THE big games continue to come thick and fast in JCK Division Two this weekend when the top four teams all go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon.
Michael United could clinch the enviable position of being top of the table at Christmas should they secure something from their game with fellow high-fliers RYCOB at Balleira Road while current runners-up Colby face a tricky trip north to take on fourth-place Ayre United in Andreas.
With Matthew Boyd’s last-gasp equaliser earning Youthie a share of the spoils in the northern derby with Ayre last Saturday, Michael now have a three-point lead at the top of the table and crucially have a game in hand on second and third.
However, a win for Youthie this weekend really would open up the title race once again and would add extra significance to Michael’s trip to in-form Colby between Christmas and New Year.
With Barney Kelly’s Michael playing at home to Youthie this week, you’d have to favour them to take the points but this is a match that really could go either way.
This season, Ayre v Colby is much more than just a north versus south battle in the second division, indeed the result could go a long way to deciding who seals promotion at the end of the season.
With four wins in their last six games, form slightly favours the southerners but Ayre know a thing or two about promotion battles in recent seasons and could close the gap on the top three with a victory.
Elsewhere in JCK Division Two, Douglas Royal can jump up to fourth place should they defeat Ronaldsway and Ayre fail to beat Colby. The Ballafletcher outfit currently lie fifth and will be favourites to get the better of the Rockets, but the southerners are on a good run at the moment, having won four of their last six matches so will be full of confidence.
Should they fail to collect all three points, Foxdale could jump above them in the standings if they defeat bottom-of-the-table Malew at Billy Goat Park. Several games in hand mean that Alan Lemaire’s side could still threaten towards the top of the table but they can ill afford to drop too many more points.
Breathing down their necks are Braddan who host a below-par Onchan side at Victoria Road, while the final game in the second division sees Douglas and District make the short trip to Springfield Road to go head to head with Pulrose.