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