Floodlight Robbery!

Ballymena made their first trek of the season to Newry last night, hoping to record their second win on the bounce, but had to settle for a share of the ‘spoils’, which was probably a fair result. With captain Gary Smyth failing a fitness test on his head injury, it meant a recall for Albert Watson in defence. Manager Wright also promoted Willie McFrederick from the reserves as net minder. Johnny Steele was given a starting role upfront alongside stand-in captain Rory Hamill, which meant Vinny Sweeney dropping back into right midfield. Newry showed their intent of playing for a draw from the outset, endeavouring to catch the Sky Blues offside, while offering little as an attacking force themselves. This, as so often happens, did backfire on them on a couple of occasions. After 17 minutes a nice bit of interplay between Hamill and Sweeney saw the latter bear down on goal, from the right. Stuart King took up a good position near the penalty spot, waiting for a pass, but Sweeney selfishly shot for goal, but failed to find the target, a bad miss. But United weren’t to be denied for long and they took the lead after 28 minutes when Hamill timed his run to perfection when Kieran Donaghy split the home defence with a superb thorough ball. Hamill coolly drew former United keeper Goosey Robinson, before slotting the ball into the empty net. Referee McFadden who up until then had had, a fairly good game, suddenly seemed to be overcome with bias, so much so that every time a United player challenged for a ball, he gave a foul to the home team. Despite forcing several corners United were unable to add to their tally and the delivery from corner kicks is something that the United coaches will have to do a lot of work on. With the halftime whistle the United fans were in a fairly jovial mood and were anticipating a good second half.

Little seemed to have changed after ten minutes of the second half, but then Roy McCreadie made a tactical switch, moving tiny winger Barry Curran inside and bringing Crawford out to the wing. This move seemed to unsettle the Sky Blues and instead of switching things themselves they chose to plunder on as before. Newry were more dominant in this half, aided and abetted by the strange decisions of referee McFadden. Despite being under pressure United did create a few openings, but were unable to supply the finishing touch. With 65 minutes gone the United manager took off the tiring Steele, giving a debut to new signing Kevin Kelbie. From almost Kelbie’s first touch he fed a delightful pass to Hamill but he was unbelievably flagged offside, he rather foolishly carried on though shooting past the post and was ‘harshly’ yellow carded by the referee. Just shortly after Kelby came on United won a free on the right and for once King’s free was spot on, but Gordon Simms somehow failed to find the target from the edge of the six-yard box. This was to prove a costly miss as Newry scored an equaliser in the 73rd minute. This was a really depressing goal as it came when United had seemed to have weathered the ‘Newry Storm’ and were coming more into the game themselves. United were in fact building an attack from their own half, when a short pass was intercepted and with the United defence at ‘sixes and sevens’, former Institute striker Damien Whitehead was left completely unmarked in the United penalty area. Sure enough when the cross came over Whitehead easily found the net with a header giving McFrederick, who was rooted to his goal-line, no chance. As United prepared to kick-off, a Newry player encroached and was blown up by the referee. The player then deliberately kicked the ball away, the referee true to form took no action. United to their credit kept plugging away and Kelbie was put through by the resourceful Hamill, but with Goosey rooted to his line he delayed his shot and a Newry defender got back to slide in and divert the ball for a corner. Two minutes later Boydie was caught in a ‘sandwich’ with two Newry players, but strangely the upshot was a free to Newry and a booking for the United player. From this resultant free kick, United failed to clear their lines and were indebted to their keeper for a good save from Whitehead’s ferocious shot, when he had been left unmarked once more. Stuart King then became the third United player to get his name taken for a late tackle, but I emphasis, it was late, it was not brutal. With ten minutes left the United manager took King off and brought on striker Paul McDowell upfront and United went into all out attack. McDowell did manage to conjure up a chance when he got to the by-line, but his deep cross was just too good for the incoming Sweeney. Five minutes from the end the manager played his final trump card, taking off Boydie and bringing on young McClean, but I can’t remember him even getting a touch on the ball. The match petered out to a draw, which now leaves United in the position that winning their two remaining games may not be enough, but it still could be; only time will tell!


McFrederick          7     Aiden Watson          6     MOM:  Hamill

Donaghy          7     Steele               6

Boydie               7     Hamill               8

Haveron          6     King               6     Referee:  P. McFadden     2

Simms               6     1st Sub: Kelbie          6

Watson          6     2nd Sub: McDowell     6

Sweeney          6     3rd Sub: McClean     6                       

Sweet Sweeney!

There were a couple of ‘firsts’ for United last night at the Showgrounds, when newly promoted Glenavon came calling. Firstly there were the three points, United’s first competitive win under new manager Tommy Wright and then there was the added bonus of a clean sheet, which was also the first one of the season. Manager Tommy Wright, true to his word, made two changes to his starting line-up. Out went defender Albert Watson and midfielder Gareth Scates, with team captain Gary Smyth returning in defence and Dominic Melly taking over on the right side of midfield. It’s too early to judge if these changes are enough, the defence were still ‘guilty’ of leaving players unmarked at times and were somewhat lucky to get away with it. United had a let-off just about 10 minutes into the game, when former striker Shea Campbell was left completely unmarked 25 yards from goal, plumb in the centre of the pitch. As Shea bore down on the home team’s goal, keeper Greg Shannon advanced to meet him and did enough to make Shea pull his shot wide of the keeper’s right hand post. The United attack forced several corners without really looking like scoring and in fact it was only after 20 odd minutes had elapsed that we had an effort on target. Rory Hamill, wide on the right, crossed into the six-yard box, but Sweeney’s mistimed header fell straight to the visiting keeper. During the first half we had a couple those ‘bizarre’ incidents that give supporters on both sides a bit of a fright. Firstly United defender Boydie was shepherding the ball back to his goal, with a Glenavon forward in close attendance. As Boydie attempted to play the ball back to keeper Shannon, one could see the look of consternation on his face when he found Shannon standing right beside him. The goalie sprinted back as the ball sped goalwards but luckily it shaved his left hand post. A real let-off, but Glenavon thought they’d have a go as well a few minutes later. A visiting defender decided to lay the ball back to his keeper, who had advance to the left side of the penalty area. Too late the keeper realised the ball was going straight for goal and he was very relieved to see it land on the roof of the net, with him stranded near the edge of his box. Referee Ken Ginnet was on the receiving end of some calls about his ‘parentage’ as he allowed the visiting players to get away with some rough house tactics, preferring to talk to the ‘culprits’ instead, a waste of time in my book. Half-time approached with no goals for either side and the home fans were left hoping that a ‘tongue-lashing’ from the United manager at the break would work some wonders for their lack-lustre team.

The second half was indeed an improvement on the first and Rory Hamill once more sent over a ‘gem’ of a cross, from the right this time, that his strike partner Vinny Sweeney, just failed to make contact with. United fans, myself included thought that the ex-Limavady man should’ve thrown himself at the ball, but we have to remember that he’s not a natural striker. This chance came in the 50th minute, but it didn’t take the United boys long to conjure up a goal. Hamill was involved once more but this time inadvertently, when after he mis-kicked a cross from Stuart King, the ball fell to Sweeney, who ‘gleefully’ hammered into the Glenavon net. This goal set the Showgrounds alight and United began to ‘stroke’ the ball about with renewed confidence. Glenavon’s retort was to really put the ‘boot’ in and even referee Ginnet felt compelled to take some action booking three of the visitors for violent play, almost all directed at United’s wide midfielder, Stuart King. Little was seen of Glenavon as an attacking force in this half but luckily for the home side, Shea Campbell was as greedy as ever when they did mange to break and he screwed a couple of chances wide, when a pass was the much better option. With twenty minutes remaining manager Wright replaced Dominic Melly, who had faded somewhat after a good first half. Young striker Paul McDowell took Melly’s place with Sweeney moving back into midfield. Sweeney, whose preferred playing position is midfield, began orchestrating United’s play from then on, but as usual our forwards over elaborated too much and the chances went begging. Sweeney himself was guilty of a ‘bad’ miss himself, when after yet another pass from Hamill, he hammered his shot from 15 yards over the crossbar, when he should’ve scored. Manger Wright took off winger Stuart King, who was being subjected to some vicious tactics by the visitor’s defence, one especially brutal from the Glenavon number 5, which referee Ginnet once more decided a ‘talking to’ was enough. New signing Johnny Steele came on for the home team, he looked lively, but it’d be too early to say if he’d do or not. United seemed to be saying ‘what we have we hold’ as Gary Smyth wasn’t joining his forwards for corners or free-kicks. With only a couple of minutes left the United captain got injured going for a high ball and had to leave the field for treatment to a head injury, with young Craig McClean taking his place. United survived a scare late on when a Glenavon forward ‘fell over’ in the penalty box and the referee adjudged him to be taking a ‘dive’, booking him in the process. I was relieved, as more times than enough I’ve seen them given as penalties. Despite the referee finding six minutes of stoppage time, the ‘jittery’ United rearguard managed to hold out for victory. As someone said, at least it’s three points, but I’m sure the United manager knows that he’s still got a big job on his hands to get this team turned into a ‘real’ footballing club!


Shannon          6     Aiden Watson          6     MoM:      Vinny Sweeney

Donaghy           7     Sweeney               8

Boydie          8      Hamill               7

Haveron          6     King               6     Referee:      K. Ginnet     4     
                                        
Simms          6     1st Sub: McDowell     6

Smyth          8     2nd Sub: Steele          6

Melly          6     3rd Sub: McClean          6                     

Newry Ambush!

Ballymena found themselves trailing Newry City by two goals to nil after 36 minutes today, both scored by the smallest man on the pitch, Barry Curran. This man couldn't be any more than four foot eleven, but compared to the 'static' United defence he was ten feet tall. His first goal after eight minutes came when Newry were actually down to 10 men, when forward Michael Crawford had to come off for prolonged treatment. After winning a free kick on the left, former United player, Gerry Flynn, swung in a left wing cross which found the unmarked Curran and he made no mistake with a firm header, with the United defence flatfooted. United made a few futile attempts to get back on terms, but their final pass seemed to go astray. Referee McFadden drew the wrath of the home support, when he cautioned midfielder Gary Haveron for a mistimed tackle and then five minutes later allowed Newry goalscorer Curran off with a viciously late tackle on Boydie. Then as if to add insult to injury Curran was left completely unmarked in the United box and he rifled in a rising shot from ten yards out. Then showing a complete lack of discipline he 'taunted' the home crowd, as if to say 'see I got away with it', which he did. So poor were United during the first half that former keeper Goosey Robinson had the easiest time he's ever had at the Showgrounds.

Manager Wright brought on Dominic Melly in place of Gareth Scates at halftime and United hauled themselves back into contention in the 53rd minute, when after a 'typical' surging Boydie dribble, the ball fell to striker Vinny Sweeney, who swivelled in the box before hammering into the roof of the net. United threw everything at Newry and it seemed only a matter of time before their defence would crack once more. Thirteen minutes later United's pressure brought some reward when defender Murphy was sent off for dissent. United continued to sweep down on the Newry goal, but a combination of bad luck, bad finishing and good goalkeeping kept them at bay. In the 70th minute Kieran Donaghy on the overlap, set the ball perfectly on Sweeney's head, but the big man failed to find the target from 5 yards a deplorable miss. The United manager took off the ineffectual King and brought on Gareth Mullan in his place, but even he looked out of sorts and contrbuted little. With 10 minutes left it was Rory Hamill's turn to miss with a 'free' header and five minutes later the same fate befell central defender Gordon Simms. The United forwards failed to press home their numerical advantage and Newry ran out easy winners by two goals to one. On this evidence the United manager faces an uphill task in getting United through to the knock-out stages of this competition, but maybe even more importantly he has only four games to get things sorted before the league campaign is upon us!


Shannon 6 Aid. Watson 5 MoM: Donaghy

Donaghy 6 Sweeney 6

Boydie 6 Hamill 5 Referee: J. McFadden 3

Haveron 4 King 5

Alb. Watson 5 1st Sub: Melly 6

Simms 5 2nd Sub: Mullan 4

Scates 5

Same Old!

After United's first match under Tommy Wright, as far as I'm concerned, it's the same old story, we created lots of chances but were unable to finish them off. I think on the chances for both teams today a fair result would have been a United victory by three clear goals, as it was they came away with a one nil defeat. Portadown missed an early opening when Simms mistimed his challenge and Portadown's McCann tried to drill the ball past United's stranded keeper Greg Shannon. If he had done the obvious and lobbed the ball over the United custodian, then the 'wee skies' would have been one down with barely four minutes on the clock. As it was the ball just trickled past the United keeper and Kieran Donaghy 'hoofed' it upfield. In their first real attack United spurned a great chance, when after a good surge down the left flank by former Linfield player Stuart King, Vinny Sweeney failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy, when King's cross eluded the Port's defence. The United frontman claimed for a corner as a Ports defender clearly blocked his goalbound effort, but referee Turkington, who had a real 'stinker' waved his protests away. With fourteen minutes on the clock referee Turkington awarded the Ports a free kick, what for I honestly don't know, even though I was standing no more than 8 yards from the scene, I could see no reason for it. Ports' winger McCann set the ball on Arkins head on the edge of the box and he made no mistake with a powerful header, that beat Shannon all ends up. To their credit United didn't allow this setback to annoy them unduly and they began 'probing' the Ports defensive frailities. As the ball was cleared form a United attack, Rory Hamill almost caught the home keeper napping with an overhead kick which the keeper was glad to push over the bar. Two minutes later the United pressure should've brought about an equaliser when Hamill found himself, one on one with the keeper, but his weak shot was easily smothered by the Ports custodian. United kept pounding away at the Ports defence and Hamill perpertrated the 'miss' of the match, when he got on the end of a Donaghy pass, but again shot weakly at the Portadown goalie. From a United corner a Gordon Simm's header glanced off the home team's crossbar to safety. With halftime approaching the ball fell to the big Larneman once more and he turned and hit the ball on the half volley, but could only watch in amazement as the ball flashed wide of Miskimmon's left post. The United defence, where veteran Boydie was outstanding, kept the Portadown hitmen down to long range shots which, Shannon dealt with fairly easily. Just before haltime we had one of those incidents which give football a bad name, when after a 'good and fair' tackle by United's Gordon Simms, Portadown player Gary Hamilton went down writhing in agony. Referee Turkington in a complete miscarriage of justice showed the United centre-half a yellow card, when earlier he had 'waved play on' when the Ports defenders were flying in with 'two-footed' tackles. As if to add insult to injury Portadown's Hamilton didn't even require the physio's ministrations and should surely have been booked for 'diving', but the referee took no action. He also seemed to be giving Ports hardman, Mickey Collins, some extra protection as Collins was allowed to foul continuously, but as soon as a United player went close to him the referee blew for an infringement.

In the second half United weren't quite as lively as they had been in the first and despite winning half a dozen free kicks they never really threatened the Ports goal. Scates playing on the right wing, a complete waste of talent, was withdrawn midway through the half and Dominic Melly took his place. Melly didn't help the United cause as he tended to lie too deep and indeed it was stand-in striker Sweeney who opened up the Ports defence when he flashed a ball across the Ports goal, only for Stuart King to volley wildly over the bar, another good chance going a begging. Boydie then came on a surging run only to be cleaned by the Ports right back, a dirty vicious foul. Even referee Turkington couldn't ignore this and flourished the manadatory yellow card and awarded United a free kick which King balooned wildly over the bar. Two minutes later the same player almost 'ripped' the shirt off King's back, but escaped further punishment from the referee. Gary Haveron, slightly disappointing in midfield, fired in a 'gem' of a cross which just shaved the Ports upright with Miskimmon helpless, but no United forward nearby. After a spell of Portadown pressure, Sweeney carried the ball out of defence before releasing King with a well timed pass, only to have the linesman flag for off-side, a diabolical decision. Then in a somewhat strange move the United manager took off his best player, Boydie, bringing on youngster Craig McClean. Although this young player promised much, he delivered precious little and in fact almost secured the points for Portadown, when he lost possession during a United attack. He was indebted to United's goalkeeper Greg Shannnon who blocked Gary Hamilton's goalbound shot with his face, when a goal looked certain. With the match deep in injury time United carved out one last chance, when Melly at last got to the by-line and squared the ball into the box, only for Sweeney to miss with a free header from 3 yards out, a deplorable miss I must say. All in all this was not a bad display from United, but they still need to unearth a goalscorer from somewhere and they need to get him soon.


Shannon 7 Aid Watson 6 MoM: Boydie

Donaghy 6 Sweeney 5

Boydie 8 Hamill 6

Haveron 6 King 7 Referee: B. Turkington 2

Alb Watson 8 Sub: Melly 6

Simms 6 Sub: McClean 5

Scates 6