UH/1296

The goals 'FLO' and the sun shines for the blues visit

The goals may have 'Flo-wed' but not even the vanquished home team were left singing the 'Blues' as Gianluca Vialli's cosmopolitan Chelsea side made it an occasion to remember for 7,000 enraptured supporters at Omagh Town's St.Julian's Road ground on Wednesday night last.
The Premiership giants ran-up eight goals with Norwegian international Tore Andre Flo chipping in with half of that tally, but on this night of all nights the result was immaterial.
The coach carrying the West London aristocrats pulled into the grounds of the Silver Birch Hotel in the town shortly before tea-time where they were greeted by dozens of autograph hunters, as well as Omagh Town officials.
Throughout the afternoon, fans of the Pensioners, sporting replica tops, had milled around the hotel awaiting the arrival of their heroes. The assortment of accents to be heard indicated that this was a tie which had caught the imagination of supporters, not just in the Omagh district, but throughout Ireland.
Many also took the opportunity to make a poignant visit to the bottom of Market Street to pay their respects to the 29 victims of last August's bomb blast the tragic occurrence which prompted Town to arrange this triple bill of glamour friendlies in aid of the Omagh Fund.
As the crowd flocked to the ground, the few hundred regular attenders at St.Julian's were amazed at its sudden metamorphosis. Marquee tents, souvenir stalls, 6,000 temporary red bucket seats gleaming in the early evening sunshine and an immaculately prepared playing surface which resembled a green snooker baize.
All in all a glowing testament to the diligent preparations of manager Roy McCreadie and everyone associated with Omagh Town in the build-up to the most prestigious match in the club's history.
Hordes of adoring fans lined the route as the Chelsea teambus meandered its way slowly to the ground. Pre-match entertainment was provided courtesy of young participants in Town's successful Soccer Academy who competed in a mini-tournament, while a presentation was also made to Chelsea skipper Denis Wise by members of the Blues North-West Supporters Club to mark the start of his testimonial season.
Highland Radio's Charlie. Collins, who acted as PA announcer, interviewed Chelsea's pint-sized captain on the pitch, as well as Omagh Town's beaming manager Roy McCreadie and the chairman of Omagh District Council, Allan Rainey.
When the Chelsea starting line-up was boomed out over the PA address, there was a tinge of disappointment among supporters that several of their superstars would not be playing.
With names like Carlo Cudicini, Luca Percassi and Jed Hoegh in their midst, the team-sheet bore a similar resemblance to a Daily Telegraph anagram puzzle, but established international including Flo, Roberto de Matteo, Dan Petrescu and Gustavo Poyet were also included.
Omagh's rather humble directors box took on a surreal appearance as over £75 million worth of footballing talent took their seats alongside local dignitaries.
Three members of France's world cup winning team of 1998, Marcel Dessaily, Frank LeBoeuf and new signing Didier Deschamps sat side-by-side, and were joined on 'millionaires' row by Gianfranco Zola, Albert Ferrer, Ed de Gouy, Graeme Le Saux and recent £10 million acquisition Chris Sutton.
Before Kick-off there was a gently reminder of why the match was organised in the first place as the carnival atmosphere gave way to quiet reflection, with all in attendance impeccably observing one minute's silence in memory of the dead and maimed from August 15th last.
Omagh's proud captain Mark Donnelly then swapped mementos with his Blues counterpart on the night, Dan Petrescu, at the coin-toss and the action finally got underway.
Town, whose line-up consisted of a number of former favourites like Michael McHugh and Eamon Kavanagh, as well as current panelists, coped relatively comfortably for the first quarter of an hour as their illustrious opponents basically played keep ball.
As the shirt sleeved crowd waited patiently for Chelsea to hit top gear, they amused themselves with the almost obligatory Mexican Wave.
But back on the field the gulf in class between the two sides finally began to tell. Petrescu opened the scoring with a simple tap-in in the
33rd minute after good work by Flo, and soon after Di Matteo made it two when he pounced to score from a defensive error.
At half-time St.Eugene's Brass Band blasted out a few medleys but on the resumption it was the visitors who were hitting all the right notes.
The Blues brilliant 18-year Finnish striker Mikeal Forssell mesmorised the Omagh defence with his dazzling footwork and trickery, setting up goals for Flo and Mark Nichollas.
The elegant Poyet introduced as a second half substitute, quickly got in the scoring act touching the ball past the diving Eamon Gallagher from close range.
Chelesa were serving up a treat now and Jody Morris weighed in with the pick of the bunch with a delightful chip over the standard keeper.
Flo helped himself to two more goals before the end of the contest to make it 8-0, but on this special evening there were no losers.