Rangers back in hunt as they inflict first defeat on Tummery

Enniskillen Rangers inflicted a first league defeat of the season on holders Tummery Athletic as Michael Kerr’s side came from a goal down to secure all three points at Crawford’s Lane on Saturday.

Indeed, it was Tummery’s first league loss since November 2022, co-incidentally another 2-1 defeat at the hands of the ‘Gers, and a first home defeat since the loss to Killen in March 2022.

Rangers boss Kerr acknowledged that this was a must-win for his side and it certainly sees things bunched up at the top of the table. Tummery are level with Enniskillen Town on 27 points although the Dromore side have played a game less while Enniskillen Rangers are a point adrift having played the same amount of games as Town.

And lurking just behind them are Kesh who are three points adrift of Rangers but have two games in hand.

“This was a game we had to win if we wanted to challenge for the title. If we had lost it we were out of it,” admitted Kerr.

“We know it was a big win and that is back-to-back wins after a poor December but we can’t get too carried away as it is only three points and we have to continue to build on that.”

Rangers will have the chance to climb into second spot this weekend as the big games keep coming for Kerr’s outfit with a derby encounter with second-placed Town.

“This is the big Enniskillen derby and will always be one of the biggest games of the season regardless of where the sides are in the league.

“The fact that it is second against third adds even more spice to it and there will be nothing asked or given.

“We won the last league game and I’m sure that they will want to put that right so it will be a hard game but we will be targeting another three points,” added Kerr.

Tummery player-manager Ryan Hanna was disappointed to see his side lose their unbeaten record and he felt it was Rangers ability to take their chances that proved decisive on the day.

“It’s disappointing to lose but it was going to come to an end at some stage. I felt it was a day for taking chances and Rangers took theirs better than us.

“I was happy with the performance, just not the result,” he said.

Hanna though will be hoping that his side can get back to winning ways this Saturday when they take on Magheraveely.

“We’ll be looking to bounce back and hopefully get the win but we know that it will be another tough game against Magheraveely,” he stated.

Saturday’s clash was nip and tuck throughout but it was the home side who drew first blood as a ball from the right made its way through to Colm Garrity and he finished past Joel Peden in the Rangers goal.

However, the away side were back on level terms ten minutes later as Connor Rippey’s ball into the box was eventually latched on to by Jason Keenan who fired left-footed across Niall McCrory in the Tummery goal and into the corner of the net.

Tummery then had a great chance to get their noses back in front but Gerard Duddy shot into the side-netting from a lovely ball from Garrity.

It was Rangers though who took the lead ten minutes before the interval. Joel Byrne started the move into the middle of the park before Keenan pushed the ball out to Mark White on the right-hand side. And White’s delivery was met by Byrne who had continued his run with the attacker side-footing home for 2-1.

Tummery did push for an equaliser after this and player-manager Hanna had two efforts saved from the edge of the box while Paul McHugh had a shot deflected out for a corner as it remained 2-1.

The second half was a real battle with little in the way of clear-cut chances at either end. As the half progressed Rangers were happy to defend in numbers and hold on to what they had but Tummery did have a big opportunity to snatch a draw late on when Tommy Mullan’s cross picked out Aidy McCaffrey but he headed over when well placed as Rangers saw out the remainder of the game to claim the points.