Final Failure!

I have to say that the games I fear most and fear is not too strong a word believe me, are the ones when United face so called easy games. Over the years, in fact let’s be honest, over the many years of following the Sky Blues, they’ve had lots of hiccups against seemingly weaker opposition. So it was with a little trepidation that I approached yesterday’s game against bottom club Ards at the Showgrounds. My fears were totally vindicated, when after only 6 minutes, United keeper Willie McFrederick called for a high ball inside the box. Willie as most United fans realise, rarely comes for any ball and stands ‘rooted’ to his goal-line when the ball is easily his. I could see as he came for this cross that he had totally misjudged it and the ball looked as if it was destined for the net. Luckily for United, team Captain Gary Smyth was covering the inept keeper and saved the day with a timely clearance. The goalkeepers place is a position which has haunted United since manager Wright ‘foolishly’ released number one custodian, ‘Goosey’ Robinson, before having another keeper in place. United recovered from this early setback and began stringing a few attacks themselves. After 14 minutes Gareth Scates almost gave them the lead with a good shot from fully 30 yards, which the Ards keeper pushed for a corner. As is usual on these occasions, Gary Smyth and Albert Watson went up for the corner. The corner proved fruitless as usual and when it was ‘punted’ clear I could see that Craig McClean and Donaghy were struggling as they attempted to defend against one lone Ards attacker. This in my opinion is a knock-on effect from our keeper’s reluctance to come for back passes and through balls. So it proved once more as McClean and Donaghy both dithered, Jason Hill of Ards nipped between them before slotting the ball into the net past the stranded McFrederick. United were given a lifeline 9 minutes later when referee Black, awarded them a penalty for dangerous play, booking goalscorer Hill and another player in the process. With United’s two ‘normal’ penalty kick men both on the bench, Hamill and top scorer Sweeney, the task fell to Kevin Kelbie. The Ards goalkeeper easily saved Kelbie’s feeble kick and United had missed their opportunity. Gary Haveron missed his ‘customary’ free header from a King corner, he should be United’s top scorer by now in chances and then Albert Watson saw a header cannon off the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up. After yet another Ards player had been booked, the referee had to encourage the visiting keeper to ‘get on with it’, as he was already wasting time. Personally I think the only deterrent for this offence is the yellow card as then the offender is walking the ‘tightrope’ for the rest of the game. United were unable to find the vital breakthrough for the rest of the half and came in to quiet reception at halftime.

The second half was little improvement on the first, but at least United did try to force the pace. Gerard Rowe, named in an unchanged starting line-up by the United manager came more into the game in the second period. The referee finally lost patience with the Ards keeper’s time-wasting and cautioned him, not before time in my opinion. In a strange quirk of fate as he attempted to take the goalkick immediately after being booked, the ball actually moved and he had to replace it, luckily for him the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt. The home team were a bit panicky when the opportunities came and I honestly couldn’t see where we were going to conjure up an equaliser from. Gerard Rowe almost became the hero when he stroked the ball goalwards, only for the Ards keeper to save with his feet. I almost resigned myself to defeat after this as I thought it was just going to be one of those days. Twenty five minutes into the half the United manager decided a change was necessary, bringing on Sweeney and Hamill, for Rowe and Kelbie. I and my colleagues at Sky Blue Sport had thought that Kelbie might have been rested for yesterday’s game, as he must sit out next Saturday’s trip to Limavady due to a one match ban. This move was greeted by boos from the home supporters who felt it would’ve been more prudent to have taken off a defender and a defensive midfielder, rather than two forwards. Soon after United dropped Gary Haveron back to make three at the back and played Hamill behind the front two. United were given a lifeline when Hamill sent in a clever shot which the visiting keeper could only parry and Paul Brown volleyed the rebound into the net. This should’ve set up a grandstand finish for United, but like their last game against Dungannon two weeks ago, they seemed unable to go for the ‘killer’ punch. Surely with a win taking them up into fourth place it was almost vital and in fact the United manager was quoted as saying we were facing 8 cup finals. Well I have news for you Tommy, we failed miserably in our first final and that usually sets the trend. The referee, who had cautioned at least five of the visitors during the game, then failed to take action when one of their players went down feigning injury. McFrederick came to his teams rescue when he pushed a fierce shot round the post as Ards came out of their defensive shell. United almost snatched the winner late on when Craig McClean’s cross came off the crossbar but fell beyond the waiting United strikers. Two minutes earlier Stuarty King had shot wide when well placed, a missed chance to be a hero for the second game running. The referee despite signalling that he was adding on time for the visitors time-wasting tactics, played only two minutes of stoppage time and United had once more failed to deliver when the ‘chips’ were down!

McFrederick 5 Scates 7 MoM: Watson

Donaghy 6 Brown 7

McClean 6 Kelbie 6 Referee: A. Black 4

Haveron 6 King 6

Albert Watson 7 1st Sub: Hamill 7

Smyth 7 2nd Sub: Sweeney 6

Rowe 6