Orchard Farm 3 Fivemiletown II 0

Orchard Farm retained their place in Division Two for next season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over already relegated Fivemiletown.

The Tempo side knew only a win would save them from relegation, and they delivered the result they needed thanks to goals from Seamus Quigley, Ruairi McGuiness and Jordan Newell.

Manager Stewart Armstrong was a relieved man as they lifted themselves above Lisnaskea in the final league table, consigning Rovers to Division Three for the 2022/23 season.

“It is a big weight lifted off our shoulders,” he admitted.

“It was a local derby against Fivemiletown and we thought it would be feisty from the first minute, but that didn’t materialise at all. It was a comfortable afternoon. The boys gave it everything and I think we deservedly stayed up.

“We picked up points in half our games and a lot of the defeats were by fine margins. Over the course of the season, I think we deserved to stay up.

“We will look forward to the cup competition now and we will try to rebuild for next season.”

With a lot at stake Orchard Farm struggled to impose themselves in the early part of the game, but as the first half progressed they started to dominate the match, with striker Seamus Quigley twice heading over the bar when well placed.

The early nerves were settled in the 16th minute when they took a deserved lead.

Ian Carson’s long ball caused confusion in the Fivemiletown defence, and Quigley was quick to pounce on the loose ball and slot past the keeper to give Orchard Farm the lead.

Fivemiletown were restricted to several long range efforts that were easily gathered by Carson, while the home team continued to threaten, with Quigley and McGinley both spurning good opportunities and David Carson firing over the bar from six yards out.

Ten minutes before the half time interval Orchard Farm doubled their advantage when McGuinness converted Ryan Dunlop’s cross at the back post.

Jordan Newell had an acrobatic effort kept out by Harper in the Fivemiletown goal, but five minutes from time he found a way past the keeper, turning in Scott Armstrong’s cross at the back post to secure Orchard Farm’s survival