Enniskillen Rangers continued their recent goal-scoring streak, firing four goals past bottom club Castlederg United to maintain their title challenge with a 4-1 win. 

Jake Browne and Jason Keenan put the away side two ahead after 20 minutes, with Browne adding a third with 15 minutes remaining and Mark Cutler completed a routine win for in-form Rangers.

“It was a good win in very difficult conditions,” acknowledged manager Michael Kerr, who is enjoying his team’s clinical attitude in front of goal in recent weeks.

“We are hitting the net quite regularly at the minute, and let's hope it stays like that until the end of the season.

"They have been very clinical and that is very pleasing. We have hit big numbers in a few games, and it is no coincidence because we have been doing a lot of work on that over the last few months.

"That is 20 goals in the last three games, albeit against a poor side in the Junior [Cup], a Division Three side in Ballinamallard Reserves and a side on Saturday a team who was promoted last year, so I’m not looking into that too much.”

It took Rangers 10 minutes to open the scoring against a Castlederg side that has only two league wins this season.

Justin Palmer lofted a ball deep to the back post and Jordan McClure flicked it back to Ciaran Smith. The captain drove at the defence and had his first effort blocked by the keeper and his second effort cleared off the line before Browne forced the ball home.

Keenan then hit the post, but he quickly made amends for that miss by doubling Rangers’ lead on 20 minutes.

A deep cross was headed back across goal by Mark Cutler, and Keenan tapped in from close range.

Palmer was then called upon to make a last-ditch block to prevent Castlederg getting on the score sheet, but deep into the second half the result was put beyond doubt when Browne rose unmarked six yards from goal to head in.

Cutler completed the victory, pouncing on the ball after a scramble in the penalty area and finding the top corner from 15 yards.

Castlederg netted a late consolation from the penalty spot through Dylan Russell.

This Saturday sees Rangers take a break from the league as they face up to local rivals Lisbellaw United in the quarter-final of the Junior Cup, and manager Kerr is relishing the contest.

“It is a great game to be part of and we are looking forward to it,” he said.

“The two teams will know each other very well and both teams are going to be putting everything into it.

"They have home advantage and in the cup that is a big thing, but we have been going well and if we can continue on as we have been going since the turn of the year then we will be going into it in good spirits. Confident but not cocky.

"The confidence should be there because the boys are playing well, and they are scoring goals, and they are winning games. It’s a massive, massive occasion and one every player should want to be involved in.

"We will be leaving no stone unturned this week in our preparations, and we will have a game plan for Saturday. We will be going with the intention of winning the game. We will not be sitting back.”