St Mary’s remain on track for a Railway Cup semi-final spot following Saturday’s important and hard-fought 7-4 victory over Douglas Athletic at Springfield Road.

The Saints are the reigning Canada Life Premier League champions but they look unlikely to retain the title this season and the cup competitions could be their best route to a trophy.

The visitors, with the aid of wind assistance, took a comfortable 5-0 lead into the interval but struggled to keep their hosts at bay during a closely-contested second period.

The visitors’ best performer Karl Clark set the Bowl-based side on their way by converting a well-placed Jack McVey corner in the third minute of the contest.

Only two minutes later the advantage was doubled when an unmarked Steven Priestnal produced a well-placed finish from distance.

The same player could well have added his second soon after but for a fine stop from the busy home custodian Adam Kinvig.

The home side took time to settle into the game and were forced to deal with a series of pin-point corners from the talented McVey. The hosts’ first real opportunity fell to the busy Lee Ford which drew an important block from stand-in keeper Darren Smethurst.

During the closing stages of the opening half, Peter Langridge’s men added three quick goals, with impressive defender Josh Evans netting the first from close range.

The scoreline soon became 4-0 when McVey and Priestnal combined, allowing the latter to add his second of the game.

On the stroke of half-time, Frank Jones was up-ended in the box which allowed McVey the chance to comfortably convert a well-placed spot-kick.

The home side’s best chance of the opening period was produced by the gifted Reece Lake but he was denied by a last-ditch challenge from committed defender Tom Weir.

With wind assistance, Craig Purvis’s charges looked more dangerous during the second period and pulled one back only eight minutes after the restart.

Jonny Knowles’ adventurous run deep into the Saints half was rewarded by their first goal, albeit with the aid of a fortunate rebound.

At the other end the enthusiastic Priestnal then struck an Athletic upright before producing a cross for Jones to restore the visitors’ five-goal margin.

The hosts never gave up and two quick strikes from Stephen Cowan and Ford gave the Pinks a glimmer of hope.

Those hopes were soon dashed though, when Jones turned provider for Priestnal to complete his hat-trick by adding his 11th goal of the current campaign.

It was the home team that had the final say when an effort from Stephen Cowan found the corner of the Saints net despite frantic efforts by the visitors defenders to keep the ball out.

l Elsewhere in the top flight, Rushen United’s title hopes were dealt a blow as they were held to a draw by Marown at Croit Lowey.

Jamie Johnston opened the scoring for the Spaniards after 19 minutes in Port Erin but Owen Hurt equalised in the 37th minute with his first competitive goal for Marown to seal a potentially crucial point for Dave Brew’s men.

That result enabled Corinthians to open up a narrow one-point lead over Rushen at the top with a game in hand after they saw off a spirited DHSOB at Blackberry Lane.

Robbie Ward gave Old Boys an early lead when he headed in Martin King’s free-kick, but Chris Cannell levelled for the Whites following a setpiece from Dan Simpson.

Stephen Whitley gave the Ballafletcher side the lead deep into first-half injury time with a free-kick before Luke Murray sealed the win late on despite a brave effort from the home team to seal a 3-1 victory.

St George’s produced a ruthless second half showing to get the better of Laxey at Glencrutchery Road.

After a close first half, the Saints ran away with it after the interval as hat-tricks from Ciaran McNulty and Chris Bass Jr plus a Connor Birch strike sealed a 7-2 victory for the home side.

Ryan Gartland netted both goals for the Miners.

The points were shared in the west of the island where Peel and Douglas Royal played out a 3-3 draw at Douglas Road.

Dominic McHarrie-Brennan put the visitors ahead but Charlie Higgins scored twice to put Peel ahead at the break. After the interval, Taylor Andrews level matters for Royal before Dan Sherry put the Whites into the lead. But Higgins completed his hat-trick to ensure a share of the spoils for the westerners.