We may already be nearly a third of the way through the 2018-19 football season, but the Team of the Week debutants continue to come thick and fast.

The latest Isle of Man Newspapers’ hypothetical XI features no fewer than seven seasonal newcomers following last Saturday’s latest round of Canada Life Premier League fixtures.

Donning the TotW goalkeeping gloves for the first time this campaign is Matty Quirk who delivered a typically-assured performance in between the sticks during Douglas Athletic’s 5-1 victory over St John’s.

Also impressing in that match at Springfield Road was Daniel Pennington who shone at left-back for the Pinks, setting up one goal and scoring another direct from a corner to claim his second TotW appearance of the campaign.

He lines up in a back three that also includes St George’s full-back Nick Bass and Rushen United centre-back Alex Maitland. Bass produced a solid showing for Geordies as they proved too strong for Marown at Glencrutchery Road, with a good defensive performance in the first half followed by a more adventurous display after the break as he helped maintain his side’s unbeaten start to the season.

Maitland, meanwhile, was one of Rushen’s strongest players as the Spaniards romped to a devastating 9-1 win away at Douglas Royal and therefore earns his maiden Team of the Week call-up this season.

There was also a high-scoring win for DHSOB who demolished relegation candidates Castletown 10-1 at Blackberry Lane. Leading the way for Old Boys in that game were Robbie Ward and David Quirk who helped themselves to a hat-trick and brace respectively.

As a result, Ward earns his third Team of the Week nod of the season already, while Quirk makes his maiden appearance thanks to a man of the match performance.

Completing the midfield quartet are Will Penhallurick and Josh Ridings of Douglas Athletic and Corinthians respectively. Penhallurick was Athletic’s star man as the Pinks saw off the spirited challenge of 10-man St John’s, scoring the second and third goals of his side’s 5-1 win which keeps them second in the table and in the hunt for Railway Cup qualification.

While Ridings was not on the scoresheet himself, the winger played a key role in helping the Whites come from three goals down to get the better of Laxey in a dramatic game at Glen Road. Therefore, he earns his first TotW call-up of 2018-19.

Topping the scorers in that game was his Corinthians team-mate Sean Doyle who helped himself to a well-taken hat-trick against the Miners, therefore he takes his place in Team of the Week as part of a three-man front three.

Slotting in alongside him are two players who, between them, helped themselves to four goals for Rushen United and St George’s.

Mike Williams claimed the matchball for the Spaniards as he fired his way to a hat-trick in the southerners’ aforementioned emphatic win over Royal, while Morrissey was also on the scoresheet as the Saints saw off Marown 5-1.

Claiming the referee of the week honours for a fourth time already this season is John McCallum who enjoyed an excellent game in the middle of DHSOB versus Castletown at Blackberry Lane.

DAVE NORTON