Enniskillen Rangers 5 Mountjoy Utd 0.

Enniskillen Rangers made it five wins out of five in their search for a first Mercer Cup in 19 seasons as they hit five goals past newly promoted Mountjoy at the Ball Range on Saturday.
The front three of Mark Cutler, Andrew Johnston and Jason Keenan accounted for the goals with Cutler grabbing a hat-trick in an assured win for Michael Kerr’s charges.
The ‘Gers never looked back after hitting two goals in the opening 20 minutes and although Mountjoy did enjoy a decent spell thereafter, Rangers hit a third before the break which practically ended the game as a contest.
The win put Rangers back on top of the table and they will travel to Belfast this week for round two of the Junior Cup.
Manager Michael Kerr was delighted to see his forwards back among the goals once again and was also pleased with the clean-sheet.
“We did what we had to do to pick up the three points. To have won and kept a clean-sheet was very pleasing and it was great to see the attackers getting the goals because that is what I want from them,” said Kerr.
“That is five out of five now so it is good to keep the run going but we are very aware that it is very early days and much tougher tests lie ahead,” he added.
Rangers started well and took the game to Mountjoy and took the lead after 10 minutes when Stephen Chambers’ near post corner from the left was flicked on by Keenan to Johnston who hit a great volley into the top corner of the net.
Rangers doubled their money midway through the half with Chambers the provider again. This time he fired over a corner from the right and Cutler rose highest to power a header to the net from 10 yards.
Mountjoy did enjoy a bit of pressure thereafter and came closest to pulling a goal back when Lee Frazer’s low drive had Jerome Carleton scrambling but he did well to tip the ball around the post.
Then from the corner Timothy Gallagher had a free header but he could not direct it on target.
At the other end, William Burleigh played in Cutler with a superb ball. Cutler rounded Gareth Barbour in the Mountjoy nets and attempted to pull the ball back for Keenan but did not get enough on his pass.
Cutler made no mistake before the break though as he went on a mazy run down the right and cut into the box before firing into the corner of the net although the visiting netminder will have been disappointed not to have stopped the shot.
3-0 at the break, Rangers rang the changes in the second period as David Crozier and Ben Brown returned from injury.
Keenan had a good chance when played in by Burleigh but he could not get his shot away but he kept his good scoring run going as he added the fourth soon after. Again Burleigh was the provider and Keenan made no mistake this time as he slotted home for 4-0.
Keenan had another chance soon after when he cut back onto his right foot but Barbour got a hand to the shot and tipped it out for a corner.
Cutler made it five before the end, as he reacted well to a shot across the box and fired home from 12 yards to complete his hat-trick and a comfortable win for Rangers to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new season.
The focus now switches to the defence of the Junior Cup this weekend and Kerr expects a tough game.
“As the holders we are the team that they will all want to beat and it will be a difficult game but we will prepare right for it and go with the correct attitude,” he said.