Strikers back among the goals
Editorial Department • Published 26 Jan 2012 13:00
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Gary Beckett comes away after scoring the Town's first goal of the match.
Beragh Swifts 1; Enniskillen Town 3;
Two goals from Gary Beckett and one from Mark Beckett helped Enniskillen Town to the points as they accounted for Beragh Swifts on Saturday to maintain a seven point gap at the top of the Mercer League between them and reigning champions Lisbellaw United.
Rory Judge's outfit may have a cushion at present but he is aware that Lisbellaw have played four games less and Judge is adamant that his side can afford no slip ups as they get ready for a meeting with Ballinamallard Reserves this Saturday.
"They are all big games now for us and we can't afford to lose any," said Judge.
The Town boss was delighted to return from Beragh with the points in the bag, and feels that they are not an easy proposition on their home patch.
"It is a tough place to go and it was a big three points for us down there. They had a couple of players missing but if they get their full complement out then they are going to be difficult opponents for anybody, especially at home. I think though we deserved the three points on Saturday and it was pleasing for us to have had our two main strikers back among the goals after a couple of weeks without scoring," he said.
Town got off to a good start to the contest and with nine minutes played they opened the scoring through Gary Beckett. Beckett was involved in the beginning of the move as he collected the ball before flicking it over the full back to Ryan Hanna. He then dinked the ball into the box to the inrushing Beckett who produced a tidy half volley to the back of the net for 1-0.
However, it took a fine save from visiting goalkeeper Pat Cadden to maintain Town's advantage. Beragh's Stevie Brown raced through on goal but Cadden spreaded himself well to make the save while the away side then had another couple of half chances.
Beragh had the breeze at their back in the first half but apart from a few dangerous set pieces were the ball was clipped into the box, they failed to trouble the Town defence.
And the visitors then struck a big blow in added on time at the end of the first half as they made it 2-0. Gary Beckett squared the ball for Hanna who slid in to meet the ball.
His effort came back off the post but Mark Beckett reacted quickly and tucked the ball away to give the Enniskillen side a two goal cushion at the break.
Judge's outfit remained comfortable in the first 15 minutes of the second half and Matthew McAuley went close to making it 3-0 as his shot from just outside the box hit the post.
However, Beragh began to come more into the contest and Malcolm Crawford made a last ditch interception to keep out the home side only for Beragh to pull a goal back two minutes later.
Town failed to deal properly with a ball into the box and Stevie Brown fired home from the edge of the box to bring them back into contention.
The goal lifted Beragh and they pressed for an equaliser with Keith McKinley having two efforts pushed around the post. But with ten minutes to go Gary Beckett swooped for the assurance goal for Town. He was put through on goal and he drew goalkeeper Johnny Crawford before rounding him and tucking away from an acute angle.
Indeed, the away side could have added to their tally late in the contest with substitute Georgi missing the target with a diving header while Gary Beckett dragged a shot wide.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 26 Jan 12
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