Beechlawn Rovers' indifferent start to the season continued after slumping to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of table toppers Cetic Park. Rovers came into the game high on confidence after their demolition of Lusk last weekend. And they started on top, dominating possession in the oppositions half for the opening 35 minutes without finding the breakthrough they looked to deserve.
The side was changed from that which beat Lusk last week. Damo Murphy came in for Dave Murray in centre midfield to partner Stef Power. While both full backs picked up injuries and were replaced by Orey Roche and David Denham respectively. Indeed of the three to come into the side, Orey Roche started the brighter and his distribution down the right flank was causing Park a good problems early on. Rovers created opening after opening with their pace and movement on the flanks causing Park lots of problems with their keeper keeping them in the game with some vital saves.
Indeed Celtic Park seemed to grow from this and made Rovers pay when a seemingly harmless cross somehow evaded all the defenders and the Celtic Park players ghosted in to head the ball into the bottom left hand corner. The goal came right on the stroke of half time so never gave Beechlawn Rovers the chance to atone for their error. The players and managment of Rovers perplexed by the scoreline as they left the pitch on half-time.
The second half saw Rovers make an immediate impact when the first attack caused total confusion in the Park defence eventually the ball cannoned off the post and Park get the ball away to safety. That miss seemed to get to a few of the Beechlawn Rovers players and heads started to drop.
Worse was to come 10 minutes later when Celtic Park got their second of the game. A free kick on the edge of the box was swung over from the left and slack defending by left back Double D saw his man get in a yard ahead of him to nudge the ball past the hapless John O'Rourke.
That goal saw Rovers make a change in formation with Orey Roche going into right midfield and the defence going into 3 men across the back. Mick Ennis had previously come on for Michael McCabe to take his place on the left hand side. The change started to give Rovers more possesion but also left them vulnerable to the counter attack and indeed Celtic park used that to their advantage when they grab their third of the game. after turning over possesion, Park strode forward and without man in red tracking they were left with a free man out on left side. The ball eventually found his man and even though he still had a lot of work to do, he managed to squeeze the ball past O'Rourke in goal.
The home were desperate to get some pride from the game and tried their best to attack the visitors in the remaining minutes. They looked to have found a way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty with around 5 minutes to go. Joint top scorer Damo Murphy took the kick but his shot was dragged wide. Typical of the way thing had during the game.
The final whistle blew and a deflated Beechlawns team walked from the pitch. They now lay fourth from bottom after this result and will seriously need to pick things and find some consistency if they are to challenge for the title this year. That starts with a trip to play Shelbourne SSC next weekend.

Team:

John O'Rourke (GK)

David Denham (LB)
Orey Roche (RB)
Rob 'Hollywood' Harvey (CB)
Luke Mulvaney (CB)

Michael McCabe (LM)
Stef Power (CM)
Damo Murphy (CM)
Shane Denham (RM)

Kev Feeney (FW)
Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam (FW)

Substitutes:

Mick Ennis
Paul Kennedy
Jay McKnight