Peel’s Railway Cup hopes took a body blow last weekend as they lost to Corinthians in the Canada Life Premier League at Douglas Road.

The westerners now trail fourth-place St George’s by five points having played the same amount of games as Geordies.

Steve Falconer’s men are still mathmatically in with a chance of retaining Manx football’s most impressive trophy and should win their remaining four games to count starting on Saturday, away at bottom side Pulrose.

The competition holders, however, will be hoping the other side’s in the qualification mix drop points within the next few weeks.

Two meet this Saturday at Ballafletcher where Corinthians play host to Laxey.

The Whites have enjoyed a fine start to life under new manager Blane Slattery, beating both Rushen United and Peel in recent weeks.

Although confidence will be high in the Whites’ camp, they will have to be weary of a Laxey side that has defied pre-season predictions of a battle against relegation.

Spearheaded by the division’s top scorer, Jordan Cooper, the Miners have already surpassed their points total for the whole of the last campaign and currently sit third in the table.

This one will be tight, but the league’s tightest defence might just shade this in Corinthians’ favour.

Elsewhere, St Mary’s will be hoping to stretch their legs again at the top of the standings after last week’s dramatic 4-4 draw with St George’s.

The Saints make the short trip to Douglas Athletic favourites to rack up their seventh win of the season.

Rushen will also be tipped to take the points from their trip to Blackberry Lane and DHSOB. The latter side, however, picked up a good win against Douglas Royal last time out and this might be a tighter game than the 10-point gap in the standings suggests.

Finally, there’s an early season ’six-pointer’ at Ballacloan as Ramsey entertain fellow stragglers Douglas Royal.

The pair sit second- and third-bottom respectively and both will be eyeing the points on offer on Saturday as they aim to put some distance between themselves and the top-flight’s sole relegation spot.

ANDY DALRYMPLE