Mountfield 2 Tummery Athletic 6

Tummery Athletic maintained their chase of Enniskillen Town at the top of the Mercer League with a convincing victory over Mountfield. The home team came into the match in confident mood with only one defeat in their last eight matches, but it was title chasing Tummery that raced into a two goal lead after half an hour and never looked back.

Paul McHugh and Martin Hughes had given Tummery the early advantage, and although James Carlin pulled a goal back for Mountfield before half time, further goals from Emmett McNabb, Hughes and a brace from Paudie Dillon secured the points.

Tummery manager Ryan Hanna was frustrated with his team’s first half efforts, but felt they were much improved after the half time interval.

“In the first half I thought we were a bit passive,” he admitted. “Mountfield have probably been one of the form teams over the last five or six weeks and we knew they were going to be aggressive and play with a high intensity.

“Even though we went 2-0 up I thought we were passive, and they got back into it. We put together some nice passages of play and played some neat football, but I didn’t like the intensity we had.

“In the second half we addressed it and I think it was a totally different game. We were the more aggressive team, we won our second balls and we were quicker to it. We got the third and after that we were fairly comfortable and took our chances well. I was pleased with the outcome in the end, and pleased with our second half performance.”

Tummery broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Paul McHugh edged in front of a defender to divert Aidy McCaffrey’s corner in at the front post. McNabb then created the second on the right wing, crossing for Hughes who headed in the rebound after his initial effort was saved.

James Carlin pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after a Blain Campbell foul, but McNabb restored their two goal advantage early in the second half when he collected a long clearance and lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

Substitute Paudie Dillon then blasted into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area before John McCullagh scored a second for Mountfield.

Moments later the home side was reduced to ten men when Joe McCarroll received a second yellow card, and Tummery took advantage with two late goals. Martin Hughes tapped in after McAnespie had saved Dillon’s shot, and Dillon completed the scoring when he collected a pass from Tommy Mullin and drilled a low shot past the keeper into the far corner.

The win lifts Tummery to within 11 points of leaders Enniskillen Town with three games in hand.

 

Start your digital subscription in our Easter sale. Enjoy your first month for just £1 and stand a chance of winning egg-citing prizes. Click here to subscribe