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