St Mary’s crushing win over Peel in the Canada Life Premier League last Saturday has been recognised with four players being named in Team of the Week.

The Saints were in ruthless form at the national stadium as goals from Frank Jones, Sammy Gelling, Craig Murphy and Jordan Cooper sealed a 5-1 victory to leapfrog the westerners at the top of the table.

While they were in fine form in the attacking third, two of the Saints players at the other end of the pitch also impressed Eric Clague’s player ratings panel.

Providing an assured presence in between the sticks for Alex Harrison’s men was goalkeeper Kiril Velev, who also pulled off an excellent second-half save to deny Daniel Bell, and he dons the TotW gloves this week.

One of the game’s standout performers was Connor Birch who produced a great display at the Bowl as he helped nullify the considerable threat of Lee Gale, therefore he duly slots in on the left side of a three-man Team of the Week defence.

Slotting in alongside him is St George’s prodigious talent Lewis Bridson and Laxey centre-back Tom Cowin.

Bridson was in fine fettle for Geordies has he assisted two goals in their 11-1 demolition job of Castletown, while Cowin starred at the back as the relegation-threatened Miners pulled off a shock win over high-flying Rushen United.

There was no doubting who the star of the show was in the former match at Glencrutchery Road, as Sam Caine helped himself to no fewer than four goals and the Geordies utility man earns his first TotW call-up of the season.

He lines up in a five-strong midfield also consisting of his former St George’s cohort Frank Jones and his St Mary’s team-mate Sammy Gelling, plus DHSOB’s Dean France and Douglas Royal rising star Jacob Crook.

Jones was in sublime form for St Mary’s during their stunning win over Peel, rising to the occasion in typical fashion with an all-action display, scoring once and having a hand in three other goals.

Two of those were for Gelling as he and Jones linked up to devastating effect in the second half, punishing Peel on the break as the Saints surged to the top of the table.

France was Old Boys’ best performer as the Blackberry Lane side put their recent bad form behind them with a confident 3-0 victory against St John’s in a game switched to Mullen-e-Cloie.

Isle of Man FA Under-18s star Crook was once again in brilliant form for Douglas Royal as the Whites beat fellow relegation candidates Marown 3-0 at Ballafletcher, grabbing a goal to put his side within touching distance of Premier League safety.

Also getting on the scoresheet during that game was Paul Whitley who helped himself to a brace against the Crosby outfit, in doing so earning his first Team of the Week appearance of the season so far.

Claiming the final spot in the latest hypothetical XI is another of Manx football’s rising stars, Laxey’s Joe Walters who was the star of the show as the Miners recorded that aforementioned surprise win at home to Rushen, grabbing a goal in an all-round impressive display.

Leading the way in the refereeing stakes this week is John McCallum who enjoyed a good game in the middle of the St Mary’s v Peel title clash at the Bowl.

Team of the Week

Goalkeeper

Kiril Velev (St Mary’s)

Team of the Week apps: 2

Defence

Lewis Bridson (St George’s) TotW apps: 3

Tom Cowin (Laxey) TotW apps: 1

Connor Birch (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 1

Midfield

Sam Caine (St George’s) TotW apps: 1

Dean France (DHSOB) TotW apps: 1

Frank Jones (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 5

Jacob Crook (Douglas Royal) TotW apps: 2

Sammy Gelling (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 2

Attack

Joe Walters (Laxey) TotW apps: 2

Paul Whitley (Douglas Royal) TotW apps: 1

Referee

John McCallum (St Mary’s v Peel) RotW apps: 6