Peel lifted the FA Cup for a 32nd time after an extra-time victory over St Mary’s at the Bowl on Easter Saturday.

The westerners went into the match as slight underdogs but looked on course for victory as they led for an hour courtesy of Shaun Kelly’s sublime free-kick.

But, after Kelly and St Mary’s midfielder Josh Thomas were both sent off following an altercation near the touchline, the Saints pressed for a late leveller.

It duly arrived with seven minutes left on the clock when substitute Jordan Cooper met an inswinging corner and his header was deemed to have crossed the line by referee John McCallum.

That goal forced 30 minutes of extra-time and it looked like the momentum was with the Saints.

However, Peel regrouped and took the lead again through another goal of the highest quality, Rhys Oates curling a superb free-kick into the top right corner of Kiril Velev’s goal.

Buoyed by that brilliant strike, Peel quickly doubled their lead just moments later when captain Daniel Bell was on hand to turn the ball home from close range to make it 3-1.

Despite a brave response by the Saints, the home side were unable to find a way back into the game and the westerners celebrated wildly when the full-time whistle blew, having added the Friends Provident-sponsored FA Cup to the already-won Railway Cup.

Full report in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.