Beechlawn Rovers FC v Rivermeade FC
Wednesday 19th May
Beechlawn Park
AFL Saturday Premier Division

Beechlawn Rovers came up against bitter rivals Rivermeade for this mid week match. The visitors knew a win would make them champions for the second year running while Rovers were looking to salvage third spot from a disappointing season.
Manager Robbie Roden had a full squad to choose from for one of the few times this season. For once he was able to name 5 subs with 3 players having to make do as spectators in what would be an enthralling match.
Striker Eoghan Russell was brought into the attack alongside captain Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam and he made an energetic start to the match, chasing down the opponents and also controlling the ball well at times.
The visitors were well up for the match too and the game was frantic for the opening 5 minutes. Beechlawn Rovers made the first attack with Shane Denham flying down the right wing and sending in a good cross which was put out for a corner. Damo Murphy flashed his header wide from the resulting kick.
Two minutes later the visitors broke forward and John O'Rourke was glad to see a shot flash wide on 8 minutes, Rovers broke again. Stef Power got down the right wing well, getting the ball to the end line but his cross was straight into the keeper’s hands.
Beechlawn Rovers were just about shading proceedings but they failed to make use of a succession of free kicks. The first hard tackle of the game took 18 minutes to come and it was dished out by Orey Roche just outside the box. Rivermeade were awarded a free kick but sent it straight into the wall with the resulting ball cleared to safety.
That was enough to wake the visitors though and they started to spread the ball around nicely, opening up the home side at times. On 20 minutes Colly Roden picked up a silly yellow card for dissent and this would come back to haunt him later in the game.
The next 10 minutes became a scrappy affair, Beechlawn Rovers creating a few chances but Derek Mitchell’s cross couldn’t be met and then Damo Murphy had a shot go wide on 23 minutes.
Rivermeade showed some real intent on 25 minutes when they had a good shot saved by John O'Rourke. Orey Roche clearing away for a throw in. The away side tamely scuffed a shot just over from the throw.
Beechlawn Rovers were wasting possession in midfield and they were made to pay for it on 28 minutes when Rivermeade opened them up for the first goal of the game. Slack defending allowed the visitors to drift into the box and find their man without a meaningful tackle before unleashing a powerful drive into the top of the net, giving O'Rourke no chance.
Rivermeade’s tails were up and they tamely scuffed another shot just over two minutes later.
It wasn’t until the 35th minute that Beechlawn Rovers made a another chance of note when Damo Murphy flicked on a header from a free kick but Derek Mitchell was just inches from getting the connection he needed to divert it goalward. Stef Power then played in Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam on 37 minutes only to see his shot hit straight at the keeper.
The cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, wasn’t taking any kind of back chat and awarded free kicks on numerous occasions with the visitors penalised on 39 minutes. Orey Roche’s tremendous free kick was just tipped wide by the keeper.
Beechlawn Rovers were pressing for an equaliser but Rivermeade were looking for the counter attack and on 43 minutes they did just that but the move ended with a shot straight at O'Rourke who palmed it out for a corner. 1-0 it was going into the half time interval.
Rivermeade came out firing for the second half and they had an effort go agonisingly over just a minute after the break, much to the relief of the home team. That stirred Rovers into action and Stef Power broke well down the right only see his cross go into the side netting.
Rovers kept pressing though and on 48 minutes Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam was brought harshly for a penalty kick. Damo Murphy took the kick only for the keeper to save well to his right.
Orey Roche then put in a good long throw on 51 minutes but again nobody got on the end of it. Eoghan Russell then had a good header flash wide from a corner on 53mins as Beechlawn Rovers stepped it up again. The home side made their first change of the game straight after with Mick Ennis coming for Kev Mullen at left back.
On 53 minutes John O'Rourke made a good stop from a shot after a corner kick. Just after, Deco McCabe had to make a smart tackle to stop a dangerous attack.
The game erupted in the 59th minute when Rivermeade were given a free kick on the edge of the box. As they prepared to take the kick, an incident broke out in the box involving both sets of players. After a chaotic few moments, things were settled down only for the cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, to send off Orey Roche and the visiting number 9. Eventually the free kick was taken, with Damo Murphy clearing for a corner.
On 65 minutes the home side had a great chance to level things up when Fullam broke well only to shoot straight at the keeper. They nearly paid for that when Rivermeade broke fast on 70 minutes but luckily the ball went out for a corner.
Feder the Dog entered the game in replacement of Russell and straight away he made an impact with a fine shot that was parried by the keeper with no red jersey there for the follow up.
The visitors countered again and tested the 3 man defence on 72 minutes but Colly Roden stood firm to deny them a chance and again on 77 minutes. He was then bizarrely sent off on 80 minutes for a second bookable offence, the cheating scumbag of a ref, who had a massive beard, stating intent on a challenge for his dismissal much to his disbelief. Beechlawn Rovers were now down to nine men and only 2 defenders so Shane Denham slotted into the defence with the side going 3-3-2 for the remainder of the game. Fernando also came on to make his debut for the injured Stef Power, with the midget given a free role to try and get something out of the game.
He had an immediate impact, slipping in Mitchell who saw his effort tamely scuff just over on 84 minutes. Beechlawn Rovers then got the goal they deserved when they were awarded a free kick on 87 minutes. The resulting kick drifted to the back post for Fernando to control finish superbly to the delighted of the home team.
He should have had a second 2 minutes later but his shot fizzed past the upright to the delight of a shell-shocked Rivermeade. Then with the last kick of the game the away keeper kept his side level when saved well to deny Beechlawn Rovers the win they craved.
The final whistle was blown after 4 minutes of injury to leave both sides going away with a point each.
The result means that Rivermeade only have to better the goal difference of Columba to retain the league with 2 games remaining. Beechlawn Rovers on the other hand can still make third spot their own if they win the remaining 3 games. That starts with a home game against relegation threatened Hadleigh Pines on Saturday.





Team:

John O'Rourke (GK)

Kev Mullen (LB)
Orey Roche(CB)
Colly Roden (CB)
Deco McCabe (RB)

Derek Mitchell (LM)
Damo Murphy (Mid)
Stef Power (Mid)
Shane Denham (RM)

Bernt (who had his knob out) Fullam (FW)
Eoghan Russell (FW)

Substitutes:
Mick Ennis
Fernando
Joey Buckley
Michael McCabe
Feder the Dog