Lucky Blues!

This may seem like a strange headline, seeing as United lost their first league match at the Showgrounds this season and were reduced to 12th place in the league after this one nil defeat at home to Lisburn Distillery. If truth be told, the home team, who lost the toss should’ve have been at least 4 goals down at halftime. The Whites missed two blatant sitters in the first ten minutes and United fans began to fear the worst. It seemed only a matter of time before the visitors scored and so it proved. After 17 minutes, United won a corner at the far end, but when it came to nothing (as it invariable does), the Whites mounted a swift counter attack. Boydie, so often a hero in recent weeks, failed to close down Darren Armour wide on the right and when his cross came in the unmarked Francis Murphy, powered a header past his namesake Paul Murphy, to give the Whites the goal that ultimately took all three points. United keeper Murphy had earlier denied Armour with a point blank save, but was helpless on this occasion, as his defenders were cruelly exposed. United were given a lifeline, when Fitzy got to the by-line and set up Kevin Kelbie, but the striker’s feeble shot was pushed onto the crossbar by keeper Phillip Matthews, and the follow up from Scatesy was blocked by defender Paul Muir. I realised then that it was not going to be our day, as we had just missed an open goal, so I wasn’t entirely surprised by what followed. The Whites missed two more glorious chances to increase their lead, when Boydie inadvertently headed the ball to Armour but he headed it back to Boydie. Boydie then missed an easy header and the ball fell to winger Martin, who blasted wide when it looked easier to score. Miraculously United survived to halftime without conceding any more goals and I even felt slightly optimistic.

My optimism was completely unfounded as I witnessed one of the most inept displays I have seen for many a day in the second half. United manager Tommy Wright, when he took over the managerial reins at the Showgrounds, made Gary Haveron his first signing. The big Larne man has had a ‘love hate’ relationship with United fans during his 18 months at the club. Today he should’ve been the hero, but he missed three glorious chances and he remains a villain. Firstly when United won a free kick about 25 yards from goal, he took it but failed to find the target. Then he missed with a free header from a rare, ‘decent’, Stuart King free kick, screwing his header wide. Then in a rare spell of United pressure, four corners in succession, he had a shot blocked from point blank range. But Gary wasn’t the only villain in a Sky Blue shirt, top scorer Kevin Kelbie drew the wrath of Sky Blue fans when he ‘chickened out’ in a race for the ball with Whites keeper Phillip Matthews. Kelbie was later withdrawn with Randal Reid taking his place after 75 minutes, but as I’ve said many times before, why wasn’t Kelbie kept on and another player sacrificed instead. The answer of course is that our management team can’t (to term a modern phrase), think outside the box. Randal may be a United player of the future, but in my opinion he needs a bit more nurturing and he was fairly ineffective. Then in the 80^th minute Tommy played his last cards, taking off Boydie and Picking and bringing on Lee Patrick and David Cushley. I can honestly say I can’t remember a clear cut chance for United in the closing stages and how fourth official Robert Penney only found 3 minutes stoppage time, just beggars belief. Having said that, the end couldn’t come soon enough for me and most Sky Blue supporters. Something has to be done and done bloody quickly, as at the minute we’re in a ‘right’ (or is it Wright), bloody mess!

Murphy 7 Aid Watson 6 MoM: P. Murphy

Callaghan 6 Fitzy 6

Boydie 6 Kelbie 5

Scatesy 5 King 5

Haveron 6 1^st Sub: Reid 5 Referee: B. Turkington 4

Alb Watson 6 2^nd Sub Patrick 5

Picking 5 3^rd Sub: Cushley 5