Laxey are the early pacesetters in the Canada Life Premier League after they beat Douglas Athletic 5-0 on Saturday.

Goals from Matty Wilkinson, Aaron Broad, Michael Fernandes, Luke Strickett-Morling and Harry Walters gave John Palmer’s side an opening-day victory at Glen Road.

The afternoon’s other three top flight games were much tighter.

Douglas Royal made the long trip to Andreas worth their while as they triumphed by the odd goal in seven at Ayre United.

Staying in the north, Ramsey overcame Marown 3-2 at Ballacloan thanks to a hat-trick from Dylan Pickles.

DHSOB were the day’s other victors, edging past promoted St John’s United 2-1 at Mullen-e-Cloie.

There were goals galore in the second tier’s six games, not least at Springfield Road where title favourites Union Mills put struggling Pulrose United to the sword 20-0.

The Millers’ fellow promotion contenders, RYCOB, also got their season off to a winning start as they defeated Gymns 6-3 in Tromode with Silver Boot hopeful Darren Hudgeon bagging four goals.

Governor’s Athletic, who were bottom of the standings when last season was abandoned in March, secured one of the results of the day as they triumphed 3-0 at Braddan.

Colby beat Malew 8-5 in a topsy-turvey southern derby at the Station Fields, the Moonlighters’ prolific Carl Hickey opening his account for the 20-21 campaign with a five-goal salvo.

Elsewhere Onchan were 9-0 winners at Castletown, while Jay Chatwood’s goal was enough for Foxdale to edge past Douglas and District at Billygoat Park.

Fixtures:

Saturday, August 15

Canada Life Premier League

Ayre United 3-4 Douglas Royal

Laxey 5-0 Douglas Athletic

Marown 2-3 Ramsey @ Ballacloan

St John’s United 1-2 DHSOB

JCK Division Two

Castletown 0-9 Onchan

Foxdale 1-0 Douglas and District

Braddan 0-3 Governor’s Athletic

Pulrose United 0-20 Union Mills

Gymns 3-6 RYCOB

Colby 8-5 Malew

Canada Life Combination One

Douglas Royal 2-2 Ayre United

Douglas Athletic 0-5 Laxey

DHSOB 1-3 St John’s United

Peel 1-5 Corinthians

St George’s 2-1 Rushen United

Ramsey 3-3 Marown

JCK Combination Two

Onchan H-W Castletown

Douglas and District 1-4 Foxdale

Governor’s Athletic 2-2 Braddan

Malew 4-0 Colby

RYCOB 4-1 Gymns

Reports from the games at Laxey and Ramsey in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.