The Combination One match between Laxey and Peel this afternoon has been cancelled due to Peel being unable to raise a team. This is due to the majority of players being in Liverpool due to Chris Cain's stag weekend. The team will no doubt be docked 3 points in due course.

Tomorrow's Veteran's match involving Union Mills is also off. This time it is the oppostion that is unable to raise sufficient numbers. 

The decision was taken at this evening's Committee Meeting that the Douglas Road pitch would not be ready in time for Saturday's opening fixture with St. George's following the recent (re)re-turfing.

It is likely that the match will be played at Glencrutchery Road at 5.30 p.m following the Combination match between the two sides, which is scheduled for 2.30 p.m that afternoon.

At Castletown this afternoon, the first team commenced the afternoon's 'double-header' well and took the lead after 11 minutes when Liam Harrison found himself in space and headed for goal only for his shot to rebound off the post into the path of Simon Cowley who kept the ball low with his finish. 

There then was a 15 minutes' spell when the team 'did not fire on all cylinders during which the home side scored three times. Daniel Bell cut inside and fired the ball into the corner before half-time to reduce the arrears, and after the interval he completed his hat-trick as Peel gradually assumed the ascendency to finish up 6-3 winners.

Scorers: Simon Cowley (11), Daniel Bell (32) Daniel Bell (59) Robert Cottier (64) Daniel Bell - penalty (69) Daniel Lace (89) 

S. Morris

J. Kelly R. Cottier M. McQuarrie S. Cowley*

L. Gale8 C. Cain A. Crennell D. Lace

L. Harrison R. Burns 

Substitutes used:Daniel Bell, Calum Gallagher, Kerron Christian, Marc Kelly, Matthew Woods, Kenneth Walker, Lee Gale*, and Simon Cowley* 

After a short respite, the Combination sides kicked off at 3.15 p.m. and during the game Peel were rarely troubled the match going off the boil once they had secured a 2-0 lead which remained the score at half-time. The second half was similarly low-key though at least the Club has survived the various friendly matches without injury. The final score was 6-1.  

Scorers: D. Pickering (11) A. Costain (22) L. Harrison (50 & 72) L. Gale (76) R. Burns (76) 

S. Morris

I. Flanders M. McQuarrie S. Corkill J. Kelly

A. Duggan D. Pickering M. Crennell S. Cowley*

L. Harrison* A. Costain

 Substitutes used: J. Clancy, R. Burns, S. Cowley* L. Gale, M. Woods, L. Harrison*

Peel tonight lost to a solitary 52nd minute header by Sean Gavin in a match that showed that there will be little between the two sides when the season starts in just over a week's time.

Both sides had periods of ascendency, the westerners particularly in the first half when they were guilty of being reluctant to shoot at times.

The match was 'competitive' in all put name with some strong tackles going in after the interval. Peel managed to restrict former star Terry Rigaux to only a few of his trademark runs through the defence; however at the other end of the field will need to be more inventive in front of goal when the 'real action' commences.  

S. Morris

J. Kelly R. Cottier M. Kelly A. Crennell

M. Woods* K. Christian D. Bell S. Cowley*

L. Gale* C. Gallagher

Substitutes used: D. Lace C. Cain S. Cowley* L. Harrison L. Gale* M. Woods*

Two days after a disappointing 6-1 defeat at D.H.S.O.B. the Combination Team responded with a 9-3 victory (H-T 5-2) against Corinthians at Ballafletcher this evening in their latest friendly fixture.

After a fairly even opening spell they gradually earned a just reward for some effective build up play, with the pick of our goals being Tony Duggan's exquisite lob over the goal keeper after 84 minutes.

Scorers: A. Costain (1-0), I. Flanders (2-1), L. Parmar (3-2), K. Megson (4-2), A. Costain (5-2), A. Costain (6-2) K. Christian (7-3), A. Costain penalty (8-3) and A. Duggan (9-3).

Daniel McCann

I. Flanders* M. Crennell M. McQuarrie* G. Christian

Dean McCann* D. Pickering* L. Parmar K. Megson

G. Smith* A. Costain

Substitutes used: J. Clancy, A. Duggan, S. Corkill, K. Christian S. Oliver N. Thomas plus the 5 marked * who resumed the field in the latter stages.   

Peel First team received a bit of a reality check this evening at Ballafletcher when they lost4-3 to the hosts on a cool evening.

The Douglas side looks stronger than in recent seasons and should be aiming for a top half of the table finish.

Daniel Bell's late strike looked to have secured the westerners a draw only for Daniel Pennington to secure the victory with a diving header on the line a minute from time.

S. Morris

K. Walker R. Cottier M. McQuarrie D. Lace

K. Megson A. Crennell K. Christian S. Cowley

L. Gale D. Bell*

Substitutes used during the  match:

A. Quirk, Daniel McCann C. Gallagher L. Harrison M. Kelly M. Woods C. Cain D. Bell* 

Scorers:      Daniel Bell (1-0), own goal (59), Daniel Bell (84)

Corinthians: Blane Slattery (1-1), Chris Cannell (50), Jamie Stoy (63) Daniel Pennington (89) 

The first team was provided with a stiffer test than last week this afternoon at a sun-drenched Andreas and came through successfully with a 6-1 victory (H-T 3-1).

It was not really until the second half that the visitors began to find space on the narrow(ed) pitch and, having lost two first team central defenders in John Myers and Nigel Shimmin during the close season, it was heartening to see Kenny Walker emerge unscathed on his first appearance since 31st October 2009 and it is hoped that he will have an injury free season.

Scorers: D. Bell (2), D. Bell (23), L. Harrison (36), L. Gale (46), C. Gallagher (57), L. Gale (88).

Paul Kennish equalized for Ayre United after 10 minutes.  

S. Morris

J. Kelly R. Cottier M. McQuarrie D. Lace

C. Gallagher A. Crennell C. Cain M. Kelly

L. Harrison D. Bell

Substitutes used: K. Walker, L. Gale, M. Crennell, G. Christian, A. Crennell. (J. Kelly came back on  for M. McQuarrie after 81 minutes)   

Immediately following the first team match (which commenced at 1.30 p.m) the two sides' second teams turned out, though the Peel side was supplemented by several who had appeared in the previous game due to the number of players currently unavailable due to various reasons.

The match was mainly one-way traffic with the Peel forwards showing plenty of running. In addition there was a first opportunity to see young starlet Rowan Richardson in a senior Peel shirt and he did not disappoint, using the ball intelligently and creating space before a deserved 63rd minute goal to bring up double figures.

Final score 11-0 (5-0)

Scorers: Josh Clancy 4 (14, 52, 54, 72), Dean McCann (15), L. Harrison (18), own goal (30), Chris Cain (31), John Kelly (47), Andrew Crennell (50), Rowan Richardson (63).

R. Cottier

J. Kelly M. Crennell A Crennell S. Oliver

D. McCann K. Megson R. Richardson* G. Christian

L. Harrison** J. Clancy 

 Substitutes used during the match: C. Cain, M. McQuarrie, R. Richardson*, D. Lace., L. Harrison**

After a break of 10 weeks, the First Team donned their boots once more to ascertain the strength of newly promoted R.Y.C.&O.B. at a gloriously sunny (though breezy) Lezayre Road ground. The visitors started with a good pace - never letting their opponents settle on the ball - and were well worth their  3-0 interval lead.

The second half saw the usual break in fluency due to multiple (rolling) substitutions. However Peel finished strongly and missed some clear chances towards the close that will need to be converted in 3 weeks time!

A good work out for the first team squad and there appears to be competition for places in several positions - which may play to our advantage performance wise.

Scorers: Marc Kelly (10), own goal (15), Calum Gallagher (38), Daniel Bell (74).

             Tony Corlett (54) for the home side. 

Starting XI (4-4-2):        

Simon Cowley

Izaak Flanders Robert Cottier Matthew McQuarrie Daniel Lace

Andrew Quirk Matthew Woods Daniel Bell Marc Kelly

Calum Gallagher Ryan Holdaway

Substitutes used (there were 16 substitutions!):

S. Morris, J. Kelly, L. Harrison, A. Crennell, M. Crennell, K. Megson, C. Cain, D. Pickering. 

John Myers has had his transfer to St. George's approved this week, ending a highly productive spell of three seasons at Douglas Road.

John scored 44 goals in 91 appearance for the Club (as detailed below) and was Player of the Year for both the Club and the I.O.M.F.A. in 2009-10. He obtained winner's medals for both the Charity Shield (2008-09) and Railway Cup (2009-10) when the scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory over Rushen United.

John's thunderous free kicks will be just one aspect of his play that will be missed in the season ahead.

Peel's long-standing defender Robert Cottier will undertake a dual role during the 2011-12 season following his appointment last night's as the Club's First Team Manager.

Rob will be supported by his father Juan (formerly Manager of Colby A.F.C.) and will also have  assistance on the coaching/training side from the likes of Kelvin Dawson, Sean Dickinson, Chris Hawke and Rick Holden.

Steven Corkill continues in his role as Player- Manager of the Combination side.