Enniskillen Athletic 2 Enniskillen Rangers 2

Enniskillen Athletic continued their fight for survival in Division One as they made it four games unbeaten with a battling 2-2 draw against Enniskillen Rangers.

It looked like Rangers would be taking the points but Dermot Lewsley, who had been moved from centre back to centre forward, pounced late to place the ball past Joel Peden to make it 2-2 and send the Athletic team into jubilant celebrations.

With Magheraveely losing, Athletic are now four points clear of the relegation places, but have played a game more.

For Rangers boss, Neil Coulter, there were positives and negatives to take from the game: “A draw was probably a fair result in the end.

“We battled well to get the lead but Athletic hung in and made it difficult for us.

“It was disappointing not to see the game out but we didn’t get beaten There were a lot of changes to the team so I can’t really complain.”

With Tummery up next, Coulter sees it as another game to prepare for the Mulhern Cup.

“Again it will be a difficult game. They are flying and we will have to be on our toes to try and get another positive result and get ready for the Mulhern Cup.”

Rangers started the better of the sides and could have been in front from their first attack but they failed to capitalise on a lapse in concentration in the Athletic defence.

The visitors continued to dominate and with a quarter of an hour played, they went in front.

The Athletic defence failed to deal with a corner before Connor Rippey applied the finishing touch to score against his old club.

While Rangers bossed possession, chances were limited and they could not build on their lead.

And right before the break, Athletic were level when Conor Love received the ball on the right, beat a couple of defenders before finding the bottom corner.

The second half was a much more even affair with both sides having chances to go in front.

Jason Keenan had a left-footed strike that went wide before he was played in only for his shot to be saved by Ryan McNulty.

Substitute John Joe Strain hit the post for Athletic while Jacob Britton had two good chances but he failed to hit the target.

Then with just over an hour played Rangers regained the lead.

A long ball from Peden beat the Athletic defence and Keenan was there to poke the ball past McNulty.

Athletic pushed for the equaliser they desperately needed, pushing Lewsley up top in the dying stages of the game.

The switch proved fruitful as almost immediately Britton gathered the ball and beat a man before playing in Lewsley who made no mistake and secured a valuable point for his team.

For Athletic manager, Anthony Fitzpatrick, the point was well deserved for his side.

“We deserved at least a point with our second half performance,” he said. We got closer to them and didn’t let them play.

“The only disappointing thing was the goals we gave away but this was a performance we can be build on going into the last three games.”

Up next for Athletic is another derby against Enniskillen Town while Rangers welcome Tummery to the Ball Range.