Red Wreckers!

Ballymena United manager Tommy Wright appears to have a strange relationship with the ‘media’, as he was widely reported to have said on I.T.V. and B.B.C. texts, as well as the local papers, that United had no injury worries. When I turned up at the Showgrounds I was told that defender Craig McClean was injured and Aby McCabe was taking his place at left-back, strange thing for a team with no injury worries. This was the only change to United’s starting line-up from last Saturday, but whereas the Sky Blues were really ‘up’ for that game, they appeared to approach last night’s game as if it were a ‘training’ session. Cliftonville, on the other hand, were definitely ‘up for it’ and were ‘buzzing’ round the United goal from the off. That said the closest I remember them coming to scoring in the first half, was after a delightful bit of interplay, a shot from the edge of the ‘box’, flashed wide of McFrederick’s right post, with the keeper beaten all ends up. United did try to mount a few attacks but continually fell ‘foul’ of referee Ken Ginnet’s interpretation of the rules. He even added insult to ‘injury’, if you’ll pardon my pun, by ‘booking’ Rory Hamill, after the United player was on the receiving end of a shirt pulling incident, a weird decision to put it mildly. Vinny Sweeney was giving the Cliftonville central defender a bit of a hard game, but like Hamill could do no right in the referee’s eyes, but credit must go to both United frontmen, as they stuck to their task manfully. Five minutes later the Cliftonville number ten clearly elbowed Boydie as he broke out of defence, but both referee and the linesman at the Fisherwick end of the ground, ignored the incident. United’s best chance, after 25 minutes, came when Hamill’s ‘snap shot’ went straight into the keeper’s arms, after good work from Donaghy and Scates. The United midfield, for the most part, appeared to be chasing shadows and the United management need to get this sorted, with tough games upcoming against Portadown and Glentoran in the next fortnight. With halftime approaching, Cliftonville forced a corner at the United end and I remarked fearfully to a colleague that United could probably ‘leak’ a goal before halftime, to which he honestly replied, ‘well Cliftonville are worth a goal’. United survived that corner and in fact broke down the pitch to force a corner at the Farm Lodge end of the ground themselves. Young Andy Rosbotham’s inswinging delivery was as ever, ‘inch perfect’ and United defender Albert Watson headed into the net to put United one-up. That goal came in the 43rd minute and United almost doubled their lead immediately when Boydie and Hamill combined down the left, but the ball was scrambled to safety.

Cliftonville almost committed ‘suicide’ straight from the kick-off, as Rory Hamill pressurised their fullback, won the ball and delivered a pass to his striking partner Vinny Sweeney. United’s top scorer steadied himself, but a Cliftonville defender was able to block the striker’s goalbound effort for a corner. Andy was once more ‘very handy’ with his delivery and big Gary Haveron should have scored with a ‘free’ header but unfortunately headed over the bar. Seven minutes later United fans thought they had increased their lead, when from another Rosbotham corner, Haveron this time did power a header into the net, but it was rightly disallowed for pushing. I personally thought this rather stupid as Haveron, had in my opinion, no need to ‘foul’ as the cross was nigh perfect and he is so good in the air. United seemed content after this to ‘rest on their laurels’ and defended rather too deeply for my liking. Cliftonville for their part, were guilty of shooting from long range and rarely troubled the United keeper. The home team did have a ‘major’ scare, when from a Cliftonville corner, the ball was ‘cleared’ off the line by United fullback Mal Donaghy. This seemed to wake United somewhat and as Cliftonville ‘rang’ the changes to their personnel they tried to up their game. Although they couldn’t get a concerted spell of pressure going, they did manage to mount a few attacks on the visitor’s goal. Midway through the half, Gareth Scates fell ‘foul’ of the referee’s interpretation of the ‘rules’ once more and was cautioned, but for what I have no idea, as he appeared to win the ball fair and square. Cliftonville players were ‘dropping like flies’ throughout the match and in my mind this was an attempt to influence the referee, which clearly worked in their favour. After 84 minutes United finally made the tie safe, when Rory Hamill, who 5 minutes earlier had been fouled but had had the decision reversed by the linesman, won a free for hand ball five yards from the by-line and near the touch line. As the visitors were keeping three men up, a positive move, but rather ‘foolhardy’ in my opinion, it left acres of space in their penalty box. Young Andy once more delivered the perfect cross and this time Gary Haveron rose unchallenged to power a header into the back of the net to secure the tie and put United into the Shield semi-final. With the game safe the United manager withdrew, young Andy and Rory, giving Melly and McDowell a run for the final 5 minutes. Hamill and Rosbotham rightly received a tumultuous round of applause from the home crowd, as they had been the architects of United’s victory. United probably could and should have increased their lead, when McDowell was wrongly judged to be offside, when he had timed his run to perfection, which left him clear on goal. Despite the referee finding 5 minutes of stoppage time, United ran out comfortable winners and in the process gained some revenge for their league defeat to the same opponents back in September. United have now set up a possible game against their county Antrim rivals Larne and their ‘dear’ former manager Kenny Shiels; I can hardly wait for the ‘draw’, maybe we’ll be walking once more, in a ‘Sky Blue’ wonderland.

McFrederick 7 Hamill 8 MoM: Hamill

Donaghy 7 Sweeney 7

McCabe ` 7 Scates 7

Haveron 7 Rosbotham 8 Referee: K. Ginnet 3

Watson 8 1st Sub Melly 6

Smyth 7 2nd Sub McDowell 7

Boydie 7

Handy Andy!

After the ‘inept’ display by the Sky Blues last week, the United manager got them fired up a bit for yesterday’s game, against Lisburn Distillery. Sky Blue Sport had urged manager Tommy Wright to bring in out of favour striker Kevin Kelbie, in order to accommodate the switching of Scates to centre midfield. The manager chose to take another ‘tack’, by switching young Andy Rosbotham to the right and restoring the ‘veteran’ Boydie wide on the left, the rest of the team remained unchanged. Distillery, with the wind at their tails, made the brighter start and the home team were indebted to keeper Willie McFrederick for a brilliant save from a Sean Armstrong header, after Donaghy had been left for dead by the Whites winger. Five minutes later, Boydie under pressure, misplaced a header which was destined for the net, until the keeper once more saved his ‘blushes’, finger-tipping the ball over the bar. United then began to exert a grip on the game with Scatesy taking control of centre midfield. From one of his through passes Rory Hamill burst through the Whites defence, but decided to pass instead of going for goal, a strange decision for a ‘classy’ player like himself. Five minutes later Hamill released his strike partner Vinny Sweeney, but he like Hamill earlier elected to pass, rather than shoot, with the keeper scrambling to get back on his goal-line, his cross alas was too deep for any United attacker. Referee Davey ‘Tiny Testes’ Malcolm, gave proof of nothing having changed in that department, by allowing the visitors to get away with ‘four deliberate’ handballs during the game. This was especially frustrating for United and their fans, as almost every time danger threatened, out would come a hand to stop play. Now I’m not one who advocates that this should be an automatic booking, but I do believe that after the second incident the offender should’ve been talked to and after that the ‘mandatory’ yellow card should’ve been flourished. United missed a couple of good chances from Rosbotham inswinging corners, when they were lying too deep and the keeper caught them easily. Rory Hamill then got to the byline before sending over a low cross which the United front line failed to take advantage of. Leading scorer Vinny Sweeney was guilty of a bad miss, when from one corner partially cleared, Boydie delivered a ‘gem’ to the centre of the six-yard box, only for Vinny to head wide with the net at his mercy. Five minutes later he screwed another chance wide and United fans were left wondering if it was going to be another of them days. Halftime was reached with the score locked at 0-0 and during the interval we heard the ‘glorious news’ that Coleraine were being beat four nil, it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

United didn’t completely dominate the second half, but with the chances they had, a scoreline of 4-1 would not have flattered them. Having said that, it did take them 14 minutes to find the goal which secured the points, but I think it was worth the wait. Rory Hamill, showing great skill and his renowned battling qualities, picked up the ball near the halfway line. With a Whites defender trying to rip his shirt off, he nevertheless burst past him, before delivering an inch perfect pass to young Andy Rosbotham, the youngster showing maturity way beyond his years, held his nerve, to slot the ball past the helpless Distillery keeper and put United one up. To say that United were worthy of this lead was to make an understatement and Boydie almost doubled their lead, when after a typical mazy run, he as 'usual' found himself on his wrong foot, his right and could only fire the ball wide. Distillery manager Paul Kirk took off the ineffective Armstrong and another player whose name eludes me, bringing on Darren Armour and Conor Hagen. Armour, needs no introduction to Sky Blue fans, as he has always has been a ‘thorn in the flesh’, either with vital goals or heavy tackles, which referees allow him to get away with. Shortly after his introduction the Whites had their one and only real chance of the second period and it was one of United’s star performers Gareth Scates who allowed them to set it up. Distillery had won a throw–in on their right about three quarters way along the pitch, Scatesy came rushing out, but instead of closing the player down he allowed him to dribble past and his low cross skimmed across the home six-yard box, but luckily for United no-one could get a ‘telling’ touch. Shortly after this United fullback Craig McClean was caught by a ‘vicious’ over the ball tackle by Darren Armour, which should’ve brought a straight red card, but ‘tiny testes’ Malcolm merely cautioned him. This really annoyed the home fans as Armour had appeared to head-butt United defender Albert Watson in the lead up to this incident. With ten minutes remaining United midfielder Gary Haveron and Boydie clashed heads, with the Larne man needing treatment. When play restarted the Whites threw the ball into touch, instead of giving it back to the home team as is the norm. Two minutes later, Sweeney, with his back to goal, laid the ball off to Scates who unfortunately went for the ‘spectacular’ and shot over the bar, when picking his spot would’ve been the wiser option. A Distillery player went down injured and instead of playing the ball out immediately, the visitors tried to make ground by playing the ball deep into the United half. For this misdemeanour and their earlier unsporting behaviour, United didn’t return the ball to them and just played on from the throw-in. Vinny Sweeney then perpetrated the ‘miss of the match’, when a driven cross from McClean found him unmarked at the far post, but he somehow failed to make contact and the ball went harmlessly wide. With the Whites striving for an equaliser, Tommy Wright took off first Haveron, who was led away by ambulance personnel, with Dean Youle taking his place and then Andy Rosbotham, who received a huge ovation from the home crowd, with Melly taking his place. After a spell of Distillery pressure Craig McClean carried the ball from deep in his own half, but unfortunately elected to shoot early and narrowly missed the target. Two minutes later the referee brought proceedings to a halt and United had gained three points and jumped five places in the league table, from tenth to fifth. They are actually joint fifth with Glenavon, who rather surprisingly have an even worse goals against column than us, maybe there is a ‘Santa Clause’ after all!

McFrederick 8 Hamill 7 MoM: McFrederick

Donaghy 6 Sweeney 6

McClean 8 Scates 8

Haveron 6 Boydie 7 Referee: D. Malcolm 3

Alb. Watson 7 1st Sub: Youle 6

Smyth 7 2nd Sub: Melly 6

Rosbotham 8

Patrick Punishes!

For 28 minutes on Saturday, Ballymena United looked to be in charge of their own destiny. That’s not to say that they were totally dominant, Limavady looked dangerous at times, but United at this stage had already carved out and missed three or four chances. So when Rory Hamill chested down Donaghy’s long throw at the edge of the six-yard box, swivelled and passed for Vinny Sweeney to rifle the ball into the net, I thought we were about to break our Limavady hoodoo. Nothing of course could have been farther from the truth. United had missed the target on three occasions with headers from Rosbotham corners, one in particular from Gary Haveron a glaring miss, with the goal gaping., while no-one was able to get on the end of a Gary Smyth header which trickled across the goalmouth, just needing a touch. Rosbotham had also ‘smacked’ the crossbar with a free kick, which the referee adjudged former United keeper Dwayne Nelson had touched for a corner, but in fact he was nowhere near it. Limavady of course didn’t lie down after United opened the scoring and with another former Sky Blue, Lee Patrick bossing midfield, subjected the home team to some extensive pressure. Kieran Donaghy was getting caught out by the Limavady wide player and when McFrederick, who appeared to be fouled by a visiting forward, dropped the winger's cross ball, Patrick forced it over the goal-line in the 36th minute, to level the scores . I honestly waited for the goal to be disallowed for a foul on the keeper, but referee McFadden allowed the goal to stand, one of many strange decisions by the official. United manager Tommy Wright then failed his first tactical test of the season, when with Donaghy struggling he didn’t change things round and United in my mind paid the ultimate penalty. With the same starting line-up as last Saturday and the same subs, his options were obviously limited, but surely he should and could’ve, switched midfielder Dean Youle to right back to try and stem the Limavady flow, but I’m afraid he didn’t react. Donaghy had in fact come within an ace of giving United a two goal lead, when his ‘cross-cum-shot’ forced Nelson to push the ball over the bar, three minutes after United had taken the lead. But it was his defensive ‘frailties’ which cost the home team dearly and when he allowed the Limavady winger to get in a low cross on the stroke of halftime, the United defence were undone once more. As the ball was played along the 18 yard line, Patrick reacted first, turning to collect the ball, before firing into the bottom corner giving McFrederick no chance.

United, to their credit, came out for the second period and attempted to get into the game, but it was obvious a change was needed upfront, but the United management did nothing. Lee Patrick, who had already ‘got away’ with a couple of rough tackles, was lucky to stay on the pitch, when he ‘hacked’ down Sweeney when he burst through a static Limavady defence. Referee McFadden, who had already ‘talked’ to the player twice before, merely cautioned him. Two minutes later, United player Sweeney was somewhat ‘lucky’ to stay on the pitch, when he kicked out at visiting keeper Dwayne Nelson. The referee cautioned the home player also, two wrong decisions in my opinion and I think the United management must look into this incident as it could have been a costly misdemeanour. The United fans were calling for the manager to make a change, but he did nothing and we paid the ultimate penalty. Limavady broke down the left once more and when Donaghy allowed the cross to come in, the United defence went ‘asleep’ once more and the ball was drilled into the net to put the result beyond doubt. That goal came after 66 minutes and the manager finally awoke from his Saturday ‘afternoon nap’ and made a change. Unfortunately he made the wrong change, instead of taking off any of his two midfielders, who were outplayed throughout the match; he took off Andy Rosbotham, the only player who looked capable of unhinging the visiting defence. He also in my mind ‘boobed’ by bringing on Paul McDowell, when surely Kevin Kelbie would have been a much better option as McDowell has failed to impress so far. This also meant Hamill moving into centre midfield, which although a good move, meant he was missed upfront. Would it not I thought have been wiser, to push Scatesy into midfield and have either Hamill or Sweeney switching to the right. Ten minutes later he took off Youle, bringing on Boydie and suddenly we looked somewhat more dangerous. McDowell was guilty of a horrendous miss, when he attempted a long shot from 30 yards, after being put through by Sweeney. If this had been a back pass to the keeper, it would have been excellent, but as a shot on goal it was pathetic, as it trundled along the ground into the keepers grateful arms. United failed to capitalise on another corner, when Gary Smyth failed to find the target from a corner and the match just petered out after that. Was this just a ‘blip’ I wondered, a costly ‘blip’ as United missed the chance to move within two points of fourth place. I’m not so sure it’s just a ‘blip’, as in my opinion, United and their coaching staff are devoid of ideas and with four hard games coming up they will be tested to the full. We’ll now see what big Tam and his staff are made of, starting with next Saturday’s game at home to Lisburn Distillery, if a ‘crisis’ is to be avoided, a victory, is surely a must!


McFrederick 6 Hamill 6 MoM: Rosbotham

Donaghy 5 Sweeney 7

McClean 6 Haveron 5

Youle 5 Rosbotham 7 Referee: P. McFadden 3

Albert Watson 6 1st. Sub McDowell 5

Smyth 6 2nd. Sub Boydie 6

Scates 5

Clandy Buoyed!

With none of United’s three latest injury victims, Phil Charnock, Stephen Collier and Aiden Watson making it, the United manager had three changes forced upon him. Gary Haveron came off the bench into centre midfield, with Dean Youle selected alongside him and Kieran Donaghy, out of favour since attending a family wedding three weeks ago, returned in his familiar right back slot. United almost took the lead after 30 seconds, when Rory Hamill broke down the right wing, but his cross was too deep for the unmarked Sweeney and so the chance was lost. A minute or so later, Donaghy missed a tackle on Ards player Jason Hill in midfield and he passed to his unmarked left back, who without hardly any hesitation, swung a deep cross to the far post. Bangor’s on-loan coloured striker, the six-foot four Avvn Jephcott, leapt high above Gary Smyth to send a powerful header into the net and put Ards one up. I was a little perturbed at this turn of events as I thought, the man with the unpronounceable first name was going to be too much for our defence to handle. But Gary Smyth proved equal to the task and in fact rendered Jephcott fairly ineffective for the rest of the game in heading duels, at least. That goal came in the third minute and United ‘spurned a couple of chances to get back on level terms. First Rory Hamill found himself one on one with the Bangor keeper, but chose an attempted chip, which sailed harmlessly over the bar, when surely a shot would’ve been more appropriate. That was after 10 minutes, but worse was to come five minutes later, when Haveron fed Scates on the right wing, Hamill somehow managed to push the winger’s cross wide when it looked easier to score. After 23 minutes Haveron almost equalised when his header from Rosbotham’s corner was kicked off the line with the keeper stranded. Craig McClean, who has really come on by leaps and bounds of late, put over a delightful cross to the far post where Gareth Scates headed it back across goal for Dean Youle to head his first senior goal from 8 yards out. That goal came in the 28th minute and it was no more than United deserved. United should’ve increased their lead when Gary Haveron found the unmarked Sweeney, but the striker failed to find the target from 20 yards out. But Haveron and United were not going to be denied and the big Larne man made no mistake after 41 minutes, when he headed yet another Rosbotham corner into the net off the crossbar. Willie McFrederick, often criticised by yours truly, made a great save on the stroke of halftime, when Ards with some slick passing opened up the United defence, but McFrederick saved well with his legs.

United bombarded the Ards goal at the start of the second half and we had yet another strange decision, when the linesman at that end of the ground gave an offside with two Bangor men stranded on their goal- line. Gary Smyth had a shot cleared off the line from a Rosbotham corner and then Rosbotham almost scored from the rebound, when the Bangor keeper was adjudged to have punched his shot round the post for another corner. Personally I thought the ball hit the post, but referee Michael Ross thought otherwise. This corner proved expensive for Ards as Sweeney rose unchallenged at the far post to head United’s third goal in this game and his own sixth of the season, in the 58th minute. After this United seemed to believe the game was over as they went into defensive mode and allowed the home team some hope. During this last third of the game, McFrederick made a couple of good saves and Albert Watson made a last ditch tackle to thwart an Ards forward. During this spell the United manager took off first Gareth Scates, just seconds after he hit a wild shot over the bar, his one blemish in an otherwise excellent performance. Paul McDowell was the man to replace Scates, with Sweeney moving onto the wing, to allow the former Glens striker to partner Rory Hamill upfront. Then with 8 minutes remaining he took off Hamill and brought on Kevin Kelbie. McDowell came within an ace of his first senior goal for the club in the 89th minute, when his rasping drive from 20 yards, just flashed past the post. This was in fact the last real action of the match as referee Michael Ross brought proceedings to a close two minutes later. United had taken another three points, but they had not triumphed quite in the way they should’ve. I would like to see them put teams to the ‘sword’ instead of taking their foot off the gas and giving teams like Ards hope, when they shouldn’t have any.

McFrederick 8 Hamill 6 MoM: Gary Smyth

Donaghy 6 Sweeney 7

McClean 8 Haveron 8

Youle 7 Rosbotham 7 Referee: M. Ross 4

Watson 7 1st Sub: McDowell 6

Smyth 8 2nD Sub: Kelbie 6

Scates 8

Seventh Heaven!

After the frustration of losing to Linfield last week, when the match turned after a horrendous decision by referee Adrian McCourt, who awarded the visitors a penalty when no contact was made, it was vital for United to get three points at home to Dungannon Swifts today. United manager Tommy Wright made two changes to his midfield, bringing in young Andy Rosbotham on the left side in place of the injured Stuart King and putting Gareth Scates on in a wide right position, which meant a place on the bench for Gary Haveron, the rest of the team kept their places. United took a somewhat surprise lead after nine minutes, when Swifts central defender, Gary Fitzpatrick, just back from injury, gave away a needless corner with a misplaced back pass to keeper Stuart Addis. Andy Rosbotham swung the ‘inswinger’ in with his left boot and United captain Gary Smyth met it perfectly with his head to power the ball into the net. The lead lasted barely three minutes, after the visitors won a corner on their left. The ball was swung over to the far post and with keeper McFrederick rooted to his goal-line, Fitzpatrick’s downward header back, was adjudged to have crossed the goal-line, with the United defenders flatfooted. The Sky Blues were in tatters after this and McFrederick made a good save soon after, as the visitors stepped up the pace. In a rare United breakaway, striker Rory Hamill eluded his marker and shot goalwards, Addis could only parry the ball which fell to Rosbotham and he hammered it into the net from twelve yards nutmegging Swifts number 22 Kevin Keegan in the process, to restore United’s 2-1 advantage. That was in the 19th minute and three minutes later we had a brawl involving most of the players from both teams. Referee Michael Ross failed to take control of this situation, but two minutes later was forced to book Keegan after a heavy challenge on United’s Rory Hamill. After thirty minutes he also cautioned United player Aiden Watson for a heavy challenge and at this stage the match was in danger of spiralling out of control. The home team tightened up their defence and managed to hold their lead till halftime. As the teams left the field there was a scuffle in the tunnel, involving the Swifts assistant manager, who had attempted to incite the home crowd.

United were caught cold two minutes after the break when a Dungannon forward rose unchallenged to level the scores at two apiece. United tried to claw their way back into the game but were frustrated by the hard tackling visiting team. Young left back Craig McClean attempted to show his forwards how, with a lone dribble from his own box to the oppositions but found he had nobody to pass to and the chance was lost. United’s central defender Albert Watson went down injured and when the ball went dead, play was held up while he received treatment. When Albert left the field as is the rule now, United failed to reorganise their defence and this led to the Swifts taking the lead. From the throw-in the ball was cleared to the left wing and Gary Smyth came out to close the winger down with the result that when the cross came in, an unmarked forward had the easy task of heading past McFrederick. This goal came 19 minutes into the second half and I wondered if United could get back into the game. The answer came almost immediately, when we won another corner on the left. When this ball was swung in by Rosbotham, it was cleared for another corner on the right. Rosbotham took this corner also and set it perfectly on midfielder Phil Charnock’s head and he gave Addis no chance from 8 yards out, to level the scores at 3-3. That goal came in the 66th minute and United began probing at the Swifts defence in search of the winner. After a neat bit of interplay involving half a dozen passes, young Rosbotham flicked the ball into Rory Hamill’s path. The United striker swivelled round and unleashed a piledriver from 20 yards to beat Addis all ends up and put United 4-3 ahead. After this goal United manager Wright rang the changes, first replacing Aiden Watson with Gary Haveron and then 5minutes later taking off young Rosbotham and bringing on veteran Boydie. With five minutes remaining and United still stretching the visitors defence, the United manager took off Rory Hamill to tumultuous applause, bringing on Paul McDowell. Referee Ross only found two minutes of added time and United had got back to winning ways, in what can only be described, as a seven goal thriller!  

McFrederick          6          Hamill               8     MoM:   Hamill

Collier               7          Charnock          8

McClean          7          Sweeney          7

Aiden Watson           6          Rosbotham          8     Referee:     M. Ross          3     

Albert Watson          7          1st Sub: Haveron     7

Smyth               8          2nd Sub: Boydie     7

Scates               7          3rd Sub: McDowell     7