NFC Kesh 2 Strathroy Harps 2
NFC Kesh secured their first point of the season on Tuesday night at home to Strathroy Harps - but manager Scott Robinson felt that they should have picked up all three from the contest.
Kesh got their campaign underway on a disappointing note on Saturday when they lost 1-0 away to Beragh Swifts but they looked to be bouncing back from this loss as goals from Ryan Campbell and Dylan Aiken but them 2-0 up at the break on Tuesday night.
And the home side remained on top after the break but with 12 minutes left on the clock Strathoy levelled through Ballard and the visitors then swooped in added on time through substitute Wood to snatch a share of the spoils.
“The performance was miles better than it was on Saturday.
“We pressed better, showed more commitment and work rate and I felt we deserved more than we got out of the game but we missed chances to go further ahead and things like this happen when you don’t take them,” said Robinson who will look to take the positives out of this game into Saturday’s meeting with an Enniskillen Town side who have hit the ground running with resounding wins over Mountjoy and Magheraveely.
“I think the display against Strathroy gives us something to build on and hopefully we can kick on.
"We know though that we face a tough test on Saturday against a Town team who have started the season well,” added Robinson.
Keen to make up for the disappointment of Saturday, Kesh started the game on the front foot with Campbell, Aiken and Nathan Cashel all having early opportunities.
And there was no great surprise when, with 20 minutes gone, the home side opened the scoring. Cashel and the lively Lee Walker were involved in the build up before the ball was played to the evergreen Campbell who made no mistake in finishing to the bottom corner of the net.
Kesh went on to double their advantage on the half hour mark with Aiken bagging his first goal for the club. Walker again played his part in the goal as he put the former Dergview striker through one on one and he rounded the goalkeeper before rolling into the empty net.
Indeed, it could have been even better for Kesh but Cashel’s header crashed off the bar as it remained 2-0 at the break.
The North Fermanagh outfit had chances to put the game to bed early in the second half but Aiken lifted the ball over the bar after being put through by Callum Frempong while Walker fizzed an effort past the post.
However, the away side were given hope 12 minutes from time when Kesh goalkeeper Stefan McCusker could only palm a cross out into the path of Ballard and he returned it back past the home custodian for 2-1.
And Strathroy were back on level terms in the 91st minute when a cross into the box resulted in Woods slotting home to make it 2-2.
Kesh did have a last gasp chance to take all three points but Campbell was denied by the visitors keeper as the sides had to be content with a point apiece.
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