Unlikely Hero!

Chatting to United fans before tonight’s match there was one thing we were in agreement about, Stuarty King just wasn’t doing it for us, how ironic that conversation turned out to be. As we thought the United manager said same again to the line-up that began last week, which meant no place in the team for top scorer Vinny Sweeney. Nigel Boyd cried off with a chest complaint, so Gordon Simms got his place on the bench. United started well and took the game to the Swifts on what looked like a ‘superb’ if somewhat bumpy playing surface. As is usual for United they created and missed two glorious chances, firstly Gary Smyth rose unchallenged to a King corner, before heading over the bar and then Paul Brown sent a back-header weakly into the keeper’s arms. The Swifts took the lead after 17 minutes with their first really meaningful attack and Willie McFrederick and his defence were totally to blame for this one. As a cross came in from the wing McFrederick stood ‘rooted’ to his goal-line and I joke not, the ball almost hit him it was that close to him. Winger Gerry Rowe failed to put in a meaningful tackle and when the ball was played into our box a Dungannon forward met it on the half-volley to put the Swifts one up. United then equalised more or less straight from the kick-off. Donaghy hit a ball over the Swifts defence and Stuarty King beat the keeper in a race for the ball and even though a Swift’s defender tried to clear his goalbound shot, he only succeeded in helping it into the net. United kept the home team under pressure for the rest of the half and their heavy tackles were aided and abetted by referee Frankie Hiles, who appeared to have no yellow cards with him. Despite winning numerous free kicks United couldn’t find the vital breakthrough and I thought as usual we might just regret those missed chances. We had a real let-off when from a left wing corner, McFrederick again watched the ball bounce inside his six-yard box and did nothing. Five minutes from halftime McFrederick was jostled as he attempted to catch a cross ball and referee Hiles allowed play to continue, but luckily for United a Swifts forward handled the ball and their goal survived. Then on the stroke of halftime, the United defence failed to put in a tackle as Dungannon mounted an attack and suddenly the ball was in the back of the net to put the home team 2-1 ahead at the interval.

At the start of the second period the Swifts went all out on attack in an attempt to make the match safe, but the United defence, ably marshalled by veteran Gary Smyth, held firm and McFrederick was rarely called upon, although I was glad to see United finally get their act together and go on the offensive themselves. During a spell of pressure from the 58th minute until the 70th United carved out several openings, but seemed unable or unwilling to take them. Gary Haveron had a dreadful miss when he volleyed wildly over the bar from 20 yards after Gary Smyth had laid off a corner to him. Then Smyth blasted a free kick from just outside the ‘D’ wide of the posts. But the worst miss of the night came in the 70th minute when new signing Paul Brown got on the end of Stuarty King’s delightful cross, but shot tamely at the home keeper. Referee Frankie Hiles finally got his pen working, cautioning the Swifts two central defenders for persistent fouling. Paul Brown was replaced by Vinny Sweeney after 72 minutes and four minutes later United got a deserved equaliser. After a Swifts attack broke down, Gerry Rowe found Kelbie and he in turn fed the ball to the alert Stuarty King. The United winger burst through on goal before calmly slotting the ball past the home keeper. Stuarty then ran about the pitch in a strange ‘celebratory ritual ’which hopefully we’ll see many more times. Despite mounting some more attacks United couldn’t find the necessary telling pass to unlock the home defence, while the home team had nothing in their armoury but long hopeful balls into the United goalmouth, with which United dealt fairly easily. As the referee blew the final whistle after one minute of stoppage time, I breathed a sigh of relief that we had secured a point. A win would’ve been great, no doubt about that, but I believe a draw keeps us right in there and leaves our fate in our own hands. If we can get a few good results strung together I think third place is still a possibility!

McFrederick               6          Rowe               6     MoM:     King

Donaghy               7          Scates               7          

McClean               6          Brown               6

Haveron               7          Kelbie               7       Referee:     F. Hiles          4

Albert Watson               7          King               8

Smyth                    7          1st Sub: Sweeney     7