Ramble Inn Celtic V Beechlawn Rovers FC
Amateur Football League, Premier Saturday Division
Venue: St. Annes Park
Date: 27th March 2010

Beechlawn Rovers kept up their unbeaten start to 2010 with a 3-1 victory over Ramble Inn Celtic on Saturday following on from last weeks 1-0 win over Beaumont Athletic. Rovers are now joint 4th in the table with 2 games in hand over their rivals and looking to catch the top two in what would be a huge turn around to their season.

Preparations for the game were less than ideal with Rovers already missing regular players in Stef Power, Orey Roche and Joey Buckley from the side. Mick Ennis then failed to show and O'Rourke and Damo turning up right before kick off, David Denham was drafted into the team in a reshuffled defence with Deco McCabe moving into centre back alongside Colly Roden.
The disruption had a clear effect on the team in the early part of the match as the Digger’s struggle to settle down and get their game going. However when they eventually did find their game, Ramble Inn struggled to cope with the pace and skill of Rovers attack.
Two contentious penalties were awarded in the space of a few minutes with both sides disputing the decisions by ex Diggers player Charlie Pearce. The first penalty was awarded to Beechlawn Rovers when Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam swung in a corner only to be cleared away, however cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, Pearce saw an infringement and awarded the spot kick. Damo Murphy tamely scuffed the resulting kick into the net to give Rovers the lead. Moments later the home side were level after Double D was punished for a handball in the box. A very harsh decision as the shot came in only 2 yards away and left the defender with no time to get his hand out of the way. The decision stood though and the home side took full advantage in putting the ball away to level the scores.
Both sides were finding it tough to deal with the conditions on the day with a fierce wind blowing down a bumpy and heavy pitch. However Beechlawn Rovers were creating the better chances with Mitchell and Denham linking well with the two attackers to give the home defence plenty to think about. Indeed the visitors had the best chance of the half to get the lead goal when they hit the post only for the rebound to be snatched by a grateful Ramble Inn keeper. Both sides went level at the break but Beechlawn Rovers were on top and growing in confidence.
That confidence carried on into the second half and it didn’t take long for the away side to get their second goal of the game. A smashing goal it was too, after great work by Denham on the right wing, he fed the ball to Spidermick who sent in a delightful cross and Feder the Dog finished it off with a bullet header past a stranded keeper.
Ramble Inn tried to fashion a way back into the game and the Beechlawn Rovers defence had to be on guard a number of times to sniff out the home sides attack. The game was effectively killed off when Beechlawn Rovers got their third goal of the game with 15 minutes to go. Feder the Dog did brilliantly to chase down the keeper and rob him of possession. He then fed the ball to Spidermick who after scuffing his first shot, controlled the ball and passed it into the net for a deserved goal.
Ramble Inn didn’t give up though and they forced a number of corners in the last 10 minutes looking for that second goal that would get them back into the game. And the Digger’s had Keeper John O'Rourke to thank for keeping the scores as they were, when he made a stunning point blank save to deny the home side what seemed a certain goal.
Beechlawn Rovers could have added a fourth goal when a few counter attacks resulted in Feder the Dog and Denham being released but they couldn’t capitalise on either chance. Referee Pearce blew his whistle to draw the game to a close and send the Digger’s home happy with another 3 points.

Team:

John O'Rourke (GK)

Kev Mullen (LB)
Deco McCabe (CB)
Colly Roden (CB)
David Denham (RB)

Derek Mitchell (LM)
Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam (Mid)
Damo Murphy (Mid)
Shane Denham (RM)

Feder the Dog (FW)
Michael McCabe (FW)

Substitutes:
Jay McKnight
Mick Ennis
Robbie Roden