Fintona Swifts withstood late pressure from Enniskillen Rangers and leapfrogged over their opponents in the league table thanks to the three points. The victory takes them to eighth place, four points clear of the relegation zone, while defeat for Rangers leaves them just one win clear of the drop positions, although with games in hand.

“It was backs against the wall stuff but we managed to hold on,” admitted Fintona player manager Scott Gray. “They had most of the possession and created really good chances and maybe should have scored but we got lucky for a change. Defensively we were excellent although we didn’t create a lot, but in a relegation battle it doesn’t matter how you get the points on the board. It was a massive three points. We were hoping to win our home games and anything we picked up away from home was an added extra so we’re absolutely delighted with it. We are still far from safe. We have four massive games left but the lads seemed to have picked up in the last few weeks and a few of the senior players are starting to stand up and be counted.” Rangers were left with nothing to show for their second half efforts as they failed to turn their possession into goals, but frustrated joint manager Gordon Cutler is confident they can pick up the points that will see them hold on to their Mercer League status.

“We were the better footballing team and we should be winning those games but we will be trying to turn it around this week. We have the ability to do it,” he said. “We had maybe ten clear cut chances and we couldn’t take any of them. We played really well and we had great desire and great heart. They are our bogey team and on another day we would have taken three of four of our chances. The performance was not disappointing but the result was. Giving them two goals early in the game makes it hard to get back. It was disappointing because we played well. We just didn’t take our chances.” Just four minutes into the game Fintona took the lead when Rangers goal keeper Adam McDonald was slow to race off his line and brought down Sonny McDonagh, with player manager Gray stepping up to dispatch the penalty.

After 15 minutes Swifts were two ahead. Michael Kerr’s tackle on the edge of the penalty area was penalised despite the home side’s protests and Gray curled an unstoppable free kick into the top corner.

As the match progressed Rangers started to get a foothold in the game and looked the more likely to score but it was early in the second half before they found the net. Stuart Rainey was brought down in the penalty area by Padraig Cunningham, and Joe Dougan scored to reduce the deficit.

It seemed a matter of time before Rangers would draw level but Andrew Johnston missed twice when faced with just the keeper to beat, Mark Cutler could not convert with a header at the back post, and substitute Eamon McCaffrey spurned possibly the best chance of the match when he blazed over the bar in the closing minutes.