Enniskillen Rangers 2

Strathroy Harps 0

Enniskillen Rangers sprung something of a surprise at the Ball Range on Saturday as they ended champions Strathroy's 100 percent start to the season with a 2-0 win.

A goal from William Burleigh had given Rangers the lead at half time and they secured the points ten minutes from time as Andy Sproule slotted home to lift the 'Gers up to fourth in the table.

The day finished in controversy though as Burleigh was left with a cut to the face following an incident after the final whistle.

Subsequently Harps substitute Darren Teague received a three game suspension for violent conduct from the Fermanagh and Western in relation to the incident which was included in referee Martin Crawford's report.

'Gers player-manager Michael Kerr was delighted with his side's performance on the day.

“We went with a game plan and it worked perfectly for us. We knew that they would a lot of the ball but we were looking to hit them on the counter attack and we were able to do that. Defensively, I thought we were excellent, they never carved us open at all, and I was particularly pleased for our goalkeeper Adam McDonald to have kept a clean-sheet as they had scored a lot of goals recently,” said Kerr.

And the Rangers boss is looking to build on that result this Saturday when they take on Dergview Reserves.

“The win will give the boys belief that we can beat anybody on our day but we'll just be taking it one game at a time, we have Dergview this week and we'll prepare for that during the week and look no further ahead,” he added.

Harps chief Seamus Fanthorpe feels his side were made to pay for being in their comfort zone over the past few weeks.

“Sometimes the comfort zone is a dangerous place to be and that is where we have been over the last few weeks. We have been scoring a lot of goals in games and keeping clean-sheets and in fairness to Rangers it was the first real challenge we have had in a few weeks. They had their game plan and they were very hard to breakdown and they got their goals at important times. Maybe though the defeat will work in our favour as it will have knocked us out of the comfort zone with some big games coming up against Killen and Lisbelaw in the league and then Newington in the Junior Cup,” he said.

Rangers were without Davy Crozier and Mark Cutler for the game but they were able to call on Sproule who was a constant threat in his line striker role.

Indeed, the home side made a bright start to the encounter with Jamie Lee Fawcett having an early chance but he produced a weak shot at the visiting keeper.

At the other end Rangers goalkeeper McDonald got down smartly to make a good save from an Aidy McCaffrey free kick that looked bound for the bottom corner of the net.

The home side carried a real threat on the counter and from one such break Burleigh raced through only to be taken down just outside the area, however, despite the calls from the home side for a red card, referee Crawford only produced a yellow.

The breakthrough though arrived ten minutes before half time as Burleigh put Rangers in front. Jarno Glass had the initial effort and this led to a scramble with Burleigh forcing the ball over the line.

Strathroy did create a couple of opening after this with Mark Sloan dwelling too long on the ball when well placed while Kevin Sloan's shot was cleared off the line as the home side went in with the advantage at the break.

The Harps continued to dominate possession after half time but they struggled to breakdown a disciplined and well organised home defence.

And the decisive second goal for Rangers came in the 80th minute. With Strathroy committing more numbers forward in an effort to force an equaliser they were caught by a swift Rangers breakaway as Joe Doogan sent Sproule scampering through with the striker racing past a defender before firing home.

Strathroy did hit the woodwork soon after through Benny Boyle but it was to be Rangers day as they saw out the game to secure the points.