Enniskillen Rangers 2 NFC Kesh 1

A neat finish on the hour mark from substitute Nathan Khan deservedly sealed the points for Enniskillen Rangers against rivals NFC Kesh at the Ball Range on Saturday.

With the pitch in perfect condition this was a first defeat for Kesh player manager Ryan Campbell after taking over from Scott Robinson.

For Rangers, the win was a good bounce back from the disappointment of last week’s reverse to Beragh and just about keeps them on the coat tails of league leaders and cross town rivals Enniskillen Town, seven points behind with 10 games left.

The most pleasing thing for ‘Gers boss Michael Kerr was that response to the Beragh loss.

“The big thing we asked for was a response and we got that. We played with good intensity and physicality and we showed good quality. Overall it was a good performance,” said Kerr.

“It is three points and it brings us back into the mix, we couldn’t afford to lose it,” he added.

Kesh boss Campbell felt that it was his side’s worst display since he took over the reins.

“It was disappointing, it was the worst performance since I took over. Maybe I have to hold my hands up as I changed the formation but Rangers took full advantage and should have had the game dead and buried after 30 minutes,” he said.

And Campbell is now the manager who is calling for a reaction from his players.

“We have Maghervaeely this Saturday and the the Junior Cup and I want a big response on Saturday as they will be playing for places in the Junior,” he said.

Rangers started well and hit the woodwork in the opening minutes as Mark Culter crashed a header off the bar.

Indeed, they did not have to wait long to take the lead with Cutler involved again. This time he turned provider as he did well down the left and managed to get his cross in despite a strong challenge for Conor Rippey who slotted home for 1-0.

Rangers continued in the ascendancy with Cutler leading the line well and could have doubled their advantage only for a fine save from Smith in the Kesh goal and the intervention of the woodwork again.

Again Cutler was in the thick of things and his shot was superbly saved by Smith before hitting the post and coming back out to Stuart Rainey who then hit the other post with his effort. The ball then rolled to Jamie Robinson in the six yard box who tapped in but was given offside and the goal was disallowed.

Rainey then did superbly with a mazy run through the heart of the Kesh defence but shot straight at Smith who collected the ball easily.

Kesh were struggling to get into the game in the opening quarter and create any chances but they were to equalise in the 26th minute with their first real shot in anger.

A well worked free kick saw the ball rolled to player manager Campbell who held off the challenge of Eoin McManus to slot home in trademark fashion to level matters up.

Ciaran Brough had the final chance of the half when Smith’s clearance went straight to the midfielder whose first time effort from distance cleared all but was just wide of the empty net to leave it 1-1 at the break.

The start of the second half was a more even affair as Kesh upped the ante but the Rangers back four held firm and Joel Peden was rarely troubled in the Rangers nets. The visitors did force a couple of corners but nothing came from them.

It was a corner at the other end that was to decide the game when the ball in was only cleared as far as Khan who neatly slotted home from 14 yards to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute.

From there to the end, Rangers protected their lead with a degree of comfort, Peden fielding a few long range efforts while at the other end, the home team could not add to their tally as they took all three points to go second in the table.

Lisbellaw are next up for Rangers on Saturday and Kerr expects a tough test.

“It’s a ground that we always find tough to get a result and they are coming off the back of a big win over Derrychara so it will be difficult,” he said.