By ANDY DALRYMPLE

PEEL remain one of the favourites for this season's Cu Plas FA Cup title after they overcame a plucky Onchan 7-2 at the Nivison Stadium on Saturday.

Few had given Brian Carney's CFS Division Two side a chance against the 30-time winners from Douglas Road, but first-half goals from Paul Whitley and Michael Cherry had meant the Yellows only trailed their more illustrious opponents 2-3 at the break.

However, the substantial home supports' hopes of a giant-killing were brought to an abrupt end in the tie's second half as the Sunset City side notched another four goals to seal a quarter-final tie with second-tier promotion-hopefuls Ayre United.

Rick Holden's Sure Mobile Premier League outfit began the encounter in positive fashion and nearly took the lead after barely 60 seconds when Johnny Myers outstretched boot narrowly avoided making contact with Danny Bell's touch on from Marc Kelly's centre.

The early Peel pressure continued and Kerron Christian was the next to go close when he poked narrowly wide a cross from the left.

New Island squad incumbent Lee Gale was next to go close when he tested the reactions of the hosts' Bulgarian goalkeeper Kiril Velev with a well-struck shot after latching onto a long-ball forward.

The westerners went even closer just minutes later when Kerron Christian's cross from the right was nodded onto the bar by Marc Kelly's crisp header from six yards out.

Despite their early chances, it was Carney's second division side that edged in front after 18 minutes when Rob Callow's perfectly weighted through-ball left the Peel backline exposed.

Whitley held off the attentions of Nigel Shimmin, before dispatching an exquisite inch-perfect lob over the advancing Kelvin Dawson.

The Onchan fans were barely finished celebrating, however, when Peel drew level through Shimmin's thumping header after Kerron Christian had flicked on Marc Kelly's corner.

The pace of Peel striker Terry Rigaux was increasingly becoming a factor in the match, and his runs began to stretch the Onchan backline.

First the Belgian striker found the side-netting after a typically darting run before forcing a good save from Velev after a neat chest down and shot on the edge of the area.

Disaster then struck for the hosts as a sliced clearance from a corner found Bell who tapped in from close range.

The tie's good tempo continued and once again the Onchan fans found their voice when the hosts drew level.

Again the impressive Whitley and Callow were involved as they helped dissect the Peel defence before picking out midfielder Cherry who coolly slotted past Dawson.

The Yellows then nearly went one better just two minutes later when full-back Daniel Bentham's free-kick from the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar.

It was, however, the top-flight side that troubled the scorers next on the stroke of half-time when Gale cut in off his right wing before finishing well past Velev.

The Peel number seven started the second period as he finished the first, when his quick feet in the box gave him the opportunity to test Velev's shot-stopping skills.

Peel weren't to be denied for too long and that man Rigaux extended his side's lead with a stinging shot that found the back of the net despite the best efforts of the Onchan number one.

The Westerners' fourth goal seemed to dissolve some of the Yellows' resolve as Peel bagged a fifth after just six minutes of the half.

Bell found Marc Kelly's whose resulting pull-back was slotted in by Chris Cain – the latter's first goal since March 2008.

The increasingly influential Kelly then had a penalty shout turned down, but it only delayed his side's sixth goal which arrived just minutes later when Kevin Megson and Gale combined to give Christian the opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet.

The Red and White waves continued to crash against the Onchan goal and only some last-ditch defending from Joey Hughes and co, some wayward shooting from the Peel frontline and some fine stops by Velev prevented the westerners from adding to their tally until the 84th minute when Bell netted his second of the game after being set up by Cain — the scoreline mirroring that acheived by the Douglas Road outfit last time they visited Onchan in 1996.

Team check
Onchan Kiril Velev, Martin Priestnal, Joey Hughes, Marty Elliott, Kraig Marsh, Michael Cherry (Chris Camps 66m), Paul Whitley, Lee Astin, Jonathan Bradley (Richie Jamieson 77m), Daniel Bentham, Rob Callow. Sub not used Dave Cherry.

Peel Kelvin Dawson, Kevin Megson, Daniel Lace, Marc Kelly, Nigel Shimmin, Johnny Myers, Lee Gale (Gary Christian 67m), Daniel Bell, Terry Rigaux (John Kelly 67m), Kerron Christian (Juan Killip 79m), Chris Cain.

Referee Huw Matthews
Booked Rigaux (Peel)
Man of the Match Myers (Peel) Island international was a big influence for the westerners all afternoon.
Match rating 4*

Peel's Johnny Myers dispatches a shot goalwards during Saturday's Cu Plas FA Cup tie with Onchan