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