Whited Out!

The dream I’m afraid is over for another season, United capitulated at New Grovesnor today despite taking the lead. The difference in the two sides was plain to see as the Whites were hungry for the ball and too many United players were just going through the motions. As prophesised on Sky Blue Sport, neither Paul Brown nor Craig McClean made the starting line-up and United began with Kevin Kelbie up front alongside last week’s hero Rory Hamill, with Boydie filling in at leftback in place of McClean. United survived an early scare when keeper Willie McFrederick ‘flapped’ at a long throw and even though the ball ended up in the net, referee Adrian McCourt adjudged that no-one had made contact and gave a goal-kick to United. Twenty two minutes into the game, United against the run of play, opened the scoring when Hamill’s driven cross was neatly trapped by Kelbie, before ‘rifling’ a right foot shot into the net beating home keeper Phillip Matthews all ends up. Surely I thought we’ll starting stringing a few moves together but we were content to keep pumping long ball up front hoping for a vital touch which never materialised. Despite forcing several corners we never looked likely to increase our score and as the half wore on our defence got ever more ‘jittery’. Despite there being no stoppages of any duration, referee McCourt found two minutes to add on and this was to prove costly for United. One minute into injury time the home team won a corner on their right and when it came over former United player Paul Muir rose unchallenged to head the ball goalwards. Willie McFrederick could only pop the ball up in the air and then punch it again, but it was forced over the line to bring the scores level. Twenty seconds later the referee brought the half to a close and I had the sneaky feeling that he had just brought United’s season to a close also.

Two minutes into the second period and the game was virtually over as a contestant, when the Whites number five rose unchallenged for a corner and gave McFrederick no chance as he headed powerfully into the net. After this I thought United played into the home team’s hands so to speak as they continued to launch high balls into their goalmouth which were ‘bread and butter’ for their big defenders. Even though they did create one or two chances the vital breakthrough eluded them. Midway through the half we witnessed one of those unsavoury incidents that give the game in general a bad name. Rory Hamill’s shot took a deflection and home keeper Matthews dived to save but released the ball slightly. Vinny Sweeny, like any good poacher pounced but made minimal contact with the keeper, who then rolled histrionically on the ground, causing referee McCourt to caution the United player, a very harsh decision. Matthews was completely unscathed and in fact took the free kick himself without any discomfort whatsoever. Gary Haveron went off to be replaced by Aiden Watson and he showed some nice touches, but United couldn’t find the vital breakthrough. With ten minutes remaining the United manager took off Boydie, switching to three at the back and bringing on Rowe to partner Kelbie up front with Hamill dropping back into midfield. United huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way through the Whites well marshalled defence. United looked to have snatched a late equaliser when a Gareth Scates shot eluded keeper Matthews as he collided with one of his defenders. The United fans and players looked on in disbelief as the referee gave a free out to the home team and manager Wright was ordered from the dugout for his protests. On the stroke of fulltime Albert Watson headed a Scates cross wide when it looked easier to score and United had suffered yet another ignominious defeat. Manager Wright has said we are facing eight cup finals during the run to the end of the season. We have now played three and our record is to say the least disappointing, with two draws and one defeat and after this the games will get a lot harder. When you can’t put away teams like Distillery and Limavady, never mind Ards, then surely you’re admitting that your players are just not good enough. Rather than ‘re-signing’ players, I think we need a good clearout, as there are too many people happy to just get a good payday and they’re no good to us!

McFrederick          6          Hamill                    6     MoM:  Boydie

Donaghy          6          Sweeney               6

Boydie               7          Kelbie                    7

Haveron          5          King                    5     Referee:     A. McCourt          2

Albert Watson          6          1st Sub: Aiden Watson     6

Smyth               6          2nd Sub: Rowe               6

Scates               7