Two players make their seasonal debuts in the latest instalment of Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week.
After a brief hiatus the previous weekend because of the wintry weather across the island, three games went ahead in the Canada Life Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Runaway leaders Corinthians were the biggest winners of the day as they thrashed relegation-threatened DHSOB 10-0 at home, therefore it’s no surprise to see the Whites well represented in the latest hypothetical XI.
But claiming the goalkeeper gloves in the TotW is a player who shone on the adjacent pitch at Ballafletcher, namely Owen Dawson who starred for Peel during their important come-from-behind victory against Douglas Royal.
Also excelling for the westerners in that game was Luke Doherty who earned his third TotW appearance of the season in a three-man defence alongside his Royal counterpart Callum Sherry and St Mary’s ace Jack McVey.
Like Doherty, Sherry impressed at the back for the Whites during that match at Ballafletcher to also gain his third Team of the Week call-up of the season so far.
Surprisingly, reigning Football Writers’ Player of the Year McVey is one of the debutants this week after he shone for the Premier League champions during their 7-1 victory against Douglas Athletic at the Bowl, grabbing a goal in the process.
Two other players to impress Eric Clague’s player ratings panel in that match at the national stadium were St Mary’s duo Frank Jones and Sammy Gelling who line up in a four-man TotW midfield.
Jones helped himself to the first two goals in that match against the Pinks, setting his side on their way to a convincing win, before Gelling scored straight from a corner as the Saints put the visitors to the sword.
Joining them in the midfield quartet are Corinthians duo Danny Gerrard and Connor Gorman who both impressed in the Whites’ engine room during their aforementioned emphatic victory over Old Boys.
Unsurprisingly after scoring 10 goals last Saturday, Corinthians dominate the forward line in the 19th edition of Team of the Week this season with three of their attackers being selected.
Between, the trio in question netted no fewer than eight of those goals at Ballafletcher and have now racked up an impressive 15 TotW appearances between them already this season.
Stephen Whitley was the undoubted star of the day as the birthday boy grabbed a scintillating four-goal haul and also had a hand in no fewer than five of the other six goals to steal the headlines.
Team-mates Sean Doyle and Dan Simpson were also on the goal trail at Ballafletcher as they helped themselves to two goals apiece to ensure that the Whites opened up a 13-point advantage at the top of the Premier League standings and put Blane Slattery’s charges within touching distance of clinching the title.
TEAM OF THE WEK
(20/02/21)
Goalkeeper
Owen Dawson (Peel) Team of the Week apps: 2
Defence
Callum Sherry (Douglas Royal) TotW apps: 3
Luke Doherty (Peel) TotW apps: 3
Jack McVey (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 1
Midfield
Danny Gerrard (Corinthians) TotW apps: 6
Frank Jones (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 2
Sam Gelling (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 3
Connor Gorman (Corinthians) TotW apps: 1
Attack
Stephen Whitley (Corinthians) TotW apps: 6
Sean Doyle (Corinthians) TotW apps: 5
Danny Simpson (Corinthians) TotW apps: 4