Enniskillen Rangers 0 Enniskillen Town 0

Local rivals Ennniskillen Rangers and Enniskillen Town played out a drab, scoreless draw at the Ball Range on Saturday, as both teams lacked a cutting edge and the clinical finishing necessary in the final third of the pitch to make a difference.

The stalemate does little for either team’s fading Mercer Cup hopes as Tummery and Dergview Reserves continue to set the pace at the head of the table.

Lacked passion and zest

Sadly, this encounter lacked the passion and zest that you would normally associate with these clashes, albeit it did liven up in the final 10 minutes as both teams probably realised a share of the spoils was of little use.

Town joint Manager James McKenna felt that neither side did enough to merit the three points from the game.

“There is no doubt that a draw was fair as neither side did enough to win the game. There was very little bite to the game, and it was a derby that won’t live long in the memories of those who were at it,” said McKenna, who is hoping for an improvement this week when his side have another derby, this time against Athletic.

“It’s another derby this week and hopefully this one will have more intensity to it,” he added.

Rangers player-Manager Neil Coulter agreed that it wasn’t the greatest spectacle.

“It wasn’t the greatest of games and neither did enough to win it. I think both teams were afraid to lose it instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and going for it,” he commented.

The game started quietly, Kane Connor had an early shot for Town that was blocked while at the other end, Neil Coulter got his head to the ball from a corner but this was also blocked.

Soon after, good work from Mark Cutler, as he broke in from the left, created some space for Ciaran Smith but the midfielder lifted the ball over the bar.

Conor Watson then fired a Town free kick from 20 yards on the left side over the bar.

Rangers did finish the half the stronger in terms of possession; a Stuart Rainey free into the box was spilled by keeper Gary Doherty, but fell to the feet of one of his defenders who cleared while the same player did arrow a fine effort just wide from distance.

Deadlocked

At the break, though, the game remained deadlocked with neither keeper called into real action.

Town started the stronger in the second half with Rangers losing Michael Kerr to injury with what looked like a pulled muscle.

Frank Wallace then headed over the bar from a Conall Quinn cross as chances remained at a minimum and 75 minutes had passed before a keeper was forced to make a save.

Conall Quinn’s stinging effort from outside the box was turned around the post by Joel Peden in the Rangers nets.

Peden was called into action not long after when he stopped a Dara Carty free kick, and the visitors then lost Cathal Beacom to injury following a mistimed tackle from Jake Brown that earned him a Yellow Card.

Rangers had a couple of chances at the end to snatch the spoils as Jay Keenan broke through, but he elected to pass with the first opportunity when a shot seemed on and Town cleared.

Then, right at the death, he broke into the box on the right side but his effort flew wide of the post and also the sliding in Cutler.

The final whistle sounded soon after with the points shared and, in fairness, neither team could really complain.