Kelbi Delivers!

Kevin Kelbie maintained his hot goalscoring form with a brace against Armagh City today, in fact the Scotsman almost completed his hat-trick but his flick, was just gathered by Armagh keeper Paul Rice. United, with Albert Watson back in the starting line-up in place of Gordon Simms and the ‘rested’ Gareth Scates restored at the expense of Gerard Rowe, started somewhat slowly against the visitors. In fact despite some early pressure from the Sky Blues, it was the visitors who forced the first corner. Armagh it must be said have the worst looking away kit in the Irish league, to my mind it’s the colour of something resembling ‘vomit’ after a heavy night’s drinking, at least as far as I can remember that is. United midfielder Gary Haveron missed a glorious chance to put his team ahead after 18 minutes when he headed Stuart King’s in-swinging corner over the bar from six yards out. United Captain Gary Smyth had elected to attack the Fisherwick end in the first half, a break from tradition as the Sky Blues generally like to attack that end in the second half. United fans were beginning to think that was a mistake when they finally broke the deadlock. Vinny Sweeney took a pass from Aiden Watson on the halfway line and fed it into the path of his strike partner Kevin Kelbie. Kevin raced towards the visitor’s goal before, before driving a shot past Paul Rice for his ninth goal of the season. That goal came after 25 minutes and the home team should’ve drove home their advantage after this, but they let the visitors off the hook so to speak. From yet another King corner the ball was partially cleared and when the former Linfield man squared the ball once more, Gary Haveron could only find the side netting with another ‘free’ header. United in a somewhat more professional approach compared to last week, led capably by veteran Gary Smyth and Albert Watson, managed to keep the visitors at bay until halftime.

Five minutes into the second period Scates and Kelbie combined to put the match beyond Armagh’s reach. Scatesy ran onto a Donaghy throw in and after getting to the by-line found the unmarked Kelbie who hit a crisp left foot shot into the net for his tenth goal of the season. United manager Tommy Wright signalled his intentions immediately by sending his three subs to get warmed up in preparation for introducing them. Before this could take place Kelbie almost completed his hat-trick, when he ‘flicked’ an Aiden Watson pass goalwards, but former United keeper Paul Rice denied the burly striker, with a good catch. With 25 minutes gone the United manager, no doubt with Wednesday’s County Antrim Shield final in mind, took off Aiden Watson and Scates, bringing on Phil Charnock and Gerard Rowe. United looked a wee bit disjointed after this as Aiden Watson and Gary Haveron were for my money dominant in midfield and Charnock took some time to find his feet. Referee Robert Penney ‘bottled out’ when Kevin Kelbie took the ball round the Armagh keeper only to be hauled down on the left edge of the penalty box, he merely gave the keeper a yellow card when it should’ve merited a straight red. With 20 minutes left the United manager brought on Rory Hamill for Kevin Kelbie, who left the field to a standing ovation from the Sky Blue faithful and a much deserved standing ovation it must be said. United kept trying to increase their lead but allowed the visitors more of the ball, but with goalkeeper McFrederick in top form Armagh never came close to breaching the United line. With time ticking away Armagh brought on their final sub who got the second biggest cheer of the day (and rightly so it must be said), former United stalwart Mark Carlisle (Marco). Deep into injury time Rory Hamill and Rowe combined well out on the left and the ‘trialist’ lifted a perfect cross to the far post for United’s top scorer Vinny Sweeney to volley United’s third goal. This was Sweeney’s first goal for a full calendar month so maybe that’ll put him back into top scoring form for United’s tough five games which are coming up. A minute later the referee blew the final whistle and United had extended their unbeaten run to nine games and set up a ‘humdinger’ against Linfield next Wednesday night. Three points in the bag and a clean sheet to boot, but the next five weeks will really tell a tale and I’ll be there to tell it!

McFrederick 8 Aiden Watson 8 MoM: Kelbie

Donaghy 7 Sweeney 7

McClean 7 Kelbie 8

Haveron 8 King 7 Referee: R. Penney 4

Albert Watson 7 1st Sub: Rowe 7

Smyth 8 2nd Sub Charnock 7

Scates 7 3rd Sub: Hamill 7