Northern clubs are well represented in the latest instalment of Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week.
Donning the No.1 jersey this week is midfielder-turned-goalkeeper Nick White who produced several good saves for Ayre during their top-of-the-table clash at Rushen United, including a late penalty to ensure the Tangerines went three points clear in the title race.
That earned him his first TotW call-up of the season and edged out DHSOB youngster Nathan Quayle who impressed for the Blackberry Lane outfit against St George’s.
Shining for the Saints in that match at Glencrutchery Road was Karl Clark who delivered a typically dominant centre-back performance to take his place in a four-man TotW defence alongside Rushen’s Alex Guy, Ayre’s George Rawlinson and Ramsey’s Jamie Corlett.
Guy excelled at the back for the Spaniards during their aforementioned pivotal title clash at Croit Lowey with a series of crucial interventions and was perhaps unlucky to end up on the losing side.
Doing likewise at the opposite end of the pitch and standing tall in the face of some Rushen pressure was Rawlinson whose fine season for the Tangerines continued with another exemplary performance.
Similarly, Corlett was Ramsey’s man of the match at Ballacloan Stadium as the northerners got the better of Laxey and maintained station in the heady heights of third place in the league table.
In doing so, Corlett just edged out Dave Reynolds who also impressed for Laxey in the same match.
One Miner who does make the cut in the latest hypothetical XI is George Burrows who delivered another in a series of fine displays for the Glen Road side at Ballacloan to line up in a three-man Team of the Week midfield.
Joining Burrows in the centre of the pitch is St George’s winger Joey Morling and Rushen’s Jamie Cadwallader.
Morling impressed for the Saints on the right side of midfield during the Glencrutchery Road side’s 3-0 win at home to Old Boys, while Cadwallader proved to be Rushen’s main attacking threat against title favourites Ayre United in the south of the island.
The other northern players to be included in the latest Team of the Week are Ramsey duo Anthony Bayle and Michael Simpson who both enjoyed a fine game up front, with Bayle netting the winner against Laxey to move his side to within only three points of second place in the table.
Joining the Ramsey pair up front is St George’s forward Ste Priestnal who made a welcome return to form with a well-taken hat-trick to sink Old Boys and keep Geordies within touching distance of Ramsey.
Claiming the refereeing honours this week is Stuart Morris for the third time this season after he once again impressed with the whistle during the Ramsey v Laxey clash.
Team of the Week
Goalkeeper
Nick White (Ayre) TotW apps: 1
Defence
Alex Guy (Rushen) TotW apps: 2
George Rawlinson (Ayre) TotW apps: 2
Karl Clark (St George’s) TotW apps: 3
Jamie Corlett (Ramsey) TotW apps: 3
Midfield
Joey Morling (St George’s) TotW apps: 2
Jamie Cadwallader (Rushen) TotW apps: 1
George Burrows (Laxey) TotW apps: 3
Attack
Michael Simpson (Ramsey) TotW apps: 1
Steven Priestnal (St George’s) TotW apps: 4
Anthony Bayle (Ramsey) TotW apps: 1
Referee
Stuart Morris (Ramsey v Laxey)
RotW apps: 3