Enniskillen Rangers 2 Strathroy Harps 0

Goals from player manager Michael Kerr and Mark Cutler helped champions Enniskillen Rangers to the points as they made it two wins out of two at the start of the defence of their title.

Kerr's side enjoyed the better of the exchanges over the course of the 90 minutes and he was in no doubt that they deserved the points on offer against one of their main rivals for the Mercer Cup.

"I thought we controlled things throughout the game and that we were the better side.

"We dominated the first half and they then had a good bit of possession in the second half after we got our second goal but our goalkeeper only really had the one save to make throughout the game and as far as I would be concerned, the result was never in doubt," said Kerr.

It was also another clean-sheet for the 'Gers and Kerr says that is something that they have targeted.

"That's clean-sheets in the two league games as well as the Kennedy Cup so that is pleasing and it was something that we have spoken about on numerous occasions. I always feel that going forward we will score and if we are also keeping clean-sheets then we are going to be very hard to beat. To have won our first two games in the league and not to have conceded is pleasing but we are very aware that it is only early days, " he added.

Rangers though are now going to have a bit of a wait for their third league game which won't be played until October 20.

"There is no game this week because of the international game and then there is two weeks for the Junior Cup. After that we have two teams with free weekends and then it is another round of the Junior Cup. It is very frustrating as everyone wants to be playing games but it is nobody's fault and we just have to get on with things. We will try and play a few friendlies and get the boys games," he commented.

The home side started the game on the front foot and Harps' goalkeeper Thomas Antczak was called into action early on to make a fine stop to deny Jason Keenan.

However, with 15 minutes gone, the 'Gers did bag the opener and it was from a wonderful strike from Kerr. A set piece delivery from Turley fell to Kerr on the edge of the box and he produced a superb effort with the outside of the left foot that flew into the top corner for 1-0, giving Antczak no chance.

Strathroy's best chance of the half fell to striker Tommy Murphy when he was put through one on one with Rangers goalkeeper Jerome Carleton but it was the netminder who won the battle as it remained 1-0.

The home outfit continued to enjoy the better of things as the half drew to a close but other than a Christopher Currie shot that was pushed away they didn't really threaten a second.

However, they did go on to double their advantage three minutes into the second half as Cutler found the net.

A good move saw Turley pick out Rainey and his cross was met by Cutler who headed back across the goal to the corner for 2-0.

Strathroy did have more of the ball after this as they searched for a way back into the contest but they struggled to create anything clear cut or to work Carleton in the Rangers goal with the closest they came to pulling a goal back a Benny Boyle header that was over the top.

And in the end Rangers saw out the game comfortably as they finished up 2-0 victors.