Tommy Wrong!

Yet another three points presented to the opposition by this benevolent United defence, means the team have gone 9 games without a victory. I always knew this game against the Ports would be no pushover, but with most of their ‘big guns’ missing United could’ve and should’ve, seen them off. The United manager, who, like Sky Blue Sport, had said we were facing 9 cup finals in our last 9 league games, made what I thought was a rather strange team selection. Paul Brown and Craig McClean were both passed fit after injury, Big Tam decided to play McClean but send Brown down to the reserves. Surely if you really want to win your games, you need to go in with ‘all guns blazing’. Paul Brown has been less than impressive since his move to the Showgrounds, but his ‘nuisance value’ alone must surely make him an automatic starter for United. Tommy Wright had also asked the United fans to get behind their team for home games, as like all Irish league fans we tend to be lass vociferous at home, but I believe it’s up to the team to give us something to cheer and so far there’s been little of that. In the absence of Captain Gary Smyth due to a groin strain, Gordon Simms was promoted in his place, Craig McClean returned at leftback in place of Boydie who got a place on the bench. The United manager also left top scorer Vinny Sweeney on the bench, yet another strange decision, going with tiny midfielder Aiden Watson alongside Gary Haveron. These two players were swamped in midfield by Portadown’s Richard Clarke and the impressive Paddy Quinn who was a constant thorn in the flesh for United throughout the game. Portadown gave an early warning when Clarke drove the ball against the crossbar after ten minutes. But they weren’t to be denied for long and took the lead after 18 minutes when Gordon Simms was told by United keeper McFrederick not to play the ball back to him and he kicked it into touch instead. This was the beginning of the end for United as first the throw-in went over McClean’s head, then bounced over Simms, leaving Ports winger Taggart to side-foot the ball into the net. United keeper McFrederick as usual watched this catalogue of errors unfold, firmly ‘rooted’ to his goal-line. Two minutes later Kevin Kelbie went in late on Ports defender Convery who reacted angrily to the tackle and although he lifted his hands got off without a booking or the requisite sending off. Kelbie was rightly cautioned for his part and then Ports manager Ronnie McFall was ordered off for allegedly questioning the referee’s parentage. Six minutes later yet another defensive ‘horlicks’ allowed the Ports to increase their lead, when Donaghy and Scates failed to clear the ball and then Albert Watson allowed Taggart to put in a left wing cross which eluded McFrederick on the goal-line.  When the ball came back in Baker drove past the ‘hapless McFrederick to put the Ports 2-0 ahead. United were given a lifeline almost immediately when a low Scates corner was headed home by Rory Hamill, after his first effort had been blocked. United were repeatedly caught off-side by the working of the linesman’s flag by the Ports defenders, as every time Kelbie or Hamill broke through, Convery raised his arm and the linesman’s flag followed suit although some decisions were doubtful to say the least. United’s luck was right out when a Craig McClean speculative shot eluded Ports keeper Miskelly, but he somehow managed to push it round the post. The corner came to nothing and United went in at halftime trailing by two goals to one.

With no changes made at halftime United continued to be outplayed in midfield and it was no surprise when Ports increased their lead, but United defenders won’t want to see it again I’m sure. Ports fullback O’Hara was allowed to cross the ball from the left and McCann forced the ball home with the United defence looking on. This goal came after 58 minutes and still the United manager made no changes to his line up. The home crowd was getting increasingly restless and finally manager Wright changed things round, but done it rather strangely in my opinion. Despite the fact that Aiden Watson and Haveron were pathetic, he took off Donaghy and Scates, who were, let’s face it, none too impressive themselves. This move necessitated changing the United formation, with Stuart king moving to right wing-back and Gary Haveron moving into a three man defence alongside Albert Watson and Simms. Sweeney slotted into centre midfield alongside Hamill and Aiden Watson and Rowe went upfront alongside Kelbie. In the 80th minute Hamill almost gave United a lifeline when he shot across goal with Miskelly scrambling. Then with two minutes remaining he did give United a lifeline when his rasping shot was parried by the Ports keeper and the alert Kelbie hammered the rebound into the roof of the net. In a last ditch attempt United threw Simms forward but it was the wily Ports who held out for victory during the two minutes referee ken Ginnett chose to add on. There was one of those strange incidents during the closing minutes where a Ports player went down feigning injury and carried on with the pretence and limped towards the dressing room although he looked like a ‘bluffer’ to me. The treatment for this player took two and a half minutes, plus the added thirty seconds for the substitution, yet the referee merely added two minutes on, strange mathematics in my opinion. In the end United got what they deserved, nothing and tenth place in the final table is looming ominously closer by the minute!


McFrederick               5          Hamill               7     MoM:  Hamill

Donaghy               5          Aiden Watson          4

McClean               6          Kelbie               7

Haveron               4          King               5      Referee:   K. Ginnett          3

Albert Watson               6          1st Sub: Sweeney     6

Simms                    5          2nd Sub: Rowe          6

Scates                    5