Enniskillen Rangers 4 Enniskillen Town 0

A Mark Cutler finishing masterclass fired Enniskillen Rangers into the semi-final of the Mulhern Cup as they easily put cross town rivals Enniskillen Town to the sword at the superbly prepared Ball Range on Saturday.

Cutler struck three times in the first half with some unerring finishing to all but end the game as a contest before adding a fourth in the second half with Jason Keenan missing a penalty and Gary Doherty making a couple of fine stops to keep the scoreline at four.

In truth, the much anticipated derby clash never materialised as a lethargic Town were second best all over the pitch and with Cutler taking his chances with aplomb, there was only going to be one winner from early on.

Rangers were superb throughout the field with all their players on the top of their game, the only blemish being a couple of nasty looking injuries to player manager Neil Coulter and Richie Johnston.

Coulter was though delighted with his side’s display on the day.

“It was a very pleasing performance, I thought the boys started on the front foot and once we got the first goal we never looked back.

“We know Town are a good footballing side so it was important to keep the foot on the pedal and the boys did that,” he said.

Coulter also had praise for his four goal hero.

“Mark showed great composure and he took his four goals really well. He was excellent and he could have had another couple as well,” added Coulter.

For Town, it was a disappointing day at the office with joint manager James McKenna feeling his side lacked the same bite that Rangers brought to the game.

“It was very disappointing, it was a complete non-performance from us.

“You have to give Rangers credit, they brought that bite and intensity that you would expect in a derby game, and we didn’t.

“In every aspect, and all areas, they were better than us and 4-0 definitely didn’t flatter them,” he said.

Town probably started the brighter, the industrious Darren Freeman creating a few problems but he delayed when well placed in the box and Rangers cleared.

Rangers started to get a grip in midfield and as referee Dermot Monaghan waved play on after a midfield clash, Jason Keenan played in Cutler who finished low past Doherty to give Rangers the lead on ten minutes.

Cutler doubled the Rangers lead not long after latching on to a Nathan Khan ball over the top to hold off Conor Tummon before firing low across Doherty into the bottom corner.

Cutler could have scored a third when he headed over from a corner but he did get the crucial third before the break as Jason Keenan’s crossed from the right and Stuart Rainey’s shot broke to Cutler six yards from goal and he slotted home as Town appealed for offside.

Town had an early chance on the restart but Freeman pulled his shot wide of the post and the game was then ended as a contest.

Stuart Rainey did superbly down the left hand side, getting past three Town players and he cut the ball back from the byline for Cutler who headed home his fourth unchallenged.

From there to the end, Rangers could have added to their tally when Keenan failed to convert from the penalty spot when Rainey was adjudged to have been fouled as he was about to head home from close range, Doherty saving the spot kick well to his right side.

Then Town netminder Doherty made a fine double save to deny Ciaran Brough and Keenan while at the other end Town did create a few half chances, the best of which fell to Johnny Hoy but he scuffed his effort past the post as the visitors failed to trouble Joel Peden in the Rangers’ net.

At the final whistle, there could be little complaint with the final score with Connor Rippey, Stuart Rainey, Ciaran Smith and of course Cutler instrumental in a fine win for Rangers who will now look forward to a semi-final clash with Mountjoy or Magheraveely.