F&W Division One
Enniskillen Rangers…1
Killen Rangers…0
By Jonathan Hogan
CONOR Rippey burst forward from left back and rifled the winner through Alan Buchanan’s legs to settle a bruising all-Rangers affair at The Ball Range on Saturday.
The decisive moment, deep into the second half, had its roots in neat, patient build-up. Mark White sparked it down the right, Matthew Dixon and Ciaran Smith kept it flowing, Ronan Beatty slipped it into the path of the onrushing Rippey — and the full-back arrowed his finish low and true from 16 yards.
It came just after reigning champions Killen had threatened to nick the opener themselves. Graham Young skewed narrowly wide and Joel Peden sprang sharply to his right to deny teenager Dylan Crawford; a save that proved equally as important as Rippey’s strike.
At the other end, Buchanan’s first-half heroics had kept Killen firmly in the contest. Enniskillen carved out three or four strong openings before the break, only to find the visiting keeper in defiant form, while the second half was more end-to-end.
For Rangers boss Darren Higginbotham, the win — their fourth of the league campaign — felt like another step in the right direction. “That first half was the best we have played this season, and we created three or four good chances,” he said.
“Killen lifted their level at the beginning of the second half but as the game became stretched after that we created some more good chances.
“Overall, it was a pleasing performance. That’s a second clean sheet, two wins and it’s a positive day all round.”
Killen’s title defence has yet to catch fire, and this was a fifth defeat for Andy Crawford and Clive Morrison’s men, who are now looking over their shoulders rather than upwards.
A frustrated Crawford felt his side were undone by the game’s one moment of pure incision.
“The game was nip and tuck and one goal was always likely to decide it,” he said.
“We were pushing on in the second half and got caught on the counterattack.
“We threw everything at them but to no avail.
“I can’t fault the effort; it was just in the final third we didn’t get the rub of the green.”
Enniskillen Rangers now turn their focus to the small matter of a derby with Enniskillen Town back at The Ball Range this Saturday — the final outing before Christmas — while Killen face a short trip to neighbours and pacesetters NFC Kesh in their own last fixture of 2025.
