Beragh Swifts 2 Enniskillen Rangers 3

Enniskillen Rangers bounced back from their defeat to Lisbellaw United last Tuesday night as they recorded their first win of the campaign with a 3-2 victory away to Beragh Swifts on Saturday.

Michael Kerr’s charges twice had to come from behind in the game before Jason Keenan popped up with the winner with ten minutes to go to seal the points for the visitors.

“It was pleasing to bounce back after the loss to Lisbellaw on Tuesday night and it’s a relief to get that first win as you don’t want that dragging on,” said Kerr.

“Beragh is never an easy place to go and get a result so hopefully this win gives the boys confidence moving forward.”

Rangers had started the game relatively well and Jordan McClure threatened with a curling effort that Beragh goalkeeper Peter Ward pushed around the post.

However, it was the home side who were to go on and take the lead. Rangers midfielder Nathan Khan was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box and Eamon McGrath stepped up to convert from the spot past ‘Gers custodian Joel Peden.

The away side though responded well to falling behind and they were soon back on level terms. Ciaran Brough cut in from the right and although his shot was pushed on to the post by Ward, Jason Cluff was following up to slot home the rebound for 1-1.

Beragh, though, were to regain the lead after the break with McGrath again the scorer for Swifts.

Richard Johnston gave away a free kick on the edge of the box and McGrath’s effort took a slight deflection which wrong footed Peden as the ball nestled in the back of the net for 2-1.

However, back came Rangers as they equalised for a second time. Substitute Jason Keenan pressed well to win back possession for the visitors and he fed Khan who fired the ball to the top corner.

Keenan then had the chance to put Rangers ahead. Mark White pulled the ball back into Keenan’s path but with the goal at his mercy he fired over the top.

The striker though made amends with ten minutes to go as he fired Rangers in front.

White was again involved as he fed Keenan and his strike hit the far post and went back across the goal and over the line to put them into a 3-2 lead.

Rangers finished the game with ten men following the dismissal of Stuart Rainey but they were able to see it out to claim the points.

Next up is a meeting with Strathroy at the Ball Range on Saturday and Kerr expects another tough game.

“We have Strathroy and then Dergview so it will be tough difficult games for us.

“We also lost Neil Coulter (injury) and Stuart Rainey (suspension) for the Strathroy game but the big plus for us was to have Richie Johnston back on the pitch on Saturday, that was a great boost for everybody and hopefully we will have a couple of others back for next week as well,” he added.