Tummery close the gap on leaders after seven-goal thriller

TUMMERY Athletic came from behind three times before Martin Hughes snatched victory in a seven-goal thriller at the Lakeland Forum on Saturday.

Ennikillen Ath 3
Tummery Athletic 4

Goals by Conor Burns and Conor Love (2) had the home side ahead at different junctures in the ding-dong battle but a Ciaran Beacom brace and a goal by Aidy McCaffrey restored parity before that man Hughes produced a winner to take Tummery to within two points of tapple-toppers Dergview Reserves with two games in hand.

The defending champions fell behind early doors when Burns hammered home from just outside the penalty area following a sweeping counter attack.

That strike set the tone and on 16 minutes the Dromore visitors drew level when Beacom prodded home following a Declan McNulty corner.

Back came Anthony Fitzpatrick’s team and Love beat Tummery keeper Niall McCrory with a speculative effort on 22 minutes.

But by the interval it was all square for a second time when a Hughes cross was emphatically headed home by Aidy McCaffrey.

And so the pattern continued on the resumption of the second half.

Six minutes in a mix-up in the visiting rearguard allowed Love to beat McCrory at his near post but that advantage was short-lived and just four minutes later Beacom got on the end of a McCaffrey corner kick to slam home at the back post for 3-3.

Thereafter the visitors established some control and Hughes netted a winner, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances. Hughes chased what looked like something of a lost cause but his perseverance paid off when he won the ball on the end line before forcing it home.

The home side protested that the goal shouldn’t have stood owing to an infringment but referee Rory Kelly ruled otherwise and that resulted in Tummery posting their 14th league win of the season.