Tummery Athletic 1

Enniskillen Rangers 1

Unbeaten sides Tummery Athletic and Enniskillen Rangers had to be content with a point apiece at Crawford’s Lane on Saturday as their top of the table clash finished in a 1-1 draw.

A well struck Conor Watson free kick had put league champions Rangers in front late in the first half but Tummery responded immediately as Aidy McCaffrey converted from the spot to leave it 1-1 at half time.

And with neither side able to find a second half winner, they had to settle for a share of the spoils with both sides keeping their unbeaten start to the season in tact.

Rangers manager Mickey Kerr was satisfied with the point from the game.

“I’m happy with the point and it was a much better performance than it was the week before against Town.

“I was disappointed not to have gone in ahead at half time as we had a couple of good chances that we didn’t take although in saying that Tummery hit the bar in the first half.

“Neither side really threatened in the second half. Yes, both sides wanted to win but obviously they didn’t want to lose either. “Maybe we could have won it but Tummery might think the same and over the 90 minutes the draw was probably the right result,” said Kerr.

Tummery boss Gerry Love also had no complaints with the outcome and felt the draw was a good result for his side.

“I don’t see it as two points dropped but a point gained as we were playing against a side that won the league last year and Junior Cup this last two years.

“Rangers came into the game on the back of a tough derby the week before and that left them in good stead for this game while we had no game so I was pleased with how we did. I was also happy with how we restricted their front three who are very dangerous,” said Love.

There wasn’t much between the two sides throughout Saturday’s encounter although the home side did go close to taking the lead in the 18th minute when Cathal Beacom hit the crossbar.

At the other end, Mark Cutler had a good chance for the ‘Gers but he blasted over the bar while Christopher Currie then had a shot on target but his effort was saved by Chris Catterson in the Tummery goal.

It was the visitors though who were to go on and take the lead in the 43rd minute as Conor Watson clipped a 25 yard free kick over the wall and beyond Catterson for 1-0.

The lead only lasted moments though as Tummery hit straight back. Rangers goalkeeper Jerome Carleton was penalised for a push on McCaffrey as he attempted to usher the ball over the line for a goal kick.

McCaffrey dusted himself down to slot home the subsequent penalty and leave it 1-1 at the interval.

The second half was a tight affair with neither side giving up much in the way of clear cut chances.

Willie Burleigh did have an opportunity for Rangers but he nodded wide from a Stuart Rainey cross while Emmet McNabb then raced in from the right for Tummery but he slipped his effort just past the post as the game finished 1-1.

Next up for Rangers is an away game against Lisbellaw on Saturday while Tummery are at home to Beragh.