Shaun Kelly was the player of the day in the Canada Life Premier League last Saturday afternoon.
The Ayre United ace was in superb form for the Tangerines in the north of the island as he scored no fewer than four goals to help his side brush aside previous leaders DHSOB.
As such, he takes his place in the latest Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week in a traditional four-man midfield.
Joining him in the centre of the park are Rushen United’s Cameron Dudley, Douglas Royal’s Dominic Smith and Ramsey’s Charlie Higgins.
Dudley is fast making a name for himself in the Spaniards team and was again impressive during the southerners’ 6-1 win at home to RYCOB, while Higgins was one of the standout performers for Ramsey in left-midfield during his side’s narrow win over Union Mills.
Smith was the match-winner for Royal as he came off the bench in the second half and turned the game on its head by scoring both goals in his side’s surprise 2-1 win over Peel to get their campaign off to a successful start.
Laxey also maintained their winning start to the 2021-22 season with a superb 5-1 win over reigning Premier League champions at Glen Road and, as such, two of their number line up in a four-man TotW defence.
The players in question are the ever-reliable David Reynolds and full-back Joe Murley.
Reynolds produced a typically strong performance in the heart of the Miners’ defence to thwart Corinthians time and time again, while left-back Murley was equally impressive and also grabbed an assist for Ryan Gartland’s eye-catching first-half strike.
Joining the Laxey duo in defence are Union Mills’ Owen Quayle and Ramsey’s Jamie Corlett.
Quayle shone at the back for the Millers as they very nearly grabbed their first point since being promoted back to the top flight, frustrating Ramsey until they conceded a dramatic injury-time winner.
Grabbing that 91st-minute goal and delivering a man-of-the-match performance was Corlett who ended his five-year wait to find the back of the net in timely fashion to send Ramsey up to third in the table.
There was certainly no shortage of impressive goalkeepers in action last weekend, with several in contention for a place in the latest Team of the Week.
Dave Corlett was excellent for Laxey during their aforementioned win at home to Corinthians, while Mason Prince was also impressive for Union Mills against Ramsey.
But getting the nod and donning the number one jersey this week is Douglas Royal’s prodigious talent Harry Horbury who was outstanding during his side’s victory over Peel, particularly in the first half when he produced several brilliant saves.
At the other end of the pitch, a two-man attack leads the line in the hypothetical XI, namely Ayre United’s Danny Oram and Rushen’s Mike Williams.
Former Spaniard Oram was at the double for the Tangerines as they thrashed Old Boys 7-1 in Andreas, while Williams was at the double for Rushen during their big win over Youthie which puts them top of the table.
Claiming the refereeing honours this week is Peter Greenhill who shone with the whistle during the Ayre United v DHSOB game.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Goalkeeper
Harry Horbury (Douglas Royal)
Defence
Owen Quayle (Union Mills)
Jamie Corlett (Ramsey)
David Reynolds (Laxey)
Joe Murley (Laxey)
Midfield
Cameron Dudley (Rushen)
Shaun Kelly (Ayre)
Dominic Smith (Douglas Royal)
Charlie Higgins (Ramsey)
Attack
Danny Oram (Ayre)
Michael Williams (Rushen)
Referee
Peter Greenhill (Ayre Utd v DHSOB)