NORMAL service should hopefully be restored in JCK Division Two with a full programme of fixtures scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon.
Courtesy of several weather-induced postponements and last week’s FA Cup bonanza across the island, only a few sporadic games have taken place in the second tier over the past few weeks but attention will now turn to the race for promotion to the Premier League.
Leaders Michael United travel south to face Ronaldsway hoping to bounce back from their heavy cup defeat at the hands of ‘northern’ rivals Ramsey last Saturday.
With the Rockets lying 11th in the league, the Balleira Road will be expected to claim all three points on offer but the southerners have taken points off the likes of Colby already this season so should not be underestimated.
The race for the other promotion spot could take an interesting twist when the sides currently lying second and third, Colby and RYCOB respectively, do battle at Schoil ree Gorree.
Just one point separates the sides going into the weekend’s fixture so it’s hard to chose between them. With four wins and two draws in their previous six games, form favours Youthie but Colby won the reverse fixture 2-1 so will be confident of completing a double over them.
Sitting 10 points behind Youthie but with two games in hand are Ayre United who host bottom-of-the-table Malew, the first in a double header of games against the southerners ahead of the meeting in the Woods Cup next week.The Tangerines can ill afford too many slip-ups if they are to catch the sides above them, however Malew pushed them close when the two sides met in September, with only a last-minute strike earning Ayre a 4-3 win.
Breathing down the neck of the Tangerines are Douglas Royal who host lowly Onchan at Ballafletcher. Royal produced arguably the performance of the weekend when they defeated Premier League side Union Mills on their own patch in the FA Cup last Saturday thanks to Paul Whitley’s late strike and that result could be the catalyst for a fine second half of the season.
Elsewhere in the league, Douglas Athletic will be looking to build on their impressive 2-1 win over Foxdale in the sole Division Two game last week when they travel to Braddan while Douglas and District visit Billy Goat Park to take on Foxdale.