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