Tummery Athletic 1 Enniskillen Town 1

Enniskillen Town became the first team to take points off Tummery this season as they brought the champions’ run of ten successive wins to an end.

An own goal gave Tummery the lead in a first half that was controlled by Town, but the visitors equalised through Cathal Beacom and Manager Rory Judge was frustrated that they did not go on and get a winner.

“We should have had two more points,” said Judge.

“We would have taken a point during the week, but given the way the game panned out we were very disappointed we didn’t get all three.

“We had at least four chances in the first half, and we were disappointed we didn’t score at least three of them. They came into it a bit more in the second half, but apart from one fantastic save from Pat Cadden, they didn’t really have him scrambling in goals too much.

“ They have won ten on the bounce, so they have got some resilience, and on Saturday you could see that they wouldn’t lie down. I think their keeper was Man of the Match, and that tells the difference.”

Judge was particularly pleased given the injury problems within his squad that meant he had to draft in Cadden in goal. “It augers well for us,” he said. “I thought we were excellent throughout, especially considering we were band-aided together.

“If we can do that with taking a keeper out of retirement, and missing the likes of Frank Wallace and James McKenna, and having no centre halves at the club – if we can do that with a half team, we should be capable of a lot more with a full team.”

Tummery Manager Ryan Hanna conceded that his side were second best in the first half, but thought they did enough in the latter stages to deserve at least a point.

“It was a tight game,” he said.

“They were the better team in the first half and they had more attacking possession and more chances. We defended well, but in the second half I thought we were better and looked more dangerous.

‘More controlled’

“I thought we were more controlled in possession, and we created more chances and better chances. I can see that Rory might be disappointed they weren’t ahead in the first half, but I was definitely disappointed in the second half because we had clear chances to score again.

“I look at it as a point gained, not two points lost, against a Town team that was strong and had a lot of quality individuals who played well.”

Town started well with the first big chance of the match falling to Brendan Lilley, but his effort was saved by the legs of Niall McCrory in the Tummery goal.

The same player then fired wide, and Adam Beckett lifted a shot over the bar from close range.

Despite Town’s succession of chances, it was Tummery who took the lead when Ciaran Beacom played a diagonal ball to Lorcan McGready, whose cross was deflected into his own net by Duane Beacom.

The lead was short-lived as Town quickly levelled when Conor Tummon found Cathal Beacom, and the midfielder controlled it on his chest and volleyed past the keeper from 18 yards.

Tummery started the second half looking more of an attacking threat than in the opening 45 minutes, and Town’s returning goalkeeper, Cadden, saved a Sludden free kick, and was called on again moments later to touch a Sludden effort around the post.

At the other end, Town were still pushing forward and Beacom headed over from a corner before Shane McCabe tested the keeper with a volley from 20 yards.

In the closing minutes, Tummery had a late chance to snatch a winner, but Sludden’s effort was blocked by McCluskey, leaving the teams to share the points.