The latest installment of Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week features four more seasonal debutants.
Peel’s impressive victory over Canada Life Premier League champions Corinthians means that two western stars make it into the latest hypothetical XI, while the likes of Rushen, Ayre United and St George’s are also well represented.
After a stuttering start to the season, Peel have now recorded three successive victories to move up to seventh in the table, helped in no small part by Matty Woods’ second-half stunner which sealed a 3-2 win over the Whites on Saturday.
That goal, coupled with a good performance in the westerners’ defence, earned Woods a place in the four-man Team of the Week defence alongside his Peel cohort Andrew Crennell as well as RYCOB’s Graham Kennish and Ayre’s Harry Weatherill.
Crennell was another key player at the heart of the Peel defence in that match at Douglas Road, while Kennish continued his excellent run of form for Youthie despite ending up on the losing side against Mills when scoring a fine second-half header in a 2-3 defeat.
Weatherill was back to his best for the Tangerines during their hard-fought 3-1 win away at Douglas Royal to take his place in TotW.
Another to shine in that match at Ballafletcher was Royal goalkeeper Harry Horbury who produced several impressive saves to prevent an even bigger scoreline, therefore he earns his second Team of the Week call-up of the season already.
Pulling the strings in the middle of the park during that clash was Ayre’s Harry Best who delivered a fine performance to take his place in a three-man TotW midfield.
Joining him in the centre of the pitch are St George’s ace Joey Morling and Laxey talent George Burrows.
Morling continued his recent return to top form with a stellar showing during Geordies’ 5-1 win over Marown at Glencrutchery Road on Saturday to earn his first call-up of the campaign, while Burrows produced a man-of-the-match performance for the Miners during their tough trip to title hopefuls Rushen at Croit Lowey.
Leading the line in a 4-3-3 formation are a trio of players who all helped their sides claim victory last weekend.
Kyle Uren was the match winner for Union Mills, grabbing an early goal before netting a late strike which proved to be the difference in a hard-fought 3-2 win away at RYCOB in the north.
At the opposite end of the island, Aaron Hawley produced a tireless performance for Rushen against Laxey at Croit Lowey, harrying the Miners’ rearguard throughout and helping the Spaniards triumph 3-1 to remain top of the table.
Completing the latest Team of the Week - and continuing his rich vein of form - is Ciaran McNulty who once again starred for St George’s with a brace during their emphatic 5-1 win over Marown at Glencrutchery Road.
Claiming the refereeing honours this week is Ollie Johnson who did well to control a highly-competitive affair between Peel and Corinthians in the Sunset City which threatened to boil over at times.
Team of the Week
(23/10/21)
Goalkeeper
Harry Horbury (Douglas Royal)
TotW apps: 2
Defence
Matty Woods (Peel) TotW apps: 1
Graham Kennish (RYCOB) TotW apps: 2
Andy Crennell (Peel) TotW apps: 2
Harry Weatherill (Ayre Utd) TotW apps: 1
Midfield
Joey Morling (St George’s) TotW apps:1
George Burrows (Laxey) TotW apps:2
Harry Best (Ayre Utd) TotW apps:1
Attack
Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) TotW apps: 3
Aaron Hawley (Rushen Utd) TotW apps:3 -
Kyle Uren (Union Mills)TotW apps: 2
Referee
Oliver Johnson (Peel v Corinthians)
RotW apps: 1