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Point enough to send Skea top of league
Football: Lisnaskea Rovers 2 Killen Rangers 2 – Lisnaskea Rovers moved to the top of the division one table on Saturday but they will be wondering how they did not secure all three points in a game that they dominated for long periods and led 2-0 at one stage. Indeed, if they fail to win the league then they will certainly pinpoint this game as a missed opportunity.

In fairness to Killen, they never lay down and battled to the end with a super Darren Young lob from halfway earning a point after he adeptly returned from distance a Mark Murphy clearance to the net.

    Indeed, it is the third time this season that Lisnaskea have conceded a long range goal from the halfway line and they certainly feel a little hard done by in the luck stakes.

    In the final 15 minutes, Lisnaskea bombarded the the Killen goal but could not get the winner they craved while both sides feel they had legitimate shouts for penalties waved away at either end by referee Ronald Graham.

    Lisnaskea coach George Elliott felt his team were a little unlucky. “They scored out of the blue at a time when we were fairly comfortable. I think we were a bit unlucky on Saturday, we played well and had plenty of chances but their goal came out of nothing and changed the game,” said George.

    Lisnaskea started the game at a cracking pace and dominated the opening quarter.

    Paul Woods went through one on one with the Killen keeper Morrison but did not connect well with the ball and the visiting netminder saved well with his feet.

    Soon after, however, Glen Monahan put the Castle Park side one up as he cut in from the left before firing a super shot into the corner of the net for 1-0 and no more than Lisnaskea deserved. Kevin Swift then produced a good save from Morrison with a well hit free kick before Lisnaskea doubled their lead.

    This time Greg O’Donnell was on target as he controlled the ball well in the six yard box before turning on the proverbial sixpence to fire home for 2-0.

    The homeside were cruising at this stage and Swift again had another good chance as he danced past a couple of defenders but Morrison again saved well with his feet.

    Killen were relying on breaks at this stage and the speed of Ryan Campbell was proving a handful and it was no surpirse that when Killen did pull a vital goal back just before the interval that it was Campbell who scored.

    Clive Morrison delivered a quality free kick to the back post and Campbell dived full length to head home for 2-1 to Skea at the interval.

    Lisnaksea would have been disappointed to have only led by a goal at half time given their dominance while Killen would have been delighted to trail by such a narrow margin.

    Killen played with the wind in the second half but failed to create any real chances and were hampered by the loss of Campbell to injury.

    Lisnaskea remained in control and looked to be heading for all three points.

    That was until, Darren Young decided to shoot from long distance. The ball was played back to Murphy in the Skea goal and he cleared the ball well up to halfway into the wind. However, it was straight to Darren Young in the centre circle and he controlled the ball on his chest, before whacking it back in over the keeper’s outstretched hand and into the net for a brilliant finish and 2-2.

    It was now game on and Killen with the wind at their backs were not without their chances as Lee Arkinson sidefooted wide at the back post after another good Morrison free kick. Arkinson was then unlucky not to get a penalty when he was caught by Murphy but the referee waved play on, feeling the keeper had had a hand to the ball.

    The last ten minutes was all Lisnaskea as they went for the win that would have put them three points clear at the top. Mark McKenna had a good chance from a header and Paul Woods felt he had a penalty as he was pulled back. The linesman seemed to flag for a infringement but referee Graham overruled and as the final whistle sounded on the only game to be played in the Fermanagh and Western, the scores were deadlocked at 2-2.

    Lisnaskea go a point clear at the top and while they would have preferred all three points, they are at least on top with the points in the bag and that is what counts at this time of the year.