Dergview Reserves 2 Enniskillen Town 4

A strong finish to 2023 has seen Enniskillen Town put themselves firmly in the title picture in the Mercer League.

A 5-0 hammering at home to Killen Rangers at the end of September has proven to be a turning point for Rory Judge’s charges as they have picked up 16 out of a possible 18 points since then in the league to sit one point behind leaders Tummery Athletic in the table.

This would look to be one of the most open title races in quite some time with only five points separating the top six teams in the league and should lead to an exciting second half of the season when the action gets back underway in the New Year.

Town rounded off 2023 with a 4-2 win away to Dergview but Judge admits that the game was nowhere near as comfortable as the scoreline suggest.

“It was a strange one,” said Judge. “We got off to the perfect start when we scored in the first minute but they then battered us for 45 minutes. I was just hoping to hold out to half time and get us regrouped and then against the run of play we got a second on the stroke of half time. We could not have had any complaints if we went in 4-2 at half time but instead we were 2-0 up.

“In fairness we gained a measure of control in the second half and created a lot of chances and in the end we were just delighted to get the three points.”

And Judge is happy with where his side are going into the New Year.

“We had a tough run of four or five games there to end the year but we came through it. Our mid term target would have been to try and win our last three games and see where we are after that and we did that and we’re happy to be sitting where we are,” he added.

Town got off to the ideal start to the encounter as they took the lead in the first minute as Brendan Lilley’s through ball sent Frank Wallace scurrying through and he slipped the ball past the defender before firing beyond the keeper for 1-0.

It was all Dergview though after this with striker Dylan Aiken giving the Town defence a difficult time.

However, a mixture of good goalkeeping from Gary Doherty and wayward shooting from Dergview saw Town cling on to their slender advantage.

Town were relieved to see Aiken replaced by the home side after he picked up a knock and in added on time at the end of the first half the visitors doubled their lead as they took advantage of a mistake at the back by the home outfit and although Cathal Beacom’s initial shot was saved, Darren Freeman was on hand to tuck home.

Town rejigged things at the interval and this saw them get on top but it was their turn then to be wasteful in front of goal and when Dergview pulled a goal back with just over half an hour to play it was game on.

However, Town responded to restore their two goal lead as substitute Kane Connor fired home from close range two minutes after his introduction following good work by Conall Quinn.

Freeman then wrapped up the points for Town with their fourth and although Ivan Sproule bagged a late second for Dergview it was only a consolation score as the away side left with the spoils.