Wallace strike secures first silverware of season for Town

Editorial Department • Published 13 Aug 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Enniskillen Town 3; Churchtown 2

Enniskillen Town collected the first piece of silverware of the new Fermanagh and Western season with a deserved 3-2 victory over Churchtown in the season curtain-raiser, the Kennedy Cup, at the Bawnacre on Tuesday night.

Town had taken the lead through Marty McGourty after 26 minutes and had been in control of the contest for the majority of the first half but two goals in as many minutes from Adrian Haughey and Charles Connolly sent the Castlederg side in at the break leading 2-1.

And Mickey Connolly's side could have added to that advantage early in the second half but the longer the game progressed the more Town regained a grip on matters and an own goal from player manager Connolly and a tidy finish from Frank Wallace secured the win for Rory Judge's outfit.

Judge was pleased with the performance of his side on Tuesday night.

"We approached the game with an attitude of wanting to go out and win it and get our season off to a winning start," said Judge. "It was a good result and we created a bagful of chances which was pleasing. We did switch off a couple of times for their goals but the attitude and work rate of the boys was very good and it gives us a confidence boost going into Saturday's league opener against Strathroy Harps."

Town enjoyed the better of things early on with Gary Beckett denied by a good tackle from Mickey Connolly and Brendan Rogers having a shot saved after breaking into the box.

The goal though did arrive in the 26th minute with Niall Oates providing the chance for McGourty. Oates made a penetrating break into the area before firing the ball across the face of goal for McGourty to tap in at the back post.

Town continued to press after this and a second goal looked on the cards with the lively Kane Connor having a header blocked and Frank Wallace heading narrowly wide from a fine Beckett cross from the right.

However, with 41 minutes played Churchtown equalised against the run of play. Gary McGuigan fired over a good cross from the right and Adrian Haughey rose well to head the ball back across Town goalkeeper Joe McGovern and into the back of the net.

And Town were left shell shocked when Churchtown grabbed the lead a minute later with McGuigan's low ball from the right turned in at the near post by Charlie Connolly.

Indeed, it could have been even worse for Town as Gary McConnell missed a glorious opportunity to stretch the lead on the stroke of half time.

O'Connell missed another good chance at the start of the second half but after this Town slowly started to re-take control of the contest. Beckett had a poked effort at goal saved with Connor's follow up blocked, but with the Churchtown goal living a charmed life Town eventually levelled.

Substitute Byron McNern chased down a poor back pass and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper. Connolly raced back to clear but he could only divert the ball into the net for Town's equaliser.

The Mercer League champions then laid siege to the Churchtown goal with Oates and Connor both failing to find the net from great chances but with 13 minutes left they grabbed the winner. Frank Wallace collected the ball on the right and his pace took him away from the defender and into the box before steering his shot into the bottom corner to give Town a 3-2 win.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 13 Aug 09

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