Enniskillen Athletic 5 Lisbellaw United 2

Enniskillen Athletic boosted their hopes of survival in Division One as they produced a dominant display at the Lakeland Forum last Saturday.

The 5-2 win now puts them just one point off third from bottom Magheraveely with six games left to play.

For Anthony Fitzpatrick, Athletic manager, he felt his team were deserving winners and it could have been by more only for poor decision making.

“I thought we were good value for the three points,” he said. “And we could have and should have won by more only for our decision making in the final third, especially in the first half.

“But I am delighted with the performance and the shift the boys put in.”

The home side started brightly, dominating possession without opening up any clear cut chances.

Conor Love had attempts at goal while Paddy Reihill almost acrobatically got on the end of a corner but it was at the other end where the deadlock was broken.

A break down the right hand side of the box from Paul Elliott saw him fire the ball across the box but Athletic keeper, Ryan McNulty could only fumble it into the path of Paul McGrath who had a simple tap in, 1-0 with 15 minutes played.

Lisbellaw had a spell of pressure and McGrath could have had a second only for a last gasp block from Sean Reihill before the sides were level when Ciarán Flaherty found the net from a corner after 23 minutes.

With less than five minutes until the half Athletic took the lead when a cross into the box was controlled by Ryan Finch who teed up Love to fire to the bottom corner, 2-1 at the break.

It was scrappy resumption to proceedings in the second half as neither team could get a foothold on the game.

With an hour played, Lisbellaw were level as a dangerous free kick from Sam Lindsay was not dealt with properly and McGrath was on hand to rattle the net.

Athletic pushed on looking for a goal to take the lead and they nearly had it through a wonderful strike from Paddy Reihill which look destined for the top corner only for Gary Hickey in the Law goals to tip it on to the crossbar and out for a corner.

It was 3-2 after 68 minutes when Sean Reihill tapped in a cross at the back post.

With less than five minutes to play Love was upended by Jamie Coalter as he was through on goal and Darren Rodgers made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Love then sealed the win with his second of the day when he was put through by Flaherty before firing across the keeper into the bottom corner to make it 5-2.

Lisbellaw manager, Kyle McCleery, felt his side never turned up on the day: “Athletic were much hungrier and with the two late goals maybe the scoreline was a bit harsh on us.

“But truthfully we didn’t deserve anything from the game.

“We need to regroup and focus on a huge game at home to Omagh Hospitals on Saturday.”

Whilst Lisbellaw host Omagh Hospitals, Athletic will be hoping to keep building momentum with a home game against Beragh Swifts.