Enniskillen Athletic 2 Strathroy Harps 4

Enniskillen Athletic remain rooted to the foot of the Mercer League table following their 4-2 defeat at home to Strathroy Harps last Saturday.

Played in almost hurricane like conditions at times, Athletic led 2-1 at the break playing into the wind.

And only for a last ditch tackle from Strathroy’s Benny Boyle to prevent Garvan Quigley scoring it could have been 3-1 to Athletic.

Their manager, Darren Rodgers was frustrated with the final score: “We are disappointed not to get something out of the game as we played right well considering the weather was awful.

“We had a big chance to go 3-1 up and didn’t take it. And a few minutes later we had a man sent off which didn’t help,” he said, adding that his side faced another stiff test against Tummery Athletic this weekend.

With the wind howling both sides took a while to settle into the game and get control of the ball.

And it was just before the half hour mark that the visitors made the breakthrough.

A ball over the top was cut back and Ethan Kelly was on hand to fire to the net.

A number of Athletic players protested that the ball had went out but the referee ignored these and booked Conor McAloon for dissent.

The lead was a shortlived one as Athletic equalised in the 31st minute.

Colm McNally, who was causing problems for the Strathroy defence gathered the ball in the box and was able to turn and fire past the Harps goalkeeper.

And seven minutes later, McNally found the net again.

Ciarán Flaherty stopped Strathroy coming out of defence before Paddy Reihill took the ball and drove into the opposing box and it was left to McNally to apply the finishing touch to leave it 2-1 at the break.

The second half saw the teams more or less cancel themselves out for the first 25 minutes, both defences dealing with any attacking threats.

Strathroy were level on 65 minutes after McAloon fouled on the edge of the box and with it received a second yellow card and his marching orders.

From this free kick, Mark Sloan’s effort deflected off Aaron Nolan and into the net, 2-2.

Playing with the extra man, Strathroy began to dominate with Ethan Kelly in particular causing problems.

With 71 minutes played, Strathroy worked the ball down the right wing and Eoin McAnulla put a dangerous ball across the box for Callum Leonard to tap home at the back post.

10 minutes later the game was put to bed as a shot from Bailie Young managed to squirm its way across the goal line as it finished 4-2 to Strathroy who are now just three points of the top.