Irvinestown Wanderers 0 Enniskillen Rangers 3 

Enniskillen Rangers extended their unbeaten run this season with a 3-0 victory over Irvinestown Wanderers.

Jordan McClure opened the scoring in the twelfth minute, with Mark Cutler and Kyle Deery sealing the win with second-half strikes.

Rangers’ manager Michael Kerr believed his side were good value for the win.

“I thought we were definitely deserved winners,” he said.

“We were one-nil up at half time and we should have scored two more goals in the first-half, but we got the second and third in the second-half and that killed the game.”

Rangers started the season missing several key players through injury and they lost more players ahead of their latest league game.

Outfielder Ronan Beattie was forced to play as a goalkeeper, with Jason Keenan, Justin Palmer and Joel Byrne also missing, but the manager was delighted to see the return of Mark Cutler, who wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet.

“I’m really pleased to be able to add him to the squad, and you can see his touch and finish is really good,” said Kerr.

“Mark got two nights of training, and we knew if we needed another goal we could bring him on. With half an hour to go we brought him on and within five minutes he had scored.

"To get him back is a big, big boost and hopefully he can get a good week's training and be ready for the Junior [Cup] on Saturday.”

Despite only picking up one win from their first five matches, Irvinestown boss Darren Higginbotham is remaining positive.

“We have to remain glass half full,” he said.

“Saturday is not going to define our season. If we can pick up points against Enniskillen Rangers, Town, Tummery, Kesh, those are always going to be bonus points.

"We have had five fixtures now and they have been against four of last season’s top five finishers, so we have to be realistic.

"We took five points off them last season and we are sitting now with three points, so we have the potential to progress and improve.

“Against Enniskillen Town we didn’t lose in the right way, but I’m happier with how we lost on Saturday. We competed and we created chances. Enniskillen Rangers could have scored more, but I can’t figure out how we didn’t score when we had three or four really positive chances.

"They are one of the best teams in the league, and we just have to move on. It’s the games in the coming months that are going to define our season. That is how we have to view it right now.”

It took Rangers 12 minutes to take the lead when Mark White whipped a low cross into the area and McClure converted at the back post.

Kyle Deery then surged past a defender, but with the keeper to beat he blasted over the crossbar.

Jerome Carleton saved from McClure and White in quick succession as Rangers pressed forward, while at the other end Barry O’Sullivan had a great opportunity to equalise, but he chose to square the ball when faced with the goalkeeper, and the pass allowed Rangers to recover and clear.

Caolan Ward then struck the frame of the goal from long range for the home team, but Wanderers needed Carleton to rescue them again when he dived to keep out Nathan Khan’s effort from a corner.

Midway through the second-half Rangers extended their lead when a towering clearance was flicked first time by Cutler to Ciaran Brough in the centre circle, and he advanced before sliding a pass to Cutler on the edge of the area, who turned the defender and fired low past Carleton.

With 13 minutes remaining the visitors added their third.

White’s pass found Stuart Rainey who strode forward and slid a pass to Brough. His through ball found Deery and he took a touch and found the bottom corner of the net.

Rangers had two late goals ruled out for offside through Cutler and 16-year-old debutant Charlie Cairns, but they comfortably held on to take the points.