Enniskillen Town 1 Dergview Reserves 2

Enniskillen Town suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season as they lost 2-1 to Dergview Reserves.

Dergview made a perfect start taking the lead with a first-minute Dylan Aiken goal, and added a second from Ethan Nethery in the second half, with Ethan Beresford’s free kick unable to inspire a late Town fightback.

Town manager Rory Judge felt his side were the better team on the day, but their wastefulness in front of goal cost them the points.

“It was a smash and grab from them,” he said. “We missed enough chances to win three games. It seems to be a problem we have at the moment.

"It was a bad goal we gave away and then we were all over the place for the first 15 or 20 minutes and they could have scored again, but after that, I thought we were pretty much in control for the rest of the game.

"Their keeper has had an inspired afternoon, but we were guilty of some very bad misses. I counted at least five very good chances in the first half alone and the second half was worse again.

"We are knocking at the door at the minute but we are just not taking our chances. We are creating, so that is a good thing, but nothing is going right at the minute. It was a hard one to take.”

Town were the last team to beat Dergview in the league back in December, but the visitors made the perfect start in trying to avenge that loss with a first-minute goal.

Town lost possession from the kick-off and Warner Ballantyne’s shot was saved by Gary Doherty, but Nathan Tierney hesitated in his clearance and Dylan Aiken took advantage to score from close range.

Dergview continued to hold the upper hand as Town struggled to cope with the early setback, but as the half wore on the home team looked increasingly dangerous.

Frank Wallace had the best chance of the half, but with the goalkeeper and defender both on the ground, the striker fired his shot at the prone defender and Dergview were able to clear.

Town continued to press forward in the second half, but they were hit by a breakaway goal.

Ivan Sproule held up the ball on the halfway line, and he found Ethan Nethery, who ran through and slotted past Doherty.

Beresford pulled a goal back with eight minutes remaining with a curling free kick, but Town could not find an equaliser before time ran out.

After the defeat, Town boss Judge conceded his side are now out of the league title race and are turning their focus to the Mulhern Cup, where they face local rivals Enniskillen Rangers on Saturday.

“The league is completely gone now so all of our focus has to be on this week,” he said.

“The league was probably gone for a number of weeks now but we still have plenty to play for with the Mulhern, albeit it is a tricky route to get back to the final.

"I don’t think I have ever suffered three defeats in a row, and I will be doing my best to make sure that doesn’t happen. It is a formidable task for us.

"The fact Rangers are going ahead and playing the game tells its own story, because they would have had the option of taking a free week to prepare for the Junior like Tummery have done, but they have forgone that.

"That tells you they think we are there for the taking and they are not too concerned about playing us before the Junior.

"We have to hammer that message home to the lads. I am glad we have the slight advantage of being at home, but it is going to be a tough task. We beat them last year in the Mulhern and they will probably look to turn that around.

"I’m hoping that we play as well as we did on Saturday, but obviously take a few more of our chances. They are definitely one step ahead of Dergview, but it is a derby match so we will see.”