False Dawn!

The euphoria of last week’s battling draw at home to league champions Linfield disappeared with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Shamrock Park, Portadown. United manager Tommy Wright made one change to his starting line-up, bringing in Aiden Watson to central midfield to partner Gary Haveron and switching Scatesy to wide right, which meant a place on the bench for winger Mark Picking. This in my opinion left us with a somewhat negative attack, as neither Scatesy on the right, or Darren Murphy on the left are natural wingers and they were rarely seen as back-up to the United front two. Portadown appeared to be there for the taking as they were without their first choice central defensive pairing, Barry Hunter having returned to England and John Convery out injured. Ports manager Ronnie McFall, moved fullback McStay and midfield hard man Mickey Collins to central defence. To say that they coped with the United front two well, would be to make a gross understatement and this is borne out by the fact that Ports keeper Kevin Pressman, didn’t have a save to make until the 70^th minute of the game. United were in complete control for the first 20 minutes, but failed to press home their advantage, Paul Brown failing to connect from close range, after Gary Haveron headed a corner back across goal, but Brown just failed to force it over the line. Then in the 22^nd minute in virtually their first attack the Ports edged ahead and it was former Larne striker McCutcheon who did the damage. Former United player Jamie Marks was given loads of time to cross the ball, Albert Watson failed to cut it out and McCutcheon’s vicious shot was parried onto the post by United keeper Murphy, but unfortunately it bounced into the net. This was the first of two post efforts that were to go against the visitors and I wonder if the keeper is just getting his angles wrong or am I being too harsh? Little was seen of the United attack after this setback and one wonders if the United manager shouldn’t have made a change to his line-up as it was obvious that we were just too negative and every attack broke down just over the halfway line. Somehow we survived to halftime, but it was obvious that changes would have to be made if United were going to pull the game out of the fire.

United manager Tommy Wright took off the ineffective Paul Brown and brought on Austen Friel, but surely we also needed the width of Mark Picking and why did he have to take Brown off in order to put Friel on. In my mind we are too predictable and Portadown weren’t forced to make a change and still we couldn’t mount a worthwhile attack either. During the second half we had easily five minutes of stoppage time when first Ports midfielder Richard Clarke went down with a leg injury and then Jamie Marks feigned injury after being struck in the groin. United missed a glorious chance to draw level when after keeper Pressman messed up a clearance the ball was intercepted by Scatesy and his goalbound shot went the wrong side of the post, a horrendous miss. Portadown increased their lead after 67 minutes when referee Courtenay adjudged striker Smart had been fouled near the touchline and when the cross came over it was hammered onto the post by substitute Rory O’Boyle and McCutcheon swept the rebound into the net. Should United keeper Murphy have dealt with the original shot, I personally am not sure, but most United fans were of the opinion he should’ve. United were given a lifeline 13 minutes later when Mickey Collins clearly handled Kevin Kelbie’s goalbound header and referee Courtenay pointed to the penalty spot. The referee then showed his ‘yellow streak’ by merely cautioning the Ports player instead of the mandatory red card for this offence. After Austen Friel dispatched the penalty, I thought we were set for a grandstand finish, but Portadown had other ideas and ensured the game was played in United’s half for most of the remaining time. United did miss a few opportunities when passes went astray and Mark Picking on for Darren Murphy messed up on a couple of occasions failing to get in a telling cross. One of the major disappointments throughout the game was the ‘fear’ exhibited by United players when they encountered Portadown’s Mickey Collins and this was never better demonstrated than by Darren Murphy on at least two occasions, before he was rightly substituted. United did create another chance when Aaron Callaghan and Scatesy for once combined down the right and the Ports offside trap failed. As the cross came over it just eluded Kevin Kelbie and Gary Haveron coming in behind blasted the ball over the bar, when all it need was a touch. Despite five subs being used and at least 5 minutes of stoppage time, referee Courtenay played a mere 3 minutes over the 90 and this emphasised the need for the fourth official at all games. Having said that I’m not sure we could’ve scored if he’d added on another half hour. Now we’ll see what the United management are made of, all the supposed hard games are gone and now we have to start winning if the season’s not be yet another disaster!

P. Murphy 6 Aid Watson 5 MoM: Simms

Callaghan 5 Brown 5

Boydie 6 Kelbie 6

Haveron 5 D. Murphy 5 Referee: M. Courtenay 2

Alb Watson 5 1^st Sub: Friel 6

Simms 6 2^nd Sub: Picking 5

Scatesy 5

Blue Blockage!

Five short days after one of the most humiliating performances by a United team, the Sky Blues turned the form book on its head by battling out a no-score draw against last season’s super team, Linfield. Yes admittedly at times this was a ‘backs to the wall’ struggle and United rode their luck on a couple of occasions, but ‘boring’ it was not. Linfield’s ‘professional’ use of the offside trap, aided and abetted by two ‘eager’ linesmen, didn’t allow the home team to mount many attacks, but that was partly our fault for not exploiting it. United manager Tommy Wright restored team Captain Albert Watson to central defence, switching Gary Haveron to central midfield alongside the fit again Scatesy. Striker Paul Brown came back to partner Kevin Kelbie up front and the United manager boldly kept the same subs bench as on Monday night, Friel and the two youngsters, Cushley and McConaghie. Personally I thought this left us a bit limited in covering any injuries, but in the end things worked out perfectly. Linfield almost took an early lead, when the United defence allowed Gault to stroll through their defence, but the midfielder scuffed his shot and the ball trickled into keeper Paul Murphy’s arms. United also had an early chance, but Kevin Kelbie, screwed his shot wide after a slip by Linfield’s Noel Baillie. But mainly it was a solid defensive United display against a probing, but fairly predictable Linfield attack. The much ‘talked about’ Peter Thompson, showed that he still uses too short a stud, as he ‘fell over’ at every opportunity. On the rare occasions when Linfield threatened to breach the United defence, they were undone by the ‘never-say- die’ attitude of veteran Nigel Boyd. Time and again the local man tidied up behind his defence and was still available to carry the ball out of defence when the opportunity arose. In the first half Linfield had the offside trap so well ‘oiled’ that on one occasion Kelbie and Picking were given offside, when they were clearly in their own half when the ball was played. This was in complete contrast to the linesman at the other end of the ground who didn’t flag once despite Linfield’s Paul Mouncey being always beyond the United line. Maybe the linesman had a valid excuse as the three officials were almost indistinguishable from the visitors, in their dark tunics, but then again, ‘what else is new’? In a rare United attack, Gault scythed down United’s Darren Murphy, but referee Frankie Hiles, merely gave him a ‘talking to’ instead of the mandatory yellow card. United keeper Paul Murphy tipped a fierce drive over the bar to keep the scores level as halftime approached.

Linfield stepped up the pressure at the start of the second period and things looked ominous for the home team as the visitors forced several corners and throw-ins deep down the United left flank. Their throw-ins taken by Ballymena boy (I think I should rephrase that, let’s say a person from Ballymena as I don't want to sully the legacy of Norman Clarke and other dyed in the wool Sky Blue men), were almost better than corners as they were thrown right into the home penalty area. But United survived and almost snatched the lead when a Belfast boy (from deep in the Linfield heartland), Mark Picking, beat the offside trap but allowed a Linfield attacker to get back and rob him, a chance lost. The Linfield defenders berated the linesman (the officials had changed their tops to orange at halftime but not their bias) and he took heed of their instructions and duly raised his flag on cue at every opportunity thereafter. Albert Watson put in a great tackle on the ‘quiet’ Glenn Ferguson, and as the ball ran through to keeper Murphy, Frankie Hiles signalled a deliberate back-pass. This was totally unfounded, but despite the home teams protests the indirect free was given inside the box. Luckily the resultant free was blocked to safety, but Darren Murphy picked up a caution for dissent. Shortly after United keeper Murphy blocked his shot with his knees, Linfield’s great prospect, the ineffective Peter Thompson went off with fringe player Mark Dickson taking his place. Gary Haveron became the second United player to be cautioned when he fouled Glenn Ferguson, definitely not allowed. Albert Watson then ‘missed’ a glorious chance to score for the second Saturday running when despite finding himself unmarked at a free kick he missed with his header and the ball was diverted for a fruitless corner. United’s Kevin Kelbie went down injured and was replaced by the lively Austen Friel. Gault felled Darren Murphy once more and referee Hiles suddenly realised there were two teams playing and cautioned the Linfield man, too late in my mind. He then failed to apply the letter of the law when Friel burst through the visitors defence only to be rugby tackled by Douglas, a definite sending-off, whether he was the last man or not, but cowardly Frankie merely cautioned him. Friel took the kick himself and Linfield keeper Alan Manus tipped his goalbound shot over the bar. Scatesy, looking way below par, went off with youngster McConaghie taking his place and then Paul Brown was replaced by Cushley. Albert Watson came to United ‘s rescue with a goal-line clearance after a slip by Murphy and at the other end Friel allowed himself to be caught by Linfield’s Armstrong when he delayed his shot after beating the offside trap once more. United corners left a lot to be desired and surely this is something which must be worked on in training, as really they’re pretty useless at present. Linfield threw on winger Kingsberry in a last ditch attempt but the United defensive line held firm with Simms and Watson in never say die form. The fourth official, a new initiative by the I.F.A., held up the board for 5 minutes extra and Frankie managed to stretch that with stoppages to 8 minutes, but thankfully United held out for a valuable point which keeps them in the top half of the table, with only one more so called ‘hard game’ left in the first round of fixtures, away to Portadown next Saturday. In a complete contrast to Monday night, the United players were warmly applauded off the pitch and rightly so in my opinion. We hadn’t won, but we battled well and if we can show this sort of determination from now on, we might just get something out of this season after all.

P. Murphy 8 Scatesy 6 MoM: Boydie

Callaghan 7 Brown 6

Boydie 9 Kelbie 7

Haveron 8 D. Murphy 8 Referee: F. Hiles 4

Simms 8 1^st Sub: Friel 7

Alb Watson 8 2^nd Sub: McConaghie 7

Picking 7 3^rd Sub: Cushley 7

Dun Over!

First division Dundela knocked United out of the County Antrim Shield without ever breaking into a sweat. United manager Tommy Wright made four changes to his starting line-up and three to his bench making 7changes in all. Out went Saturday’s goalscorer, club Captain Albert Watson, with Gordon Simms taking his place. Out went Aiden Watson with, Stuarty King replacing him. Out went Paul Brown, with Darren Fitzgerald getting his place. The fourth change was forced upon him when Gareth Scates got injured in the warm-up, with Dom Melly taking his place. Austen Friel got a place on the bench alongside youngsters, David Cushley and Gareth McConaghie. United never got to grips with this game, even though they completely dominated the first 12 minutes and then the visitors scored with their first attack. The United defence stood motionless as the Dundela players exchanged passes and allowed Gourley a clear shot at goal which he gratefully accepted. United strove to get back on level terms, but despite forcing several corners they were unable to get a shot on goal. Their players made so many schoolboy errors it was embarrassing, I lost count of the number of times players lost control of the ball, by hitting it too far in front or failing to take it past an opponent. On one occasion Stuarty King found himself free on the left wing and much to the home fans dismay, he was unable to get the ball past the first defender. On the rare occasions when United did make a telling cross, they were penalised by the over fussy referee, Brian Turkington, who allowed no contact with the visiting keeper, whether intentional or not.

Darren Fitzgerald didn’t come out for the second period with Austen Friel taking his place alongside Kevin Kelbie. But it was Dundela who increased their lead 8 minutes into the second-half, when Gary Haveron handled in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Paul Murphy was given no chance with a fiercely struck shot from number 7 Stewart. United continued to probe the Dundela defence with long hopeful balls which brought little reward. The visitors had a defender somewhat harshly booked for time wasting, 15 minutes into the half, but it did ‘nip it in the bud’. Friel and right winger Picking tried to wake United from their slumber, but the final pass always seemed to go awry. United won a free kick in front of the posts about 25 yards from goal, but Darren Murphy’s fiercely struck free kick was parried for a corner by the visiting keeper. Manger Wright brought on young David Cushley for the ineffective King and United somehow gave themselves a lifeline. Kevin Kelbie received a pass on the edge of the box and making room for himself, drove the ball into the net to make the score 2-1 for the visitors. Could United pull this one out of the fire I wondered but my question was soon answered, when the United defence went asleep and Dundela player Gourley was allowed a free header from a corner, which he duly dispatched into the empty net. United brought on young McConaghie in place of Boydie with 10 minutes remaining. David Cushley made a complete Horlicks of two late corners, but this was nothing compared to the miss of the match, when Austen Friel headed over the bar with the keeper stranded. I tell you it was harder to miss than it was to score. This just about summed about United’s display and even though they ‘huffed and puffed’, I just knew nothing was going to come of it and so it proved. The home team went off with their heads hung low in shame, while Dundela were applauded off by a sporting home crowd. If Tommy Wright’s motivational skills were ever needed, then it’s now with the League Champions coming to town on Saturday, otherwise another ‘hiding’ is on the cards.

P. Murphy 6 D. Murphy 5 MoM: Kelbie

Callaghan 5 Fitzy 5

Boydie 5 Kelbie 6

Picking 6 King 5 Referee: B. Turkington 4

Simms 5 1^st Sub: Friel 5

Haveron 4 2^nd Sub: Cushley 5

Melly 5 3^rd Sub: McConaghie 5

Red Rampage!

Yet another away trip ended in defeat for United with this 2-1 defeat to Cliftonville at desolate Solitude, but believe me it wasn’t really as close as that. The Reds not only missed a penalty, they also hit the crossbar and post in one move, while the United defence appeared to be transfixed to the spot. United began with the same 11 as last Saturday, but Austin Friel was omitted from the subs bench, in favour of the fit again Stuarty King, a grave mistake I thought as Friel gives a great attacking option. Things had started brightly for United and they should probably have taken the lead after 15 minutes, when Scatesy danced through their defence, but his cross-cum-shot was easily blocked. This seemed to give the home team a bit of a jolt and they began to come more into the game. Keeper Paul Murphy made a good save amidst a ruck of players and I foolishly thought he was starting to be commanding. His namesake Darren Murphy was harshly booked by referee Davey Malcolm when he stretched for a through ball, but then again that’s Davey’s form. Little was seen of Murphy after this and as result the home team took a tight control of midfield. As the Reds came more into the game the United defence was subjected to severe pressure and fullback Aaron Callaghan’s shortcomings were fully exposed, as he struggled to deal with the Reds left-sided midfielder. Mark Picking, one of the better United players, tried to help Callaghan out, but gave away a foolish free kick just outside the United penalty area. As the ball was floated into the box the United defence and keeper Paul Murphy stood and watched as 3 home players converged on the ball and it was duly headed into the net by former United player Davey McAlinden. This was a damning condemnation for the visiting defence, where nobody made an attempt to cut out the cross. The rest of the half belonged to Cliftonville as the United defence were unable to clear their lines and a heavy defeat looked imminent. On the rare occasion when United did manage to break out of defence they found the Reds defence uncompromising and it was no surprise when the referee cautioned their leftback for persistent fouling. This player continued to try the referee’s patience throughout the match, but understandably Davey was loathe to take action, in case he got a rollicking from I.F.A. president Jimmy Boyce.

United got a lifeline 3 minutes after the break when after Paul Brown headed on a free kick, captain Albert Watson forced the ball into the net with the outside of his boot. One minute later the United defence was undone again down the left wing and United conceded a penalty. Thankfully former United player Davey McAlinden drove the ball down the middle and Paul Murphy saved easily. This was the time for the United manager to act and take off the ineffective Aiden Watson, bring on Lee Patrick and put Darren Murphy to sweeper to try and curb the lively Reds attack, but no he done nothing It was only a matter of time before the home team took the lead and it almost happened in the 59^th minute, but somehow the United goal survived when the ball hit the crossbar and then the post. United had only one player who seemed capable of dealing with the Reds attack, veteran leftback Nigel Boyd, but he was maliciously ‘hacked’ down by a Reds player and Davey Malcolm didn’t even give a foul. Cliftonville sealed the points when Callaghan was cleaned once more and Scanlon had an easy tap in. United tried to come back but their lack of penetration was summed up for me when Paul Brown latched onto a through ball, but instead of going for goal, he back-heeled it instead and the move came to nothing. Manager Wright at last rang the changes, taking off Brown, Aiden Watson and Picking and bringing on Patrick, Fitzy and King. With Fitzy partnering Kelbie up front surely this was the time to stretch the ‘sluggish’ home central defenders, but no we continued to give them ‘bread and butter’ high balls which they dealt with quite easily. In a rare United sortie where we won a corner and Albert Watson almost repeated his earlier feat but didn’t make proper contact and the chance went begging. United survived yet another scare and as time ran out the home team ‘killed time’ by taking the ball into the corners. Despite the referee adding 3 minutes of stoppage time United never looked like pulling the game out of the fire and in many ways it was a relief that the game ended with such a narrow defeat. The United manager will have to use all his motivational skills in order to raise his team for the visit of first division Dundela on Monday night for the first round of the County Antrim Shield and believe you me, on this display, he has a mammoth task in front of him!

P. Murphy 6 Aid Watson 5 MoM: Boydie

Callaghan 5 Brown 5

Boydie 6 Kelbie 5

Scatesy 5 D. Murphy 5 Referee: D. Malcolm 3

Alb Watson 6 1^st Sub: Patrick 5

Haveron 5 2^nd Sub: King 5

Picking 6 3^rd Sub: Fitzy 6

Crues Cracked!

United entertained Crusaders today with only one change from last Saturday’s starting line-up, with Gary Haveron coming on, in place of the suspended Gordon Simms. United began brightly enough, but despite forcing several corners and winning some free kicks, they couldn’t get a decent effort on target. Central defender Gary Haveron rose practically unchallenged on a couple of occasions, but failed to find the target. Referee Trevor Moutray was at his ‘fussy’ best and gave countless free kicks aided and abetted by the ‘histrionics’ of the Crues players who resembled ballet dancers and not footballers. United almost broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when a Darren Murphy free kick was somehow pushed onto the post by Crues goalkeeper Neil Armstrong. At the other end United keeper Paul Murphy tipped over a free kick from 25 yards, to keep the scores level. Then in the 35^th minute the Crues took an undeserved lead when after a free kick had been partly cleared by Gary Haveron, the ball was played back in and touched into the path of Linfield old boy Davey Larmour and he scored from close range. The free had been given for yet another innocuous foul, which the referee thought warranted the flashing of a yellow card to United’s Gary Haveron, for what was his only foul of the first half, if in fact it was a foul. Five minutes later he cautioned Kevin Kelbie after the United striker had won the ball fair and square on the halfway line, a diabolical decision. Halftime was reached with United trailing by a goal to nil, but still with a foothold on the game.

The second half began in a scrappy fashion, which was stage managed by the visitors and United struggled to play constructive football. Big striker Paul Brown, who has had his fair share of criticism by many, myself included, put some real enthusiasm into his play in the second-half and it began to pay dividends for the home team. Twelve minutes into the second-half Browner forced a good save from the Crues keeper, at the expense of a corner. Mark Picking swung over a beauty of a kick and Gary Haveron scored with a great downward header. The big Larne man showed his sheer delight and ‘milked’ the applause of the Sky Blue faithful. This score seemed to rattle the Crues defence and United enjoyed a real purple patch for the next 20 minutes or so. Paul Brown almost brought the ‘house’ down when his snap shot from the edge of the box beat Armstrong in the Crues goal and somehow went the wrong side of the post. The Crues committed ‘hari-kari’ in the 75^th minute when they casually played the ball across their back four after Aaron Callaghan had intercepted a through ball. Paul Brown, who else, latched onto the ball, before feeding it into the path of fellow marksman Kevin Kelbie. Kelbie played a one-two with Mark Picking before shooting under Armstrong’s diving body to put the Sky Blues 2-1 ahead. To say the United fans were delirious was to make a gross understatement and there’s nobody who knows how to elicit their cheers like ‘King Kevin Kelbie’. United should’ve had a third goal in the 80^th minute, when Browner played the ball through to Picking, but the winger delayed his shot and a Crues defender managed to block it. The Crues caught a couple of bookings in this half which evened things up a bit for the two home bookings in the first period. The Crues threw everything at United in the final ten minutes and it was a ‘backs to the wall’ struggle at times. Manager Wright made his only change with 6 minutes remaining, taking off the limping Darren Murphy and bringing on Lee Patrick. United were indebted to their keeper Paul Murphy in the closing minutes as he was a steady rock, even plucking the ball out of the air when the Crues threw everybody, including their keeper forward for a corner. Almost immediately the referee blew the final whistle and United had snatched a wonderful victory, which keeps their unbeaten home record intact.

P. Murphy 7 Picking 7 MoM: Browner

Callaghan 7 Aid Watson 7

Boydie 7 Brown 8

Scates 7 Kelbie 7 Referee: T. Moutray 3

Alb Watson 7 D. Murphy 7

Haveron 8 1^st Sub: Patrick 7

Wasted Sacrifice!

It was a tale of two goalkeepers when United visited the Oval yesterday, Glentoran's Elliot Morriss was determined not to be beaten, while United's Paul Murphy had his usual average game. United seemed to be playing very deep, as after their attacks broke down, the entire midfield sunk back on top of their defence. This allowed the home team to dictate the pace of the game, which was fine while the match was scoreless, but should, in my opinion, have been changed when we went one down. We hadn't long to wait to be one down and it's a goal neither our defence or our goalkeeper can be proud of. Firstly Glentoran striker Halliday was given acres of space, he looked offside to me, to head a cross goalwards and then our keeper spilled the ball into the path of Darren Lockhart. Lockhart blasted his shot goalwards and Aaron Callaghan in attenpting to clear only succeded in helping the ball into the net. That goal came after 12 minutes and United to their credit tightened things up at the back and except for one lapse they dominated the rest of the half. United missed three glorious chances to get on the scoresheet during the first half. Firstly Gareth Scates burst through the Glens defence, but shot straight at Morriss when it looked easier to score, then Kevin Kelby saw his header from a Darren Murphy free kick well saved by Morriss and finally Mark Picken missed from 10 yards out, shooting past the post with his left foot, when he had ample time to get it onto his right. Referee Aidrian McCourt, whom United fans know well of old, failed to caution Lockhart for a two footed tackle, but cautioned leftback Kyle Neill for protesting about even giving a foul. Boydie had a couple of good runs up the left and from one of these he drove a cross into the Glens box, but there was no United man there to apply the finishing touch. Little was seen of the home team's famous double 'H' striking partnership of Halliday and Hamilton, Halliday was constantly caught offside, while Hamilton was just making up the numbers. The consenus among United fans was that Hamilton had a hangover and he did go off early in the second half, probably to get a 'hair of the dog' pickmeup. Lockhart looking suspiciously offside, almost made United pay for their missed chances when his shot over United keeper Paul Murphy cannoned off the crossbar. but United survived and went in at halftime trailing by a goal to nil and still well in the game.

Six minutes into the second half the game was up for United when Lockhart broke through our last line of defence and Gordon Simms sent him crashing to the ground. The referee flourished the red card and Simms had to go and I personally believe rightly so. His sacrifice proved in vain as Paul Murphy and his defence, not for the first time this season, failed to line the defensive wall up correctly. This allowed a direct line at the left hand side of the goal and Kyle Neill drove his shot unerringly at this spot and Murphy was beaten all ends up. With United two down and with only ten men, I thought we needed to bring on Gary Haveron to bolster our defence and Austen Friel to give us some pace up front. Manager Wright thought otherwise and instead pushed Darren Murphy into defence, putting Paul Brown onto the left side of midfield, again surely it would've been wiser deploying the left footed Kelbie in this role, but what do I know. Darren Lockhart was lucky to stay on the field, when after he had misplaced a pass, he cynically chopped the legs from Picking as he burst down the right wing, the referee instead flourished the yellow card, yet more inconsistent refereeing. United did finally make some changes, taking off Picking and bringing on Haveron and then taking off Paul Brown, who continues to disappoint and who mistook the fans loud ironic cheers, for cheers of appreciation, bringing on Friel in his place. United did mount a few attacks after this but despite forcing a couple of corners they didn't look like scoring. Scatesy did hit the crossbar with a rasping shot, but it was typical of our efforts all day long. Manger Wright brought on Lee Patrick for Aiden Watson but this made little or no difference as far as I could see. Paul Murphy made a good save late on to deny the Glens an undeserved third goal and the day was summed up for United as the seconds ticked away. Aarron Callaghan had a great run up the right, beating two Glens defenders with real skill and then after having done the hard part, sent his cross feebly behind for a goalkick. Referee McCourt played not a second of stoppage time in the second half despite the fact that there had been six substitutions, which alone means three minutes of added time, but I don't believe if he had played all night that we would ever have scored. So another trip to Belfast and United return home pointless and if that's not bad enough we were 'robbed' at the turnstiles, having to pay £9 for what must be the poorest view in local football. Surely it's high time the I.F.A. set a maximum charge and a minimum standard of facilities, at the Oval visitin fans haven't literally got a 'pot to piss in'. To make matters worse it's a hard ground to get points at, so it has nothing going for it at all!

P. Murphy 5 Aid Watson 6 MoM: Alb. Watson

Callaghan 6 Brown 5

Boydie 7 Kelbie 6

Scatesy 7 D. Murphy 7 Referee: A. McCourt 2

Alb. Watson 7 1st Sub: Haveron 6

Simms 7 2nd Sub: Friel 6

Picking 6 3rd: Sub: Patrick 6