Clinical Town down Mallards
Editorial Department • Published 2 Feb 2012 13:00
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Enniskillen Town's Matthew McAuley rises highest to get his head to a cross during Town's 6-3 win over Ballinamallard Reserves at the Lakeland Forum on Saturday.<<
Enniskillen Town 6; Ballinamallard Res 3;
Enniskillen Town manager Rory Judge was delighted with his side's performance as they came from behind to secure a 6-3 win over Ballinamallard Reserves at the Lakeland Forum on Saturday. A Cathal Beacom effort on the stroke of half time that came back off the post and hit a Mallards defender before crossing the line left the sides deadlocked at 2-2 at the interval but it was a clinical Town who were to press on in the second half to claim the three points.
"This was a very good test for us against a strong Ballinamallard side who came to play football despite a poor pitch. We showed good character in the first half to come from behind twice and in the second half we went up through the gears and I thought we were excellent," he said.
Judge felt that the goal just before half time was crucial in the overall context of the game.
"That was the most important goal of the game as it sent us in at half time on a high and we never looked back after that. We are on a good run now and it was a run we had to go on to get into contention after a bad start to the league. Hopefully now we can keep it going."
Ballinamallard player-manager Neil Coulter echoed Judge's thoughts on the goal just before the break.
"I think if we had went in at half time ahead we would have went on to win the game, there is no doubt that goal was the key one in the game," he said.
Coulter also lamented poor defending by his side, feeling that they contributed to all six of Town's goals.
"The big difference was that they took their chances, they were clinical, and we didn't but even at that we didn't help ourselves. We conceded six goals and they all came through our mistakes or a lack of concentration and that is something that we will need to address. I did not think that the end result was a fair reflection on the game," he commented.
This was to be a ding dong tussle with the Mallards having the first chance that Christopher Keenan shot over the top and the away side were to grab the lead when they were awarded a penalty by referee Arnie Hunter after Malcolm Crawford upended Keenan. Darren Higginbotham stepped up from the penalty spot and sent Town goalkeeper Nigel O'Connor the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Town began to find their feet in the game and Darren McQuade forced a good save out of Matthew Quinn in the Mallards goals before they went on to level matters on the half hour mark.
The home side worked a short corner and when the ball was crossed into the box, Ciaran Beacom was left unchallenged to get his head to the ball. The ball then came back off the crossbar but Beacom was quickest to react to tuck the ball away for the equaliser.
Gary Beckett then had a shot that was blocked by Coulter with Town claiming handball but Hunter giving nothing.
And from this the Mallards broke up the pitch where they were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Coulter took the free and he sent it crashing into the back of the Town net to regain the lead for the visitors.
There was to be one last twist though before the interval as Town levelled for a second time. With the half in added on time a slack pass was latched onto by Conor Tummon and he linked up with Gary Beckett who fed Cathal Beacom. Beacom's shot then came off the post before hitting a defender and into the back of the net to leave it all square at the interval.
The home outfit went on to take the lead six minutes into the second half as Matthew McAuley headed home a Ryan Hanna corner. Nigel O'Connor had a couple of routine saves to make as the Mallards went looking for equaliser but it was Town who were to notch their fourth as they doubled their advantage, McQuade tapping home at the back post.
And the game was put beyond the Mallards with 15 minutes to go as a Gary Ligett mistake was punished by Gary Beckett who rounded both Liggett and Coulter before slotting home left footed from just inside the box.
Town weren't finished just yet and McQuade curled home his second of the game following a mix up in the Mallards defence while Cathal Beacom then rattled the crossbar with a free kick.
Christopher Keenan did knock home a late goal for Ballinamallard but it was only a consolation score as Town claimed the points.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Feb 12
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