ONE of the Canada Life Premier League’s big guns is guaranteed to crash out of the Paddy Power-sponsored FA Cup this weekend when Rushen United and St Mary’s go head-to-head in the first round proper on Saturday afternoon.
In what is arguably one of the ties of the round, the two top-flight heavyweights meet for the second time in three weekends following Rushen’s impressive 3-0 victory at the Bowl recently.
This time around the Spaniards will be on home turf and will be confident of claiming a quickfire double over Sam Kenny’s men.
However, the southerners lost 1-3 at home to St John’s last time out so will need to deliver a much improved performance if they are to get the better of a St Mary’s side which smashed seven past Union Mills on Saturday.
In-form Colby will be hoping to cause something of an upset when the JCK Division Two side visit Premier League strugglers Ramsey at Ballacloan.
The northerners are currently embroiled in a relegation fight in the top flight while Colby occupy the runner-up spot in the second division so a close game could be in store.
The visitors have already won twice in the north of the island this season, having beaten Ayre United and RYCOB in the league, and a hat-trick of wins is certainly a possibility if they catch their Premier League opponents on a bad day.
The last two games in the first round proper of the Paddy Power FA Cup are both all-JCK Division Two affairs. The aforementioned RYCOB travel to the capital to take on Douglas and District while Douglas Athletic take on near neighbours Pulrose. Youthie will be firm favourites to progress as D&D amazingly have not won a cup game in in seven years, but the other game could be a much closer affair after Pully edged a seven-goal thriller when the two sides met at the end of December.