The second 2020-21 Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week sees two players retain their places from the opening installment.

The duo in question are Laxey pair Max Murley and Matty Wilkinson who played key roles in helping their side defeat Douglas Royal to maintain their winning start to the new campaign.

Murley starred as the Miners eased past Royal at Glen Road 7-3 and duly lines up in a traditional back four in the latest TotW alongside Rushen United pair Alex Maitland and Adam Cooil as well as Corinthians’ Chris Cannell.

Maitland and Cooil were impressive performers as they helped the Spaniards keep a clean sheet in their comfortable 5-0 win over Ramsey and Croit Lowey, while Cannell shone at left-back for Corinthians during a hard-fought 4-2 win over reigning Canada Life Premier League champions St Mary’s.

Bagging three of those goals was Stephen Whitley - two of them directly from penalties and one from the rebound after a spot-kick was saved - to add to the four goals he scored in the previous game, therefore the winger has started the season in ominous form.

Joining him in a four-man midfield are Rushen’s Mike Williams, St John’s player/manager Callum Taggart and St George’s talent Jacob Crook. Williams was one of the star players during Rushen’s aforementioned 5-0 victory over Ramsey, while Taggart produced a fine showing to help the newly-promoted Saints claim a share of the spoils against Douglas Athletic.

Crook, having played well for FC Isle of Man the previous week, helped Geordies get off to a winning start under new manager Johnny Myers by grabbing a goal in their 4-0 win over near-neighbours DHSOB.

Also impressing in that game at Glencrutchery Road was Connor Hislop who helped himself to a brace, earning a place in the two-man Team of the Week attack.

Joining him is the player of the day, Matty Wilkinson, who bagged a hat-trick for Laxey during their high-scoring win at home to Laxey and picked up his second TotW call-up of the season already.

Earning the goalkeeper gloves in the hypothetical XI is Douglas Athletic number Adam Kinvig who pulled off several good saves to help his side claim a point in a 2-2 draw at St John’s.DAVE NORTON

Team of the Week

(22.08.20)

Goalkeeper

Adam Kinvig (D Athletic)

Team of the Week apps: 1

Defence

Alex Maitland (Rushen) TotW apps: 1

Adam Cooil (Rushen) TotW apps: 1

Max Murley (Laxey) TotW apps: 2

Chris Cannell (Corinthians)TotW apps: 1

Midfield

Michael Williams (Rushen) TotW apps: 1

Stephen Whitley (Corinthians)TotW apps: 1

Callum Taggart (St John’s) TotW apps: 1

Jacob Crook (St George’s) TotW apps: 1

Attack

Matty Wilkinson (captain) (Laxey)TotW apps: 2

Connor Hislop (St George’s)TotW apps: 1