Enniskillen Town 1
Lisbellaw United 3
Two of the Fermanagh & Western’s big names met at the Lakeland Forum on Saturday and it was Lisbellaw United who come from a goal down to take the three points from Enniskillen Town, recording a 3-1 victory. Ryan O’Keefe coming off the bench in the last half hour to score twice and help create the other for his side who bounced back to winning ways.
The home defeat for Town comes on the back of their Junior Cup exit and this result has dented hopes of regaining the Mercer League although it is still very early in the season. The hosts suffering a second league defeat from their eight outings.
Saturday seen a scoreless opening 45minutes however both sides were producing some good passing movements in tricky conditions. Lisbellaw were holding the upperhand without creating many clear openings, Paul McGrath heavily involved in his sides best work, drilling over from distance while Craig Johnson also fired wide.
Town had struggled to get going in what was a somewhat subdued display all round from the hosts. Frank Wallace had a great chance to open the scoring however when Chris Beacom’s header back to his keeper William McFrederick put him in some trouble, Wallace however failed to find the empty net with his chipped shot.
A slick move involving Matthew McAuley, Gary Beckett and Frank Wallace seen Mark Little ghost into the penalty area but a wonderful save from McFrederick denied the midfielder as the first period ended 0-0.
It took just 5minutes for a goal to be scoring in the second half. Lisbellaw had two early corner but a clearance from the second one set Town on their way, Mark Little gathering the loose ball on the halfway line and found Darren McQuade, his crossfield ball sent Conor Watson scampering towards goal on the right wing where he was bundled over in the penalty area by David Stokes. Stephen Chamber confidently stroked the penalty past McFrederick.
Lisbellaw almost hit back immediately but Alan Veitch drilled his shot straight at Pat Cadden in the home goals. The visitors would continue on to apply pressure and following O’Keefe’s introduction he won a free kick on the right wing. He took the free kick himself and it nestled into the top corner despite the best efforts of Cadden.
Moments later a move down the left between Paul McGrath and Craig Johnston seen Malcolm Crawford intervene, he would play the ball back to his goalkeeper Cadden who took a heavy touch before O’Keefe charged down the clearance which Johnston picked up and rifled into the net for 2-1.
The visitors continued to create openings as Town took more chances at the back and with seconds remaining Shane Reavey cut out a pass before releasing O’Keefe who slipped the ball past Crawford and fired beyond Cadden to give his side a 3-1 victory.