Peel took a major step towards ensuring Premier League football next season with a hard-fought 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Douglas Royal at Ballafletcher.

Two of their goals in Saturday’s match were eye-catching strikes from Scott Horne and Charlie Higgins who look set to be stars of the future.

But with wind advantage it was the hosts that took an early lead and, despite further chances for both sides, it was a slender advantage that they held until the break.

After the interval, the visitors were soon level and two further strikes ensured success, but they were forced to deny a late rally from the home side.

Despite playing into a strong wind with driving rain, it was the Douglas Road side that made the better start with new boy Rob Owen firing the first chance wide following a well-taken Horne free-kick.

But within six minutes it was the home side that broke the deadlock as Johnny Quirk out-paced the Peel defence before steering the ball home.

Rob Cottier’s westerners responded well and the home side were twice forced to scramble the ball off their own goal line.

The Whites, though, have talented youngsters of their own, with Sam Baines and Kyle Watson in midfield and Callum Sherry at the back as the game became an intriguing contest.

As the half drew to a close, there were no further goals despite a fine effort from Josh Cain for the home side and Owen for the visitors.

With the wind on their backs, the westerners pressed from the start of the second period and within three minutes the scores were level when Horne produced a superbly-placed strike from the edge of the box that drew lavish praise from his team-mates.

Cottier’s men kept up the pressure and within 10 minutes they were in front when Owen defected a well-taken Lee Gale corner past keeper Harry Horbury.

Gale then began to play a significant role as the visitors searched for a third which arrived on the 70-minute mark.

A well-placed corner from Higgins deceived the home defence before nestling in the back of Royal’s net.

An excellent save from Horbury then denied another fine effort from Horne which sparked the home side back into life.

In the closing stages, Peel custodian Owen Dawson was forced to produce two highly-impressive saves to ensure that the visitors retained their two-goal advantage.

The final chance of the game fell to Peel veteran Kerron Christian but his header flew inches wide of the home side’s goal.