Killen Rangers 0 Enniskillen Athletic 3

Enniskillen Athletic’s fate is in their own hands as they head in to the closing stages of Division One following an impressive 3-0 defeat of Killen last Saturday.

The win keeps Athletic just above the relegation places and they know that if they can get a win against Strathroy Harps in their final fixture they will remain in the top division for another season.

For their manager, Anthony Fitzpatrick, he was delighted with his side’s performances on the day, especially the first half.

“It was a massive three points and probably the best half of football we’ve played all season.

“We defended brilliantly and Dusty never had a save to make all game.”

Fitzpatrick was full of praise for goalscorer Love as well: “When you have Conor in the mood, who fro me is arguably the best forward in the league, you will always score goals.

“The only disappointment is we didn’t score more.”

From the first whistle the visitors were the better side and putting pressure on the Killen defence which resulted in an early goal being struck off as the referee deemed it was offside.

John Reihill and Dermot Lewsley also had chances from set pieces but could not apply the finishing touches.

Killen rarely threatened and were relying on long balls from their keeper to get them up the pitch but there were well dealt with by Aaron Nolan and Lewsley, leaving keeper Ryan McNulty with very little to do.

After 25 minutes Athletic’s pressure told and Conor Love was played through and he made no mistake to make it 1-0.

And Love doubled the advantage when he was played in down the left hand side of the box and his deflected shot looped over the Killen keeper and into the net.

The goals kept coming for Love as he completed his hat-trick when he found the roof of the net from just indie the box to make it 3-0.

Athletic took their foot off the gas in the second half with a comfortable lead but they still had chances to increase it.

Jacob Britton rattled the crossbar from a corner while John Joe Strain should have scored when put through one-on-one but the keeper kept it out.

Love had a few efforts from distance and the keeper did well to keep out a low shot from Ciarán Flaherty at the edge of the box.

But Athletic could not find that fourth goal however, it mattered little as like the first half Killen rarely threatened as it ended 3-0.