From the Impartial Reporter. Enniskillen Town caused something of a surprise last Friday night as they claimed the BKYL U16 League Cup with a 3-0 victory over a fancied Ballinamallard Youth side at Killen.
Ballinamallard entered the contest as firm favourtes to take the title but a double from Niall Shannon and one from Philip Leonard secured victory for the Town.Town manager Mark Connolly was extremely proud of his side after the game.
“I’m delighted for the boys and very proud of them. They gave 100 percent and on the night they thoroughly deserved their victory. They stuck to the gameplan and did exactly what they were told to do and I’m pleased for them to have come out winners,” he stated.
Ballinamallard were to dominate possession throughout the game but Town, with Joe McGovern a rock in the centre of the defence alongside Pauric Beacom, defended in a disciplined manner and gave little in the way of clear cut chances to the Mallards.Ballinamallard did go close to going ahead as Michael Simpson burst down the right hand side but his effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Daniel Wray. And having soaked up the pressure, Town then hit Ballinamallard with a sucker blow as half time approached. McGovern intercepted possession and broke out of defence with the ball finding its way to Shannon via a Ryan Doherty dummy and he buried it into the back of the net.
Again the Mallards were to control possession in the second half but as in the first they found Town hard to break down, McGovern and Beacom keeping the dangerous Mallards pairing of Josh McIlwaine and Simpson quiet, and from a long clearance Town were to double their lead. Philip Leonard got on the end of the clearance and headed the ball over the goalkeeper who could not prevent the ball going over the line.Leonard nearly had a second goal but his terrific effort saw Karl Fallis make a wonderful save.
Mark Glenn went close to pulling a goal back for the Mallards but with time coming to an end Shannon made sure of the Town victory as curled a beautiful shot into the corner of the net to leave it 3-0 at the finish.
