Lisnaskea Rovers 2 Ardstraw 2

Lisnaskea Rovers and Ardstraw could not be separated after 90 minutes at Castle Park Centre on Saturday as their top-of-the-table clash ended 2-2 after a late equaliser for the away side.

The draw leaves Rovers a point ahead of Ardstraw in first place, having played two extra games so far this season.

Lisnaskea were looking for an improved result from the reverse fixture which ended 5-1 to the Tyrone side in September. Rovers have strengthened since then, but they found themselves 1-0 down five minutes into the clash after a fantastic header from Andrew Baxter gave Ardstraw an early lead.

Rovers struck back 20 minutes in when Eimhin Curran fed Ryan Rooney a through ball into the box, and Rooney stayed calm to slot home the equaliser in a cagey affair.

Lisnaskea edged themselves in front ten minutes before half time as Curran again provided an assist.

This time it was to forward Brian McDermott, who found the bottom corner from close range to give his side the advantage going into the break.

Talisman McDermott was withdrawn at half time due to injury and he was replaced by Mickey Tierney, who almost made it 3-1 early into the second half, only to be denied by a fingertip save from away goalkeeper James Baxter.

Rovers ’keeper Michael McGrath was also called into action as he made a couple of vital stops to keep the score at 2-1 as both sides pushed for the next goal, knowing the importance of it.

Sean Keenan thought he had found a third, but his free kick came off the crossbar and he would go on to hit it again ten minutes later before Niall Keenan struck it for a third time.

Ardstraw’s second goal came in the 82nd minute.

A well-placed free kick from Nigel Boyd snatched a point to finish the game with a result that leaves both sides in good stead to gain promotion into Division Two.

Following the draw, Lisnaskea Rovers Manager Shane O’Donnell said: “It was a good, tight game; we missed some great chances that we should have taken.

“It was a fair enough result, another massive game this week away to Dunbreen Rovers which will be tough without Brian McDermott, but we will give our all and see what happens.”

With Rovers away to Dunbreen, Ardstraw will be eager to close the gap with a home match against Newtownstewart United.