Lisbellaw United 0 Enniskillen Town 2

Duwayne McManus and Frank Wallace bagged second half goals to send Enniskillen Town nine points clear at the top of the Mercer League with a 2-0 win away to Lisbellaw on Saturday.

And it was a performance that pleased Town joint manager James McKenna as they get ready for this Saturday’s big derby encounter against Enniskillen Rangers at the Ball Range.

“I was happy with the performance in both halves. We looked a lot more solid than we did last week and I thought our concentration levels were much better than last week as well.

“We limited their chances while created chances of our own and the most pleasing thing was to keep a clean-sheet because if we do that I think we always have the ability to score at least one goal,” he said.

However, he is expecting a big examination this Saturday against a Rangers side that come into the game in a food run of form, including victory over Tummery last Saturday.

“It is a massive test. Rangers are playing very well now after a poor start and that was simply down to unavilability of players at the start of the season.

“We are under no illusions about how difficult a game it is going to be and we suffered at the Ball Range on our last visit there in the cup last season.

“But, these are the games that you want to be involved in.

“When I was growing up the Town v Rangers were always the big one and we are looking forward to it,” he said.

Lisbellaw had battled gamely throughout the game but manager Kyle McCleery had no complaints about the outcome.

“Town had a lot more pssession than us and we struggled to break them down.

“I had to call up three or four reserve players as we were down to the bare bones but the lads who came in did very well so that is a positive to come out of it.

“We can’t though have any complaints about the result, Town were deserving winners,” he said.

Town controlled the possession in the first half and had a big chance to take the lead when the ball fell to Kane Connor close to goal but he fired over the bar.

The home side had an opportunity of their own when Paul Elliott teed up Robbie Little but his effort was tipped around the post by Town netminder Pat Cadden as it remained goalless at half time.

The ‘Law thought they had taken the lead after the break when Little slotted home but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside and when the game started to open up Town took the lead.

The instrumental Cathal Beacom did well to fire the ball across the goal and McManus expertly finished for 1-0.

The lead was then doubled when a McManus free kick was not fully cleared and Wallace slotted home from the edge of the box.

Beacom then went close to a third only to be denied by a fine save from Sam McDonald but Town already had the points in the bag as they finished up 2-0 victors.