THERE’S two big games at the top of the Canada Life Premier League this Saturday.
Current pacesetters St George’s relentless pursuit of a 14th top-flight crown faces one of its toughest remaining tests this weekend when they take on Peel at the Bowl at 2.30pm.
The pair met earlier this month in the Paddy Power FA Cup, Grand Slam chasing St George’s emerging 1-3 winners of the semi-final tie.
The westerners impressed in that match, following it up with a 0-9 thumping of Corinthians last time out.
Lee Gale has been the Sunset City side’s form man (see TotW below), but the island winger has been ably assisted by some fine performances by Andy Quirk and Marc Kelly among others.
Rick Holden’s charges will take on a St George’s side likely to be missing several of its regular line-up. Goalkeeper Grant Dawson is away, while Sam Caine and James McStay are sidelined by injury.
Liam Cowin, Julian Ringham and Johnny Myers should, however, all overcome niggling injuries to play some part in the fixture.
Second-placed Laxey are waiting in the wings to take advantage of any Geordies’ slip-up, but face their own challenge with the visit of St Mary’s.
The latter triumphed handsomely 4-0 in the pair’s FA Cup encounter, but this one should be a lot tighter with Laxey needing every point if they are to hang onto St George’s coat-tails at the division’s summit.
DHSOB will look to make it a perfect 10 this weekend when they host relegation-threatened Ramsey at Blackberry Lane.
Brian Gartland’s team have won their last nine league games on the bounce and are now up to third in the league.
Ramsey slipped into the bottom two last weekend, but will do well to re-emerge from it this time out, with their in-form hosts firm favourites for the points.
Bottom side Marown’s relegation was all but sealed with defeat at fellow strugglers Gymns last weekend. The Crosby outfit need a big, big swing in goal difference and to win their last two games of the term, starting with victory over visitors Rushen on Saturday, if they are to avoid dropping to the second tier.
In the remaining game, great escape artists Gymns will aim to add to their survival fund with the visit of a Corinthians side smarting from last week’s humbling by Peel.