THE draw for Sunday evening’s BCS Vinyl Hospital Cup has thrown up four intriguing quarter-final ties.
Tie of the round is probably St George’s versus Peel, which is not only a repeat of last season’s dramatic final of this competition but also of March’s FA Cup semi-final.
This time Glencrutchery Road is the venue as the hosts aim to maintain their treble bid with victory over their rivals from Douglas Road.
Rick Holden’s westerners pushed Geordies hard in the pair’s aforementioned cup semi, but will need big performances from island internationals Marc Kelly and Lee Gale, plus form men Andy Quirk and Kerron Christian if they are to claim a first win over Geordies since September 2009.
The last-eight stage’s other all-top flight affair sees Rushen host St Mary’s at Croit Lowey.
The Premier League duo have met three times this season so far winning one apiece and drawing the other.
With the feel-good factor of Easter Monday’s FA Cup win still in effect you’d favour Sam Kenny’s Saints to edge past the Spaniards, despite the presence of a vocal home crowd who will no doubt be keen to continue United’s season by another week.
Last weekend’s headline makers Douglas and District will hoping to continue their unprecedented Hospital Cup run at the expense of Union Mills this Sunday.
Carl Lace’s Division Two outfit dispatched top-flight Castletown last weekend (see below), having already advanced past Douglas Athletic.
The Millers required two second-half goals to overcome Pulrose last time out, so will not treat their second tier opponents lightly.
This will be a close encounter, but expect the prospect of a semi-final spot to be enough of an incentive to see the Millers through.
The final quarter-final tie sees Foxdale face a tough trip to DHSOB.
Up to Wednesday evening, Old Boys had strung together a run of just one loss in their last 16 league and cup matches.
Three matches in the last week or so will have sharpened Dale’s match fitness, but Brian Gartland’s side should advance.