Jack McVey has been crowned football’s Canada Life Player of the Month for August and September.

The St Mary’s maestro has been in scintillating form for the Bowl outfit during the early weeks of the 2018-19 season, helping the Saints top the fledgling Canada Life Premier League standings.

With the campaign kicking off midway through August, it was decided to make it a joint award for August and September, covering the opening six or seven games of the season.

McVey was simply imperious during that time, racking up several man of the match performances as he impressed Eric Clague’s ratings panel and garnering a whopping 13 points.

That was fractionally ahead of Corinthians winger Dan Simpson who shone with a series of excellent displays for the title hopefuls, helping himself to numerous assists as the Whites began the season in free-scoring form.

Completing the top three is Douglas Athletic’s midfield dynamo Stephen Cowan who has caught the eye in the centre of the pitch for the Pinks. Such have been his performances and those of his team-mates that the Springfield Road outfit are occupying the dizzying heights of the upper echelons of the table and could qualify for this season’s Railway Cup.

Cowan was only half a mark in front of McVey’s St Mary’s team-mate Frank Jones who has enjoyed a flying start to life back at his old club following his hugely successful trophy-laden spell with St George’s.

The box-to-box midfielder has been one of the Saints main goal-getters during the opening throes of the campaign, including crucial strikes against title rivals Corinthians and Rushen as well as a hat-trick against Castletown.

Rounding off the top five is DHSOB star Robbie Ward who has been in fine fettle for the Blackberry Lane outfit, helping Liam Buckley’s men bounce back from narrow defeats to St George’s and Athletic by inspiring them to good results against Douglas Royal, Corinthians, Laxey, Rushen and Marown.

Ward narrowly edged out his Old Boys team-mate Iain Ramsay who’s been a rock at the back for the Blackberry Lane side, and he in turn was just ahead of another Old Boys defensive cohort in the shape of Martin King as well as Peel’s captain fantastic Daniel Bell.

The top 12 for August and September is completed by St George’s duo Chris Bass Jr and Jay Skelcher-Maxwell as well as Corinthians midfielder Tom Callister.

The Geordies pair have both enjoyed good starts to the season, ensuring the defending champions remain unbeaten as they attempt to hold off the challenges of St Mary’s and Corinthians amongst others in the race for the title.

As such, Skelcher-Maxwell has been awarded the first Young Player of the Month for the 2018-19 season.

Callister has been a good form for the Whites, producing typically battling performances in the heart of Corinthians’ midfield to help his side claim three wins and three draws.

Player ratings for August and September: 1, Jack McVey (St Mary’s) 13 points; 2, Dan Simpson (Corinthians) 12.5; 3, Ste Cowan (DAFC) 9.5; 4, Frank Jones (St Mary’s) 9; 5=, Robbie Ward (DHSOB) and Iain Ramsay (DHSOB) 8.5; 7=, Daniel Bell (Peel) and Martin King (DHSOB) 8; 9=, Chris Bass Jr (St George’s), Jay Skelcher-Maxwell (St George’s) and Tom Callister (Corinthians) 7.5; 12, Drew Ward (DAFC) 7; 13=, Karl Clark (St Mary’s) and Matthew Woods (Peel) 6.5; 15=, James McStay (DHSOB) and Matty Cain (Rushen) 6; 17=, Furo Davies (St George’s), Harry Horbury (Marown), Lewis Bridson (St George’s) and Alex Holden (St John’s) 5.5.

Currently leading the way in the refereeing standings is John McCallum who has averaged an impressive score of 83 from his five matches that he has officiated so far this season.

DAVE NORTON