Town travelled to Donnelly's Holm and returned with the spoils after a nervous and, arguably fortuitous, 3-2 victory against a once famous but now rotund Shelbourne team, on Saturday last. It was once again a case of revolving doors for Rory Judge with skipper Brendan Rogers, Ciaran Beacom and David Callaghan replacing Matthew McAuley, Ryan Hanna and Ciaran Leonard. McAuley still under the weather, apparently, after Tuesday night's supercan of champagne.

At this juncture I would also like to take the opportunity to offer my sincere apologies to our noble captain Brendan Rogers. It was recently brought to my attention that I have been confusing him with the current Swansea City manager in my previous reports. Well, needless to say Brendan, it will be Rogers and not Rodgers appearing on these pages in future.

Back to footballing matters and the lacklustre start to this game gave little indication of the open fare that would eventhally be served up. Chances were at a premium in the opening quarter. Frank Wallace had Town's best effort, with Stephen Cunningham replying for Shelbourne. Gary Beckett also seen his free-kick well saved by Tomasz Antczak after David Callaghan had initially been fouled.

The Town opener arrived on twenty-eight minutes. With Shelbourne on the attack, Wallace robbed Cunnimgham deep in the visitors' half before sprinting to the bye-line and squaring for Gary Beckett to clinically volley Town in front. Beckett should have doubled his and Town's tally three minutes later. Mark Connolly's through ball placed him one on one with Antczak but his control let him down at the vital moment.

Wallace and Beckett again came close to doubling Town's advantage. Wallace's delightful chip just cleared the bar after another mazy run, while Beckett's stinging drive was also deflected over after another Wallace drag back. However, it was the hosts who finished the half strongest. Damian Sloan should have done better with a free header after Cunningham's free-kick.

Shelbourne remained in the ascendancy after the break as Town struggled to cope with the Omagh side's effective blend of youthful enthusiasm and beer-bellied foxes. Joe McGovern had to be at his best to save from the excellent Cunningham and, cubic-metre Gerrard Moore, as Shelbourne began to take control. The inevitable equaliser arrived on fifty-eight minutes, Ryan Sharkey smashing his twenty-five yard free-kick past McGovern. 
The game really started to open up now. Antczak did well to deny Gary Beckett after some good work by Daniel Keenan and Connolly while Cunningham blazed over at the other end.

Judge responded by introducing Christopher Corrigan for Rogers and within a minute Town had regained the lead. Connolly's clever pass found Wallace and he cooly lifted the ball over the advancing Antczak. For those of you who chose to watch the live early afternoon fare from Loftus Road, it was a carbon copy of Max Gradel's equaliser for Leeds United.

Town's lead lasted all of seven minutes. Not for the first time, or second time, or third time, or fourth time for that matter, the Town back four were missing in action as Simon O'Neill waltzed past a number of statuesque Town defenders before squaring to Damien Sloan who hammered his close range effort past McGovern.

A previously irate Town were now clearly rattled with veteran strikers Beckett and Connolly, to name just a few, at their vocal best. Sensing that their Mercer League ambitions were on the verge of extinction Town poured forward in serach of a winner. Good play from Wallace created a half chance for Connolly but his shot clipped the post and drifted wide. Not for the first time this season though Town were to fashion a late winner. It arrived after eighty-two minutes. Callaghan's ball over the top found Gary Beckett and he nudged the ball past the onrushing Antczak before finishing to an empty net.  
Ryan Pritchard was presented with an immediate opportunity to draw Shelbourne level with the Town defence at sixes and sevens once more. Thankfully, his effort struck the bar and sailed over as Town held on for a vital, if somewhat unconvincing, win.


The Town: J McGovern, D Keenan, A Fitzpatrick, M Crawford, C Beacom, B Rogers, M Beckett, D Callaghan, G Beckett, M Connolly, F Wallace.
Subs - C Corrigan for B Rogers (66).

Referee: James Farrell - From the sublime to the ridiculous. Spoiled a strong, competent first-half display with some absolutely off the wall decisions during the second period. It was surreal at times.

Attendance: 62 - Nine away supporters including ex Town legend Paul 'Striker' Howe. What a player! I'm sure he still wouldn't look out of place at this level if he pulled the boots on again.  

Top Townie: Frank Wallace. A real threat every time he got the ball. Let his football do the talking. 

Champagne Moment: Gary Beckett's winner granted himself absolution after eighty-two minutes of ranting, raving, moaning and scolding. I can only imagine that it is the dog who is afraid of the postman whenever this guy is on his rounds.

Comedy Moment: Shelbourne centre-forward Damien Sloan had the best pair of moobs I've ever seen. Surely its only a matter of time before he departs the sports pages for the more glamorous surroundings of Page 3.

Words from a Song: Shaddap You Face.

Manager Watch: Publicly stated that he wanted his team to bring the title race to the last week of the season.  He was granted his wish even if it may not have been in the manner that he had hoped for. His back four lacked shape, cohesion and played with neither rhyme nor reason for the ninety minutes. It will require major surgery or, major improvement, if things aren't to go horribly wrong  in the next week.
He must also be concerned with the lack of discipline that crept back into his side when things weren't going their way. One player in particular can count himself lucky not to have seen red after a foul mouthed rant at referee Farrell. Quite ironic when you consider that Judge himself once got nine games for calling a referee an onion!