Enniskillen Athletic 4 Derrychara United 0
Enniskillen Athletic bounced back from an opening day defeat to Dergview by firing four past league newcomers Derrychara on Tuesday evening.
Derrychara United were coming in on the back of a well-earned point against Enniskillen Rangers in their first game in the top flight, but it was Athletic who bossed proceedings and possibly could have scored more.
The first chance of the game fell to Derrychara’s Lee Glass from a cross but he fired over.
But from then on it was Athletic who looked the more dangerous side and in the 22nd minute they went in front thanks to a Luke Flanagan goal who had missed a number of opportunities beforehand.
Flanagan almost had a second but some last ditch defending kept the score at 1-0.
A good interchange between Bryan Owens, Glenn Treacy and John Joe Strain saw Strain go in one-on-one with the keeper and he tried to play in Flanagan only for a Derrychara defender to slide in and clear as it ended 1-0 at the half time whistle.
The second half continued in much the same vein as Flanagan caused a lot of problems for Derrychara with his movement and on 53 minutes he was able to cut in from the left and slot home to make 2-0.
Flanagan then became provider with just over 20 minutes to play.
He flicked the ball through for Treacy who lobbed the keeper.
Derrychara did push forward to try and break down the Athletic defence but failed to create any clearcut chances. Oliver Russell did have a shot from distance which was well saved by Ryan McNulty.
With three minutes left to play Flanagan completed his hat trick.
Gavin Greene was played in down the right wing and his well placed cross found Flanagan and he slotted the ball under the keeper as Athletic picked up their first win of the season.
For Derrychara manager, Andy Reilly, he hopes his team will have learnt from the mixed results in the opening games.
“We’ve learnt plenty in the first two games. In the first one against a good Rangers team we showed when we prepare and plan correctly we can hold our own.
“In the second one against Athletic we seen that when we turn up in the wrong mindset and don’t work as hard as they did we will get turned over. And in fairness we were lucky it was only four!
“Most of these lads haven’t played here before so in a week they’ve learnt all about Division One.
“As the old saying goes you don’t lose you just learn and we accepted at the start we will get the odd hammering so we will dust ourselves down and move on.”
Up next for Athletic is a scheduled trip to Mountfield who failed to field in their last game while Derrychara have another tough fixture against League champions Tummery Athletic.
For Derrychara manager, Andy Reilly, he hopes his team will have learnt from the mixed results.
We’ve learnt plenty in the first two games. In the first one against a good Rangers team we showed when we prepare and plan correctly we can hold our own.
"In the second one against Athletic we seen that when we turn up in the wrong mindset and don’t work as hard as they did we will get turned over. And in fairness we were lucky it was only four!
"Most of these lads haven’t played here before so in a week they’ve learnt all about Division One.
"As the old saying goes you don’t lose you just learn and we accepted at the start we will get the odd hammering so we will dust ourselves down and move on."
Up next for Athletic is a scheduled trip to Mountfield who failed to field in their last game while Derrychara have another tough fixture against League champions Tummery Athletic.
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