Rampant Rangers run riot at Ball Range

Enniskillen Rangers strolled into round three of the Irish Junior Cup as new player-Manager Neil Coulter bagged his first win since succeeding Michael Kerr.

Jay Keenan top scored with five goals as Rangers never looked back after a flurry of goals before the half time interval put this game to bed as a contest, thereby allowing Rangers to ease into the draw for the next round.

New boss Neil Coulter was delighted to get a first win under the belt, with a few goals to boot.

“Delighted to get the win and the boys put the work in during the week. We were ready for the game and we knew it was the beginning of possibly another journey in the Junior.

“We have had plenty of success in recent years but we’ll take it game by game.

“It is nice to be in the next round and to score a few goals is pleasing. I thought our performance in the first half was average enough, but we were much better in the second half and scored some good goals.”

Coulter added: “The win was important and we want to take this form into the league now.

“Last week, I said I thought the performance was good but not the result. So hopefully this win will allow us to push on.

“It was a bonus to have Cripper Currie and Michael [Kerr] himself in the squad. Experienced players at this level add a big difference and they will be vital, going forward.”

Dominated

Rangers pretty much dominated from the start, as Richard Johnston started in midfield with Phillip Beacom and Coulter in the centre of the defence.

Indeed, Johnston had an early chance, as did Jake Brown, but neither could find the net.

Rangers did take the lead though when Mark Cutler set up Keenan, who would score the first of his five goals as the Ball Range side took an early lead.

Disaster struck at the other end, however, as a long ball caused confusion in the defence and keeper Josh Brownlee miscontrolled the ball, leaving Shea Domican with the easiest of chances as he tapped the ball into an empty net to level the match up.

Rangers though soon reasserted and Keenan thought he had restored the lead only for offside seeing the goal disallowed while Keenan then had two bites at the cherry both of which were blocked before Coulter forced the ball over the line for 2-1.

Rangers were to add to their lead before the interval as Drumaness struggled to contain Stuart Rainey down the left and Mark Cutler down the right, with Currie pulling all the strings in the middle of the park.

Currie went on a mazy run and squared for Keenan, but the shot was saved well by Peter Kearney in the Drumaness nets before Keenan did add to his tally after being set up by good play from Rainey and Johnston.

Then, before the interval, Cutler made it 4-1 as he got on the end of a Rainey cross.

On the restart Keenan completed his hat-trick with a quality finish with Rainey again to the fore in the build-up before the visitors pulled a goal back as Ryan Walsh set up Domican for 5-2.

From there to the end, though, it was all Rangers as Keenan bagged another two goals to make it 7-2, producing neat finishes on both occasions.

Cutler then rattled one in at the near post with a fine strike before substitute Ciaran Brough waltzed through to make it 9-2.

It was double figures Cutler turned provider for Rainey to score, and the hard-working Jake Brown rounded off the scoring to make it 11-2.

A facile win for the ’Gers, tougher tasks will lie ahead.