Celtic Park (3) v Beechlawn Rovers FC (3)
Saturday Amateur Premier Division
Venue: Beaumont Convent
Date: 6th March 2010

Rovers remain unbeaten in 5 games after this tense encounter with local rivals Celtic Park. Manager Robbie Roden made a few changes to the line up that faced Ongar in the cup last time out. In came Kev Mullen, Joey Buckley and Deco McCabe to the back four, while Mick Ennis returned to the team in place of Derek Mitchell and Captain Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam also returned after missing out in the cup game.
A scrappy opening ten minutes saw both teams trying to gain some time on the ball without ever creating a chance of note.
The first chance of fell to Rovers when Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam was sent clean through on goal but the cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, pulled him up for what seemed a very harsh offside decision. Soon after the visitors forced a corner but Fullam’s delivery wasn’t met by a red jersey. Beechlawn Rovers were playing the better football at this stage and a good counter attack sent Fullam clear but his cross was poor when he had Feder the Dog free inside of him.
On 18 minutes, Celtic Park forced a corner but the resulting kick floated harmlessly into keeper O'Rourke’s hands. Straight away Rovers were countering with Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam and Mick Ennis working well together forcing the keeper to get it away for another corner. Park managed to get the resulting corner away to safety.
The game was once again reduced to a scrappy affair with Park relying on long balls and set pieces to get them selves into the game. Beechlawn Rovers on the other hand were playing some good neat football when they could.
The next shot on goal came in the 32nd minute when a tame effort by Shane Denham petered wide. Beechlawn Rovers were getting a little frustrated and this was shown by a series of niggling fouls in the next five minutes. In the end, a needless loss of possession resulted in Park getting themselves a corner. Keeper O'Rourke flapped and missed the incoming ball giving the Park player a free header for the opening goal.
Rovers would have to wait long to be level and two minutes later, Kev Mullen’s ball into the box was handled by a Park defender and the cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, had no hesitation in blowing up for a penalty. Damo Murphy made no mistake in slotting the ball in low to the keeper’s right hand side.
From the kick off, great closing down from Feder the Dog forced Park to the end line and Rovers a throw in right at the corner flag.
Park though would then force John O'Rourke into a good save when a looping effort on 42 minutes had him scrambling back on goal but he did well to get his hands to the ball. Straight afterwards, static defending and ball watching saw Park with another shot on goal but it went wide to the defence’s relief.
Beechlawn Rovers got their second goal of the game just before half time. Great work by Fullam and Feder the Dog saw the latter turn and shoot well. The home keeper did well to parry the shot and with the ball dribbling towards the goal line, in swooped Mick Ennis to make sure of it and tap it over the line. 2-1 at half time and Rovers would have been happy with how things were going.
The second half started much like the first with both teams struggling to get their games going really. Celtic Park were still relying on set pieces to do most of their damage and on 58 minutes John O'Rourke had to parry a free kick to safety. Then on 60 minutes, a lucky deflection wide prevented a Park goal when it looked to be offside. Orey Roche was having a solid game at the back and came to Rovers rescue on a number of occasions, clearing well and using his pace to cover his other defenders. Meanwhile an under the weather Damo Murphy showed a great piece of control on 65 minutes before sweeping the ball out to Spidermick on the left wing with the ball going out for a corner. The resulting corner was swepted up and Park countered down Rovers right hand side. They’re winger having all the time in the world to cross the ball into the box for their unmarked forward to draw the side’s level once again.
Beechlawn Rovers weren’t doing themselves any favours as they started to lose the head again, remonstrating with one another at times. However they did create a series of chances that really should have seen them take the lead. Firstly, after a great ball by Denham to Spidermick and with the keeper beaten, Spidermick failed to find the net on 72 minutes. Just after this, Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam had his shot cleared off the line. Moments later he was sent through on goal only to miss kick his shot when he a little more time than he realised. Feder the Dog also saw his header saved from a corner kick.
The Digger’s made a change on 79 minutes when Kev Feeney came on for Damo Murphy who was clearly unhappy at being removed from the game. The change saw Fullam revert to centre midfield and Kev 'Its Gone Man Its Gone' Feeney take his place in attack.
The game erupted just after when the cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, somehow awarded the home side a corner after their shot had clearly gone wide without getting a touch from a Beechlawn Rovers defender. Before the kick could be taken, a few flailing arms in the box saw keeper O'Rourke hit the floor before order was restored. When the kick was taken, it needed a brilliant point blank save from the keeper to keep the home side out.
However his a barnstorming run was undone when another Park corner on 89 minutes was dropped by O'Rourke and the Park attacker had the easy job of tapping the ball over the line.
Rovers brought Michael McCabe on the last remaining minutes, replacing Mick Ennis out on the left. And minutes later they would be level again when a Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam corner would drift straight into the net for a deserved equaliser. The away side were lucky not to concede a last second killer goal when a combination of O'Rourke and Stef Power cleared the ball off the line to keep the scores level. After nearly 6 minutes of injury time, the cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, blew his whistle to leave the sides going away with a share of the points.
Beechlawn Rovers are back in cup action this weekend when they take on Raheny in Beechlawn Park.

Team:

John O'Rourke (GK)

Kev Mullen (LB)
Orey Roche (CB)
Joey Buckley (CB)
Deco McCabe (RB)

Mick Ennis (LM)
Stef Power (Mid)
Damo Murphy (Mid)
Shane Denham (RM)

Feder the Dog (FW)
Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam (FW)

Substitutes:
Dan Judge
Kev Feeney
Colly Roden
Michael McCabe
Jay McKnight