Despite being reduced to four games, Saturday’s Canada Life Premier League programme is not without its charms.
The four games that are unaffected by the Isle of Man FA’s Inter-League Cup involvement all look interesting ones. In Crosby, promoted Marown go in search of a third straight win against Mushroom Cup rivals St John’s. Victories over RYCOB and Union Mills have bumped Dave Brew’s side up the league and put them on course to secure top-flight safety. Brew’s charges seem to have remedied the goal-shy that plagued them last time they were in the top-flight.
On their way to relegation during the 2012-13 season the Farmers only scored 17 goals.
In the six games so far this season they have already managed 15.The only cause for concern is a defence that has conceded, on average, four goals a game. Marown will be missing Alex McQuarrie who has returned to uni and Niall Quayle (work) and Ali Morris (holiday).
Inconsistent St John’s will aim to take advantage of this as they aim to leapfrog their opponents in the standings.
Elsewhere Laxey will be trying to extend the division’s only 100 per cent record when they travel to Ramsey.
The Miners have been in fine form this season, driven forward by the top-flight’s joint top goalscorer Michael Fernandes.
The latter will be eager to plunder some goals against his former club and this should give them the edge over a Ramsey side that lost to Union Mills last time out.
The Millers make the trip to Croit Lowey and a Rushen side that has blown hot and cold so far this campaign.
The Spaniards, who will be without Isle of Man FA squad member Liam Cowin, have yet to hit their straps, while Mills have shipped 22 goals so far and managed only one win. Rushen should take the points, but it will depend on what mood they turn up in.
The other game sees DHSOB welcome Corinthians to Blackberry Lane. The Whites will be smarting from last week’s 10-2 defeat at the hands of St George’s and will be eager to return to the early season form that saw them near the top of the table.
Confidence will be high in the Old Boys camp after they dispatched St Mary’s 6-1 last weekend.