Newtownstewart United 3-3 Enniskillen Athletic 


Enniskillen Athletic and Newtownstewart United shared a point each on the opening weekend of action in Division Two.

A brace from Tiarnan Campbell ensured Athletic began with a draw as they look to mount a push back to the Mercer League after promotion last season.

The sides were level at halftime, at 1-1, with three early goals in the second half seeing the away side go 3-2 up, however, Newtownstewart hit back to tie the game with 20 minutes remaining.

New Athletic manager Emmet Cassidy said his side shouldn’t have let their opponents back into the game: “When your 3-1 up and created the chances we did on the day, your always going to be disappointed not to come away with 3 points.

"I thought we were cruising when we went 2 goals up, but just let them back into it through a soft goal. But it’s a point on the board to start the season and it’s a difficult trip for any team travelling down there this season I’d imagine.”

United opened the scoring just after the 20-minute mark on Saturday at Vaughan’s Holm.

An Athletic corner saw the ball cleared and the hosts began a breakaway that eventually resulted in James Duffy finishing well inside the penalty area for 1-0.

There were no major chances for the remainder of the half, with the ball spending a lot of time around the middle of the park.

Athletic drew themselves level as Darrin Simpson sent an inswing corner into the area and McKenna had all the time in the world to head the ball home from six yards out to deliver a blow to the home side.

Athletic came out the second half more aggressive and it took just eight minutes of the restart for them to take the lead. McKenna picked up possession and went on a mazy run before finding the target from the edge of the box as he beat goalkeeper Dean Arnold. Just a minute later, it was 3-1.

As the ball was played back in the Newtownstewart defence, Athletic pressed high and caused an error that led to Nathan Simpson stroking the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Athletic were on top and cruising but a mistake from goalkeeper Niall McSorley saw him palm the ball towards a Turlough McNamee who had the easy task of tapping home to bring his side back into the game.

Tiarnan Mayse tied the game with just over 20 minutes to go, as a ball in behind the visitor’s defence was drilled across goal for a tap-in to make it 3-3.