Strathroy Harps 1 Enniskillen Rangers 2

Lisbellaw United booked their place in the last eight of the Mulhern Cup as they inflicted a first defeat in the competition on Strathroy Harps since 2014 at Omagh Leisure Centre on Saturday.
And the Drumad based side had to do it the hard way as they came from behind to clinch the victory with Lewis Vance levelling things after Marty Flanagan had given the home side the lead from the spot early in the second half and the experienced Paul McGrath bagging a late winner for Lisbellaw.
It was a win that delighted new ‘Law player-manager Kyle McCleery as they maintained the good form they have shown since he took over the reins.
“It was really pleasing,” said McCleery. “Strathroy are a very good footballing side and they keep the ball very well. They also have a good record in the competition having won it this last three years so from that point of view it was a very good win for us.”
The first half saw chances at a premium before Harps took the lead from the spot but it was the introduction of Vance that sparked Lisbellaw into life as he scored the equaliser before teeing up McGrath for the winner.
“Lewis has been doing really well in training and he was maybe unlucky not to have started but he came on and he was excellent. He gave us added energy and made an instant impact. I was very pleased with him,” said McCleery.
The opening period of the game was a cagey affair with neither side really carving out anything of note.
However, the first real chance of the tie fell to the away side in the 20th minute when Ryan O’Keefe raced into the box and although his effort was saved, the ball was parried into the path of McGrath who uncharacteristically blazed over the bar.
The Harps best opportunity of the half arrived just before the break when Tommy Murphy got in behind the Lisbellaw defence but his strike was straight at Willie McFrederick who pushed his shot over the bar.
The home side had shaded possession in the first half and the contest continued in the same vein at the start of the second half.
And it was Strathroy who were to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty.
Jamie Coalter was adjudged to have pushed Harps defender Benny Boyle as he went to head the ball and from the resulting spot kick Flanagan sent McFrederick the wrong way as he clinically dispatched the ball into the corner.
This goal rocked Lisbellaw back and they were lucky not to concede a second as Aidy McCaffrey was found eight yards out in front of goal but his mishit effort went wide of the post.
The introduction of Vance though lifted Lisbellaw and he made an immediate impact by grabbing the equaliser.
Stuart Cochrane did very well in the build up as he won the ball in defence before playing a 1-2 and carrying on his run up the wing. Cochrane then delivered a perfect cross for Vance to side foot home for 1-1.
And Lisbellaw sensed blood after this and they went on to take the lead as Vance’s cross found the head of McGrath who directed the ball home for 2-1.
Strathroy pushed hard to find a second goal in the latter stages and Lisbellaw had to see the game out with ten men when McCleery picked up a second yellow card for a challenge on Gareth McCrory.
However, the away side stood firm as they held on to secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.
And McCleery is hoping to push on further in the cup.
“The win keeps our season alive and we want to go as far as we can in it. That is Strathroy and Kesh both out of it but there is still a lot of big teams left so there are no easy draws. It will be back to the league for us and we want to finish as high up the table as possible and we’ll look forward to seeing who we get in the quarter-finals,” said McCleery.