Enniskillen Rangers 5 Kilrea United 1

Enniskillen Rangers eased into the second round of the Irish Junior Cup as an expected tough challenge from Kilrea United, who enjoyed a very successful campaign last season, did not materialise at the Ball Range.

The win was also notable for Rangers as it marked the return of Mark Cutler who helped himself to a hat-trick having missed all of the season so far due to injury.

Rangers put the game to bed in the opening half as they bagged four goals with a stunning free kick from the visiting centre forward Denver Johnston all Kilrea could muster.

Rangers saw the game out easily in the second half as Cutler completed his hat-trick and Rangers manager Kerr brough on a number of young players who got some valuable game time and experience.

Plenty of plusses then for manager Kerr who was delighted with the result and the performance.

“All round it was very pleasing,” he said. “It was a tricky tie because they had a very good season last year but from the first whistle the boys were very good and I thought that in the first 45 minutes we wer excellent.

“Mark Cutler led the line very well and I felt that he set the tone from the front while we controlled midfield and the back four was solid.

“I could not have asked for much more than that,” said Kerr.

Rangers were on top early on opened the scoring in the opening five minutes as a well-delivered corner from the impressive Nathan Khan found Cutler unmarked 10 yards from goal and he headed home for 1-0.

The game, however, was level on 10 minutes when Johston crashed a cracking 30 yard free kick into the top corner giving Joel Peden no chance.

Rangers, though, were quickly on top again and they were soon to take a lead that they were not to relinquish.

Rangers forced another corner and while it came to nothing, Conor Rippey picked the ball up on the right side and his accurate cross found Jordan McClure who headed the ball back across the keeper and into the net.

Cutler got his second of the game midway through the half when Jason Cluff did superbly down the right and fired over a low cross which Cutler slotted home in style at the back post.

Rangers thought it was four when McClure’s effort was cleared off the line and Rainey then headed onto the crossbar as the home side felt the initial effort was over the line.

It was four and game over before the break as Cutler kept the ball in on the right, side turned inside the full back and fired over a cross that was deflected into the Kilrea net by a defender for an own goal.

On the restart, it was more of the same for Rangers. Rainey’s string running from midfield was a feature of the game and he was unlucky to not get on the scoresheet while Kilrea offered little in attack, a Ryan Deighan shot that was easily saved as close as they came.

Chris Currie curled a fine effort just wide before Cutler completed his hat-trick as he showed good control in the box and jinked past the keeper to slot into the net.

5-1 at the finish, Rangers have another home tie in the second round against Belfast Celtic Reserves, that game to be played on Saturday, October 15.

And it is one that Kerr expects to win.

“ I’m not going to lie, I fully expect us to win that game and get through to the next round,” he said.

First things first, though, and there is a return to league action this Saturday as Rangers face an away game against Killen.

And Kerr says he is reading nothing into Killen’s lowly place in the Mercer League table.

“I think that Killen are in a false positions, I know they have lost their first four games but they have some really good players and we are expecting a really hard game, as always, there,” said Kerr.