Frantic Final Friendly Fight For Flip's Fake

Ormeau Park, Thursday 11 September 2003, 6:15PM

Dub FC (3)3 BT (0)2

Dub's pre-season preparations were completed with yet another victory. Dub are unbeaten so far with a 4-4 draw against Apollo the only blot on what is turning out to be a very impressive start to the campaign. Is this Dubs best ever run of results?

The final friendly suffered an early blow when the teams were let down by the referee who failed to turn up. Step up the Dub goalkeepers. The BT team including Sean Mullan (the evil baby-eating soul devourer) had played against some of the Dub team in a friendly earlier in the summer so several players knew what to expect.

Yet again, Gareth Dickson settled Dubs nerves with an early goal. A cross was helped on by Barry Gillens head and Gareth was on hand to finish from short range with yet another right-footed effort. The versatile midfielder was playing a holding role in the centre of midfield, giving BTs 2 most dangerous players real problems. In fact, Sean Mullan (the scourge of civilisation and frightener of small fluffy animals) was very quiet for most of the game. However, this didn?t stop Gareth ?Vieira? Dickson from getting his second goal in 2 games.

Barronaldinho Gillen was again involved a short time later when Art Kernan took a short corner to him and he lobbed the keeper from a ridiculous angle. Not even the defender on the line could prevent Dub from extending their lead.

Before the half was over, Cormac Kernan extended his fantastic record of scoring in every game this year and Dub looked to be cruising at 3-0.

A more disjointed Dub came out in the second half with rolling subs causing a little confusion at times. After 65 mins BT pulled a goal back with a well worked header from a right wing cross. Reserve goalkeeper Jon Corleone (?) had swapped with Liam Gillen at half time to take over the refereeing duties and both keepers had fairly good games with the whistle. It was just as well because things began to get a little out of hand as the second half progressed with more reckless challenges coming in from both teams (but mostly BT). With 5 minutes to go, handbags were drawn. Osama Bin Mullan was involved with Phil Donnan (who had a good game at centre half) and up to 10 players were trying to stop each other from hitting each other by trying to hit each other. Several Dub players were involved as well as Barry Houston who ran a good 60 yards to hit Phil but was prevented by a sea of yellow and blue.

Versatile goal-scoring defensive playmaker Gareth Dickson came back on with a few minutes left and was unlucky to be the victim of a controversial decision from the overseas referee who called an infringement ? roughing in the BT forward attacking midzone. 4th down and goal as Saddam Mullan (terroriser of the free world) converted the penalty to bring the score to 3-2 in favour of Dub.

Special mention for Ryan ?Right Back At Ya? McGaughey who has yet to be slagged in this article. Another good performance came from new Dub signing Peter McToal and the defence in general (with Mark Harvey and Sean Doherty completing the line-up) played well, preventing most attacks from developing.

The game ended amicably with Sean ?Nice Guy? Mullan (we like him really) apologising for the own goal (where are your priorities?). Dub are now looking forward to a better season than last year and should get it if they continue to play the passing game they have developed over the summer.

Squad

Chris Sherrard (sub 70 mins), Sean Campbell, Liam Gillen (sub 45 mins), Michael Smyth, Mark Harvey, Sean Doherty, Barry Gillen (sub 75 mins), Gareth Dickson, Shane McCusker, Art Kernan (sub 80 mins), John Magee (sub 20 mins), Peter McToal, Ryan McGaughey, Cormac Kernan (sub 75 mins), Phil Doherty

Subs

Match Statistics

Goals	Cormac Kernan Gareth Dickson Barry Gillen
Assists	Art Kernan Phil Doherty
Yellow cards	-
Red cards	-
Man of the match	Ryan McGaughey