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