St Mary’s continued their fine start to the Canada Life Premier League season with a narrow 3-2 victory over Rushen United at the Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Frank Jones, Connor Birch and Jack McVey ultimately saw off the spirited challenge of the Spaniards who found the back of the net through Stephen Riding and Aaron Hawley.

Jones got the hosts off to a perfect start with a towering header inside 60 seconds, only for Riding to drag the Spaniards level less than a minute later.

The Saints edged ahead again in the 19th minute when a goalmouth scramble resulted in Birch slamming home from close range to give his side a 2-1 lead.

After the internal, Alex Harrison’s men took further control of the game when McVey doubled their advantage from the penalty spot following a foul on Jones.

Rushen kept plugging away though, and set up a grandstand finish when they were awarded a spot-kick of their own inside the last 10 minutes which Hawley coolly slotted home.

But it wasn’t enough to deny St Mary’s who held on to claim three points and gain more momentum for their potential title challenge.Elsewhere in the top flight, Douglas Athletic's 100 per cent record came to an end as Sean Doyle's goal gave Corinthians a 0-1 win at Springfield Road.Peel had to battle hard to wear down a stubborn Marown, eventually winning the western derby 3-0 at Douglas Road thanks to goals from summer signing Rhys Oates, Daniel Bell and Kerron Christian.A Gary Quirk hat-trick plus strikes from Sean Gavin, Adam Adebiyi and Robbie Ward gave DHSOB a comfortable 6-1 win over a lacklustre Laxey at Blackberry Lane.St George's were also in good form, putting seven past Douglas Royal at Glencrutchery Road.In JCK Division Two, Pulrose United now boast the division's only 100 per cent record after they beat Foxdale 1-0 at Springfield Road thanks to Owen Canipa's strike.Malew lost theirs but remain unbeaten after they were held to a 1-1 draw by RYCOB.Michael United picked up a second win of the campaign, beating Colby 2-0 with 16-year-old Owen Hurt once again on the scoresheet.Ramsey bounced back from mid-week defeat at the hands of northern rivals Youthie, with a 3-1 win over Douglas and District at Ballacloan, while Onchan beat Gymns 4-0 at the Stadium.Union Mills triumphed in the day's other second-tier match making the long trip to Andreas worthwhile with a 2-5 win. Dylan Campbell, Kyle Uren (2), Tony McKay and Ryan Kelly were on target for the Millers.

Canada Life Premier League

Douglas Athletic 0-1 Corinthians

DHSOB 6-1 Laxey

Peel 3-0 Marown

St George’s 7-0 Douglas Royal

St Marys 3-2 Rushen

JCK Limited Division Two

Ayre 2-5 Union Mills

Malew 1-1 RYCOB

Michael 2-0 Colby

Pulrose 1-0 Foxdale

Ramsey 3-1 Douglas & District

Onchan 4-0 Gymns

Canada Life Combination One

Castletown 0-7 Braddan

Corinthians 12-2 Douglas Athletic

Douglas Royal 0-7 St George’s

Laxey 2-5 DHSOB

Marown 0-9 Peel

Rushen United 3-2 St Mary’s

JCK Limited Combination Two

Colby 6-2 Michael

Douglas & District L-L Ramsey

Foxdale 1-2 Pulrose United

Gymns 2-5 Onchan

RYCOB P-P Malew

Union Mills 1-2 Ayre United