NFC Kesh 0 Enninskillen Town 1

Lee Brennan’s 71st minute strike settled a tight encounter at Michael Connolly Park as league leaders Enniskillen Town remained clear at the top of the table following a hard fought 1-0 win over Kesh.

Chances were at a premium at either end of the pitch but Brennan took his opportunity when it came his way and it could prove a decisive moment in the title race at the end of the season.

The win leaves Town 13 points clear in the table but both Tummery and Dergview Reserves can get to within touching distance if they can win their games in hand so there is still a long way to go yet in the battle for the Mercer Cup.

Town joint manager James McKenna was delighted to see his side come away with the three points.

“We really had to earn it, it was a tough 1-0 win away from home and that is very satisfying.

“I thought Kesh were very good and you could see that they haven’t given up on their season.

“What was pleasing from our perspective though was that we didn’t wilt under pressure, our two centre halves headed so many balls and I just thought that the boys in general did the ugly side of the game so well,” he said.

And when they did need a touch of quality it arrived in Brennan’s goal.

“Everything about the goal was outstanding. It was the one real quality move in the game,” added McKenna.

Kesh manager Ryan Campbell felt his side were worthy of a share of the spoils but had no complaints about his side’s efforts on the day after going out of the Junior Cup and Mulhern Cup in back to back weeks.

“It was fine margins, I was happy with the way we played and I had no complaints on that end of things.

“I felt that a draw was probably a fair result and neither side really had too many clear cut chances but the one they got they took. Looking back at it I thought we maybe could have cut it out but it was well taken. I felt we didn’t penetrate them enough in the final third and Town are top of the league for a reason, they know how to win games,” said Campbell.

Having exited the cups and being out of the title race, Campbell says it is about now building for next year for Kesh.

“I told the boys that there is no pressure on us now and we just want to finish as high up the league as possible. It gives us a chance to work on a few things with next year in mind,” he added.

Kesh played with the breeze at their backs in the first half as they looked to put the disappointment of their cup exits behind them.

And they controlled things in the middle of the park, enjoying plenty of possession in good areas with a number of dangerous balls put into the box although on the whole they were well dealt with by Eoin Beacom and Gary Stewart in the centre of the Town defence.

Kesh did have a shot from player manager Campbell that flew over the top while Justin Palmer got on the end of a good set piece delivery but his header was just past the post with Town goalkeeper Pat Cadden rooted to the spot.

At the other end, Town had maybe the best chance of the half when Jamal Tavares got to the byeline and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot where it was met by Cathal Beacom but his effort was saved by Kesh goalkeeper Ross McClelland as it remained goalless at the break.

The visitors rang the changes at the break as they looked to get a footing in the middle of the park and the introduction of Conall Quinn and Brendan Lilley gave them that platform while Kane Connor also made an impact when he entered the fray early in the second half.

Connor was involved straight away as he was played in down the right and flashed the ball across the six yard box but a home defender did well to turn it around the post with Tavares ready to pounce.

With 71 minutes gone though Town made the breakthrough. Brennan picked the ball up out wide near half way and he moved inside before feeding the ball out to Tavares.

Tavares then crossed into the box and Connor stepped over the ball for Brennan, who had continued his run into the box, to pass the ball beyond McClelland for 1-0.

Kesh felt they had a penalty shout for a handball but their appeals were dismissed by the referee while Connor had a chance to double the Town lead when he got on the end of a Callum Jones cross but his back post effort was just wide.

Kesh did press late on but Town, as they had throughout the game, stood firm at the back as they saw the game out to pick up a vital three points.

 

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