(AET, Rangers won 5-4 on penalties) Enniskillen Rangers progressed to the last eight of the Impartial Reporter Mulhern Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over second division Magheraveely at the Lakeland Forum on Saturday.

The experienced Jarno Glass held his nerve to convert the 14th penalty of the shoot-out to defeat a brave Magheraveely team following a dour encounter in which Rangers failed to convert some early chances and thereafter either team could have snatched this game.

Rangers joint manager Gordon Cutler was delighted though to be in the hat.

“At the end of the day it was a cup game and all you want to be is in the hat for the next round which we are,” explained Cutler. “In saying that, if we had taken our early chances we would have made the day much easier for ourselves but we did not and Magheraveely battled hard throughout. We are in the last eight and the boys held their nerve at the business end of the shoot-out Sean Hynes, Brendy Rogers and Jarno Glass all scored when they had to keep us alive and Simon Friel made a couple of good saves.” His counterpart, Magheraveely’s Anthony Smith, felt his team gave a good account of themselves.

“It is always disappointing to go out on penalties which are a bit of a lottery. I thought, though, that after the first 15 minutes we gave a good performance and more than matched Rangers. The boys were not overawed which bodes well for the future but it is a pity we did not get to the quarter-finals.” As stated Rangers started well and could have taken the lead in the opening minute but Andy Johnston pulled his shot wide of the post with only the keeper to beat and then the impressive Stuart Rainey shot wide after cutting in from the right hand side.

The ‘Gers then had a third good chance as Johnston broke through and the ball broke to Mark Cutler on the edge of the box but he could not keep his effort down and it sailed just over the bar.

As the half wore on, Magheraveely came more into the game with Joe Williamson impressing in midfield and Gary Kettlyes had a shot blocked before a Paul Elliott volley looked goal bound only for David Crozier to superbly head clear. Then Elliott fired in a dangerous ball to the back post but the excellent Sean Hynes turned the ball around the post for a corner with Warren Stewart about to tap into the net.

Rangers dominated possession in the second half without really testing Magheraveely keeper Matthew McGrade too much. The best chance came when Rainey broke at pace and played in Cutler but his low shot was expertly saved by legs of McGrade.

Crozier then powered a header over the bar from a corner while Eamon McCaffrey shot wide following more good work from Rainey.

Williamson came closest for Magheraveely in the second half as his free kick curled around the wall but was the wrong side of the post.

Extra-time came and went without any clear cut chances meaning it would take penalties to separate the sides.

It was 3-3 after five each, Michael Kerr and David Crozier not scoring for Rangers while Matty Irwin and Joe Williamson erred for Magheraveely.

In sudden death, Elliott scored for Magheraveely which was cancelled out by Hynes. Ryan Daly then missed giving Glass the chance to win it for Rangers which he gleefully accepted, sending McGrade the wrong way and Rangers into the last eight.