Alex Maitland has been named as the Canada Life Premier League Player of the Month for October.

The Rushen United defender has enjoyed a fine start to the 2019-20 campaign, helping the Spaniards enjoy some impressive early-season form which has propelled them into the upper echelons of the league table.

The Isle of Man FA representative cap has been a mainstay in the southerners’ team thus far this season and has forged a strong partnership with Jordan Corkill et al in the backline.

Most notably, Maitland shone during the Spaniards’ impressive 2-0 victory over reigning Premier League champions at Croit Lowey on his way to earning a total of 6.5 points from Eric Clague’s player ratings panel.

That was half a point ahead of monthly runner-up Stephen Whitley who enjoyed a good October for Corinthians as the Whites continued their strong start to the campaign.

In a month of reduced fixtures as a result of poor weather, Whitley starred as the Ballafletcher outfit defeated Ramsey 2-0 and Marown 9-0, particularly impressing in the latter clash with a quickfire 10-minute hat-trick.

He in turn was half a point ahead of a trio of players all on 5.5 points, namely Alex Harrison, Max Murley and Sean Quaye.

St Mary’s player/manager Harrison and St George’s skipper Quaye have both been rocks at the heart of their respective defences during the opening weeks of the campaign, laying the groundwork for what is shaping up to be an intriguing title race.

Murley, who was crowned September Player of the Month, carried that fine form into October with a series of good showings for Laxey who continue to be this season’s surprise package.

The versatile player helped the Miners defeat Douglas Royal, push Rushen all the way and snatch a dramatic draw away at title hopefuls Peel.

Murley’s sustained form means he continues to lead the way overall in the seasonal player ratings with a healthy total of 13.5 points, some 3.5 ahead of defending Football Writers’ Player of the Year Jack McVey.

Completing the top six in the October monthly ratings is Peel goalkeeper Owen Dawson who excelled for the westerners in their three Premier League games, garnering a total of five points which was enough to earn the talented shot-stopper the accolade of Young Player of the Month.

Just behind him in the monthly standings are Laxey’s Jordan Cooper, Marown’s Connor Gilbert and the aforementioned St Mary’s star McVey.

Player ratings for October: 1, Alex Maitland (Rushen) 6.5 points; 2, Stephen Whitley (Corinthians) 6; 3=, Alex Harrison (St Mary’s), Max Murley (Laxey) and Sean Quaye (St George’s) 5.5; 6, Owen Dawson (Peel) 5; 7=, Jordan Cooper (Laxey), Connor Gilbert (Marown) and Jack McVey (St Mary’s) 4.5; 10=, Sam Gelling (St Mary’s) and Stephen Riding (Rushen) 4; 12=, Jordan Corkill (Rushen), David Corlett (Laxey), Ryan Crawley (Rushen), Andy Perry (Ramsey) and Mike Williams (Rushen) 3.5; 17=, Chris Asbridge (Laxey), Chris Bass Jr (St George’s), Ryan Burns (Corinthians), Darren Cain (Corinthians), Sean Doyle (Corinthians), Jamie Johnston (Rushen), Dean Kearns (Rushen), Luke Murray (Corinthians), Johnny Quirk (DHSOB), Dan Simpson (Peel), Rob Slinger (Laxey), Tom Weir (St Mary’s) all 3.

Overall player ratings: 1, Max Murley (Laxey) 13.5 points; 2, Jack McVey (St Mary’s) 10; 3=, Stephen Riding (Rushen) and Stephen Whitley (Corinthians) 9.5; 5, Jamie Johnston (Rushen) 9; 6, Alex Maitland (Rushen) 8.5; 7, Jordan Cooper (Laxey) 8; 8=, Adam Adebiyi (St Mary’s), Dan Hattersley (St Mary’s), Andy Perry (Ramsey) and Sean Quaye (St George’s) 7.5; 12=, Rhys Oates (Peel), Johnny Quirk (DHSOB) and Mike Williams (Rushen) 7; 15, Chris Bass Jr (St George’s) 6.5; 16=, Jay Skelcher-Maxwell (St George’s) and Rob Slinger (Laxey) 6; 18=, Ryan Crawley (Rushen), Jacob Crook (St George’s), Sean Doyle (Corinthians), Alex Harrison (St Mary’s) and Frank Jones (St Mary’s) 5.5.