Enniskillen Town 1 Magheraveely 0

Enniskillen Town bounced back from last week’s derby loss to Enniskillen Rangers to stretch their lead at the top of the Mercer League out to seven points as Duwayne McManus’ first-half goal sealed the points for the table toppers against Magheraveely at St. Michael’s Pavillion on Saturday – the only game in the top flight to survive the wintery conditions.

However, with Enniskillen Rangers and Tummery Athletic both having games in hand on the leaders, it promises to be an exciting second half of the season in the race for the Mercer Cup.

Town joint Manager James McKenna says his side deserved to take the points.

“We were happy enough with the performance; it was an improvement on the Rangers game the week before, but while we were on top, they were always in the game as long as it was 1-0.

“I don’t think Pat [Cadden] had a save to make but we never felt totally confident,” he said.

And McKenna believes that coming through a game like that will only stand to the players.

“You need to be able to come through these 1-0 games and see them out and we did that, which was pleasing. It was good to get a clean sheet and obviously the important thing was to get back to winning ways,” he added.

Town are scheduled to travel to Mountjoy this weekend in their final game before the Christmas break and McKenna is hoping that it does not fall victim of the weather.

“We want to play every week, so hopefully it will go ahead. Mountjoy away won’t be easy but we want to go and finish the year with another win,” he said.

The first half was a scrappy affair with Magheraveely posing a threat from set pieces, although the best chance in the early stages fell to the home side.

Lee Brennan worked a short free kick before getting an effort in on goal but this was tipped over the bar by Magheraveely goalkeeper Smith.

The breakthrough though came for the home side from a swift attack from a Magheraveely corner.

Cadden gathered possession from the cross and he quickly set Brennan away. Brennan then squared the ball to the edge of the box for McManus and his shot took a slight deflection en route to the back of the net to make it 1-0 at the break.

Town continued to control matters in the second half and Frank Wallace had a great chance to double the lead, but his close-range header from a Conor Watson cross was wide of the post.

Kane Connor was then slipped through but he scuffed his shot and it was saved by Smith, while Town also had a strong penalty appeal when McManus appeared to be pulled back in the box, but the referee did not see the offence and waved away the appeals.

In the end though, McManus’ first-half strike was enough to secure the points for the home side.

 

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