BONJOUR BOE

Boe ended the first half of the season with a trip to Cliftonville, a stones throw from the French shores of cheese, champagne and White Flags.

From experience, Cliftonville is not an easy place to go, a combination of a very long drive, early start and to be fair a very solid home team. We knew we were in for a game.

Our fears were confirmed when, not 30 secs after Cliftonvilles push BOE got their first touch of the ball....GK Al Dunman picking the ball out of the goal after a well worked short.

With a firm wake up call like that BOE set about the task of redemption. Two quick goals from Michael Lawrence and Fergus Parker restored the balance that we wanted.

Then...it happened*.....
(*Normally this statement would be followed by Cliftonville took control, BOE imploded and the game was lost, but alas, New Year, new BOE)

A high ball from left back to Nick Boot Handford in the top left pocket created some space for Luke Kellaher to support; a dropped ball from Nick to Luke left him two options, drive forward or lay it to Michael Lawrence.He chose well, and with a flash of what could be said World Class skill, Lawrence drove at the Cliftonville defence and picked one, picked two, picked three, picked four and then picked the fifth defender off with ease, drove to the top left of the D and unleashed a now trademark reverse hit to the top right. I was stood behind it the whole time and WOW. The teams in the league complain as they face him twice a season...we face once a week.

The first half ended with the score 3-1 to BOE, knowing the strength that Cliftonville had, and the bite that their CM was bringing to the game, we weren’t going to be able to sit back and relax.

Another goal just after the break by Lewis Tutsell gave the BOE side a buffer, which we let go to our heads.

2 quick Cliftonville goals brought the score to 4-3 with minutes to spare. With a large crowd of 7 gathering and creating the noise of many many more, Cliftonville were clearly up for it.

Luckily for BOE a late break after Cliftonville pressure meant a goal for Fergus Parker and the killer blow to Cliftonville.

As always a tough, tough game down on the coast, but an enjoyable one that made us work for the result.