Aiden Delivers!

The much feared potential ‘banana skin’ of Kilmore Rec was seen off quite easily in the end by United, who were fairly clinical, though it still wasn’t the stroll it maybe should’ve been. United manager Tommy Wright stuck with the same fourteen players, who did battle with Newry City the previous week. Phil Charnock, who has been signed until the end of the season under the same terms, no play no pay, was due to play for the reserves at Newry, but the game was called off at the last minute, while Rory Hamill, still plagued by his mystery injury, was not risked and Boydie, who seems to have become the ‘forgotten’ man, was also omitted from the fourteen. Surely the versatile Boydie, who can play either defence or midfield, deserves a place on the bench, but the manager obviously doesn’t think so. United should’ve been two goals ahead in the first two minutes, first Vinny Sweeney failed to find the target from inside the box, after a flick on by Kelbie, when it looked easier to score and then a minute later Gareth Scates fired wide also. But United weren’t to be denied for long and after a good run and cross by Kelbie, Aiden Watson opened the scoring, heading into the net after his initial shot came off the Kilmore keeper. We all waited for the floodgates to open, but as is usual it didn’t happen and there were a few anxious moments, for the home supporters, as Kilmore were allowed a foothold in the game. Albert Watson, who has been turning in excellent performances of late, had a first half he’ll want to forget, as his timing and marking were non-existent and Kieran Donaghy was also badly off form. Kilmore tried their best, but failed to put the United goal under the ultimate pressure, although there was a couple of close shaves. United for their part, despite forcing several corners, couldn’t add to their total. It looked like it was going to stay at one goal to nil, but finally United did manage to string half a dozen passes together and Scates fired home from the edge of the box to give United a barely deserved two goal lead after 40 minutes. At halftime, despite the ‘unprofessional announcements’, which have become a feature at the Showgrounds lately, we were told that a ‘real’ United hero, the ‘Ballymena Boy’ himself, Norman Clarke was at the match. What a pity he wasn’t 30 years younger I thought, Norman also must have ‘cringed’ at the sight of the man at present holding his number 11 shirt, Stuarty King, who was a virtual passenger in the first half.

The second half got off to a bad start for the visitors, when their left back, in attempting to make a clearance near his own goal-line, fell awkwardly and had to be helped off the pitch. United without ever playing to their full potential kept a tighter grip on the game in the second period and Vinny Sweeney almost increased their lead. The big striker just won a race for the ball with the Kilmore keeper and his high chip bounced off the post to safety. After 58 minutes United manager Tommy Wright, took off goalscorer Gareth Scates and brought on Dominic Melly. This had an almost instantaneous effect, when Melly sped down the wing and swung over the first decent cross of the day. United’s top scorer Vinny Sweeney was blatantly pushed as he waited on the cross, but the ball fell to Gary Haveron, who blasted the ball into the net. Haveron, who still looks as out of place in midfield, as Gareth Scates does on the wing, was obviously delighted with his strike and it eased United towards the next round of the ‘blue riband’ trophy. The United manager brought on his other two subs almost immediately, first Sweeney made way for Paul McDowell and then the ineffective King was replaced by Andy Rosbotham. Kilmore got a bit more possession after this, forcing several corners, but Willie McFrederick, in the United goal, was at his most commanding and kept the visitors at bay. Kieran Donaghy improved a bit in the second period, but Craig McClean seemed to suffer from the ineffective ‘bug’ that had affected Donaghy and Albert Watson in the first period and it gave United a few anxious moments as Kilmore attacked their left flank. Kevin Kelbie proved, if proof were needed that United dearly miss the much sought after ‘target man’ as he headed over on at least two occasions, one from an inch perfect Rosbotham corner, which any decent striker would’ve buried. The only player apart from keeper McFrederick, who could put his hand on his heart and say I’ve given this game 100% commitment was midfielder Aiden Watson. He had easily his best game as a ‘Sky Blue’ and it was fitting that he should score United’s fourth goal, with a crisp shot from the edge of the box. United ‘missed’ a few more chances but held out for a victory, which puts them into the next round, a trip away to Lisburn Distillery, not the draw we would’ve wanted, but not an impossible task. But we’ll need to improve greatly on this showing if we are to reach the Irish cup final, or indeed to progress to the next round. The United manager needs to step up his quest for a striker and his former player Paul Brown would fit the bill perfectly, the only stumbling block being the transfer fee demanded by his present club Sligo Rovers. So if any Sky Blue fan has five grand kicking about in their attic, I’m sure United treasurer, Noel Millar, would be delighted to take it off your hands, ah well, we live in hope!


McFrederick          8          Aiden Watson               8     MoM : Aiden Watson

Donaghy          6          Sweeney               7

McClean          5          Kelbie                    6

Haveron          7          King                    5     Referee:     A. Black     5     

Albert Watson          5          1st Sub: Melly               7

Smyth               6          2nd Sub: McDowell          6

Scates               7          3rd Sub: Rosbotham          6