramsey 4-1 at Ballacloan. The former RYCOB man netted a hat-trick against the hosts, a own goal making up the Tangerines’ tally. Former Ayre winger Chris Duggan netted from the spot for Ramsey.
Corinthians wrapped up their third win of the season over Laxey, recording a 5-1 win at Glen Road.
Matty Kent-Lloyd’s goal for the hosts was cancelled out by strikes from Kane Ridings, birthday boy Ryan Burns, Sean Doyle and a brace from Laxey old boy Danny Oram.
Colby and Douglas Athletic will contest the GH Corlett Woods Cup final on Good Friday after they won Saturday’s two semi-final ties.
The southerners beat Colby 3-0 thanks to a double from Jamie Heaney and Andrew Blake’s opener.
Danny O’Hare and Matty Aire stuck for Athletic to book the club’s first final appearance at the expense of Royal who hit back through Greg Hoskisson.
In JCK Division Two, leaders Marown sealed a top-two spot and promotion back to the Canada Life Premier League with a 3-1 win over Foxdale. Stuart Morris netted twice and Kevin Druggan once for the Crosby outfit who stay top of the table by six points with one game left to play.
RYCOB are second after they came from behind to beat Douglas and District 3-1. The northerners’ hold a point advantage over third-place Douglas Athletic with a couple of games left of their league campaign.
Southern duo Malew and Castletown continued their good recent form with wins over Governor’s Athletic and Onchan.
Dean Kinley hit four as Malew put the division’s bottom side to the sword, while brothers Liam and Alex Crawley were on target as Town triumphed 2-1 at Onchan.
Saturday, March 21
GH Corlett Woods Cup semi-finals
Colby 3-0 Braddan
Douglas Athletic 2-1 Douglas Royal
Canada Life Premier League
St George’s 13-1 Union Mills
Peel 9-1 Rushen Utd
Laxey 1-5 Corinthians
Ramsey 1-4 Ayre
DHSOB 3-1 Gymns
JCK Division Two
Malew 5-0 Governor’s Ath
Onchan 1-2 Castletown
Marown 3-1 Foxdale
Douglas & District 1-3 RYCOB
Canada Life Combination One
Union Mills 7-6 Ramsey
Gymns 2-1 Ayre
St Mary’s 7-4 Laxey
Corinthians 0-10 Peel
JCK Combination Two
Foxdale 0-7 Braddan
Full round-up in Tuesday’s Examiner.