Fivemiletown United manager Scott Robinson is pleased with the start his side has made to the season as they picked up four points from their opening two games.
On Saturday, Robinson’s charges took a point from their home encounter against Banbridge Rangers following a 2-2 draw and they followed this up with a strong performance on Tuesday night in the 3-1 win away to a good Crewe United outfit.
“To have four points out of six is a pleasing start to the campaign for us,” said the new Fivemiletown boss. “On Saturday the main thing from our point of view was not to start the season with a defeat, we wanted to take something out of the game which we did. In fact, even though we were a bit flat I thought we probably should have won the game in the end but we were happy enough with the point. I suppose the key for your first away game is also not to lose so to have got the win was very satisfying. We had to rotate the squad a bit after Saturday but I thought it was a very good performance from the boys and we were thoroughly deserving of the three points,” added Robinson.
Saturday’s season opener saw a large crowd at the Valley Stadium and this was a tight encounter but it was the home side who were to go on and take the lead after 38 minutes.
Experienced front man Jason Gillespie latched on to dangerous Davy Little free kick to open the scoring for Fivemiletown.
The advantage though was shortlived as Banbridge responded to level up proceedings before the interval to leave it 1-1 at half time.
And the visitors swooped again ten minutes after the break to get their noses ahead, the ball poked home at the back post to make it 2-1.
‘Town though raised their game and with 20 minutes to go they grabbed an equaliser. Little’s corner created panic in the away side’s rearguard and when the breaking ball fell back out to Little he made no mistake in dispatching it to the back of the net to make it 2-2.
Fivemiletown looked the more likely side to go on and force a winner but they were unable to add to their tally before the end as the game finished 2-2.
Robinson made a number of changes for the game away to Crewe on Tuesday night with Ivan Carson, Lee McNulty and Chris McDowell among those coming into the side.
The away side started the contest brightly as they gained an early control with half chances arriving for Caron and Gillespie.
However, against the run of play it was Crewe who were to take the lead midway through the first half.
Fivemiletown responded well to this set back though and they were back on level terms before the break as McNulty headed home from a Davy Fulton free kick.
The visitors continued to have the better of the exchanges after half time and a second goal came within a minute of the restart. 
Carson drove into the box before being unceremoniously upended and from the resultant penalty Gillespie converted to put Fivemiletown 2-1 ahead.
And the result was put beyond Crewe when veteran striker Paul Baron came off the bench to make it 3-1. Malachy McLoughlin’s cross was latched on to by Baron whose first touch took him around the goalkeeper and second saw him slot the ball home as Fivemiletown finished up 3-1 winners.
Next up for ‘Town is a Premier Cup match against Moneyslane at Valley Stadium on Saturday (2.15 kick off).