Enniskillen Rangers 2 Enniskillen Town 3

Enniskillen Town took the derby plaudits on Saturday as Frank Wallace pounced in the 92nd minute to seal a 3-2 victory for Rory Judge’s side at the Ball Range.

Both sides went into the game with 100 per cent records and there was little between them over the course of the 90 minutes.

It was the away side who had started the brighter and Eoin Beacom capitalised on a mistake by ‘Gers goalkeeper Gareth Barbour to head them in front in the ninth minute.

Rangers though finished the half well and Jason Keenan levelled with a good strike to leave it 1-1 at the break.

Stuart Rainey then pushed Rangers in front midway through the second half but that only lasted five minutes as Richard Johnston turned the ball into his net.

The winner then arrived in injury time as Town broke from a Rangers free kick and Cathal Beacom sent Wallace through with the attacker holding off a defender before arrowing a low drive to the corner.

There was time for one last twist as Mark Cutler dug out a superb cross from the right but Christopher Currie headed over as it finished 3-2.

“It was a hard fought three points and I’m delighted with the win,” said Judge. “There has been too many occasions when these games have turned into damp squibs but this was a real derby game and a lot of credit must go to Rangers.

“From our point of view though it was pleasing that the boys stood up and I suppose the late winner makes it that wee bit more special.”

That’s four wins out of four for Town as they maintained their winning start and Judge wants them to back it up again this week when they host Omagh Hospitals.

“That is now our most important game of the season. There is no point getting the win at Rangers and then dropping points the next day, so our full focus will be on this game,” he added.

‘Gers boss Michael Kerr was disappointed to have ended up empty handed from the game.

“To have come from behind to go 2-1 up with 20 minutes remaining and then to get nothing from the game having lost it at such a late stage is disappointing,” said Kerr.

“I felt that over the 90 minutes a draw was probably a fair result. We didn’t play well in the fist half but we were the better side at the start of the second half and all the goals we conceded were avoidable.

“Look, if you are going to lose it is better at this early stage than a critical point of the season and we will just look to bounce back when we take on Kesh this week. It is going to be a tough game but we have rarely dropped points in back to back games and we will be looking to get back to winning ways.” he stated.

The fact that both sides are expected to challenge this year certainly brought a bit more spice to this derby game and it was the away side who enjoyed the more positive opening period.

Cathal Beacom headed wide from a corner early on after Jake Browne had made a vial interception as Brendan Lilley had looked to pull the trigger.

And it wasn’t much longer until Town took the lead as centre half Eoin Beacom grabbed his second of the season.

There appeared to be little danger from Conall Quinn’s free kick from the right but goalkeeper Barbour misjudged the flight of the ball and having spilled the ball, Beacom was quickly on the scene to nod over the line.

At the other end, player manager Kerr had a thumping effort from distance saved by Town netminder Gary Doherty but it was the visitors who continued to carry the greater threat and Cathal Beacom again headed over from a Lilley corner while Wallace fired just wide having cut in from the right.

Town then felt that they had a good penalty shout when Cathal Beacom went over in the box from a Barbour challenge but their appeals were waved away.

As the half drew to a close though Rangers did grow more into the contest and with 38 minutes on the clock Keenan grabbed the equaliser, latching on to a through ball before firing an early shot beyond Doherty.

And the home side had the better of the exchanges at the start of the second half although neither side really created anything clear cut.

However, with 68 minutes gone it was the ‘Gers who took the lead as Currie’s ball from the left was turned home by the inrushing Stuart Rainey, the goal standing despite Town claiming that Doherty had both hands on the ball.

At this stage the home side were on top but the introduction of Mattie Dixon gave Town greater impetus and they were level by the 73rd minute.

Conall Quinn’s cross from the right was into the path of ‘Gers centre half Johnston but he miss hit his attempted clearance and sent the ball into the corner of his own net for 2-2.

Substitute Eoin McManus was close to putting Rangers back ahead with six minutes to go when he got on the end of a cross clipped into the goalmouth by Mark Cutler but he could not get over the ball enough as it went just over the bar.

Then with the game in added on time Rangers were awarded an indirect free kick after Doherty was adjudged to have chipped the ball up and caught it from a back pass.

The away side were quickly out to block the free kick and Stephen Clarke fed Cathal Beacom who broke down the right before sliding in Wallace who produced a clinical finish.

Rangers then had that last gaps chance to grab a draw but Currie’s header flew over the top as it finished 3-2.