Dilly Dallying!

United entered their series of must win games today, but as so often has been the case over the last few seasons, they were found wanting again. The tactic of playing Mark Picking up front alongside Kevin Kelbie, never really worked and in fact United’s best move in the first half came when Picking burst down the wing and delivered a cross from which a Scates header went narrowly wide. Gary Haveron missed the target with a free header from a Picking corner and then cleared a goalbound effort from Cliftonville player Mark Holland. Picking then failed to find the target when a 'muffed' clearance fell invitingly into his path. Kevin Kelbie forced the visiting keeper into a good save when he took a pass from Picking, but his right-foot shot was pushed for a corner. Thirty five minutes into the game disaster struck for the home side when defender Haveron went down with what looked like a hamstring pull. This caused a major reshuffle, with new signing Stephen Lowry getting an early baptism in place of Haveron who had to be helped off the field. Aaron Callaghan was switched to the centre of defence alongside Albert Watson, with Melaugh dropping back to the right-back slot and Lowry taking over in right midfield. United had a few ‘hairy moments’ as the half drew to a close, but they reached the whistle with the teams locked at nil, nil.

United had an early scare when a Cliftonville snap shot hit a post before being scrambled away. The home team started to create more openings in the second half and Stuarty King’s free kick was tipped onto the crossbar and over by the visiting keeper. To the utter consternation of the home supporters, both referee Turkington and his linesman gave a goalkick, one of many strange decisions by that pair. United midfielder Gareth Scates was harshly booked for a superb tackle, winning the ball fair and square and then as if to add insult to injury, Cliftonville’s forward, McMullan, was allowed to get away with deliberately kicking Gavin Melaugh after he lost possession to the United player. United were denied yet another corner when the ball skimmed off the head of former player Davey McAlinden before being shepherded over the line by a fellow defender, but again a goalkick was given. A nice bit of play by Lee Patrick saw him send a dipping shot goalwards only to be denied by the crossbar once more, with the keeper beaten all ends up. Manager Wright took off Picking with Reid taking his place and United almost snatched the winner from Kevin Kelbie’s free header, but unfortunately it was straight at the keeper. Cliftonville’s manager Eddie Patterson used all three substitutes and he reaped the benefit as the game drew to a close. Aaron Callaghan decided to head a probing ball back to his keeper, when he had ample time to clear it and even though we managed to clear the initial danger we were very much on the back foot. as the ball was returned to the United penalty area, stand-in fullback Gavin Melaugh found himself with two attackers to watch and alas he was caught out and it was substitute Lyons who headed past stranded home keeper Paul Murphy to steal the points. This was daylight robbery, but then again until United stop ‘shooting themselves in the foot’, its going to happen time and again. Even though United lost the game there was a couple of plusses, the versatility of Melaugh, my man of the match and the promising debut by new signing Stephen Lowry. Unfortunately these two guys were let down by the ‘bad old habits’ which have blighted our season all along, one of which is the failure to clear the ball properly when under pressure.

Murphy 6 Patrick 7 MoM: Melaugh

Callaghan 5 Melaugh 8

McClean 6 Kelbie 6

Scates 6 King 5 Referee: B. Turkington 3

Alb Watson 6 1^st Sub: Lowry 6

Haveron 6 2^nd Sub: Reid 5

Picking 6

Sleepy Defence!

Ballymena got their 18th game in this season’s Irish league campaign off to an almost brilliant start, but as usual they capitulated in their normal fashion. With just one change to last week’s panel of 14, Gareth McConaghie, replacing David Cushley on the bench, while the fit again Fitzy took his place among the spectators, the visitors got off to a flyer. Just 4 minutes were on the clock when United striker Kevin Kelbie, charged down an attempted clearance form the Crues number 2 and as home keeper Neil Armstrong advanced, coolly chipped the ball into the net for his 9^th goal of the season. The United fans were delirious, but 2 minutes later they came down to earth with a bump, when our defence went asleep and allowed home player Stephen Shaw a free run on goal. United keeper Paul Murphy rushed out to meet him, but Shaw chipped the ball over him and with the United defence at sixes and sevens, Spence had the simple task of tapping the ball into the net to level the scores. United to their credit didn’t allow this setback to dishearten them and they won a penalty after 9 minutes when Stuarty King was foolishly tripped in the box, as he dribbled away from goals. Up stepped Gary Haveron, but his weak penalty was easily saved by the home keeper and the chance was lost. Gary, who had scored 2 successive penalties for the Sky Blues, with powerful strikes, would probably have scored if he had hit this kick with the same venom. But we’ll never know and I can’t help thinking that a glorious chance was spurned. The Crues right flank was proving a fruitful place for United and they won a corner after 24 minutes, through winger Stuarty King. Right winger Mark Picking’s in-swinger was met by a powerful header from Lee Patrick and nestled in the home net to put United in front once more. Gareth Scates then had a couple of shots from outside the box but these only served to prove that last week’s effort was an exception as he never troubled the home keeper. Would the United defence wilt again we wondered and we didn’t have long to wait for the answer, just another 14 minutes in fact. When a Crues corner was cleared by Albert Watson, Stephen Shaw met it on the volley and despite a vain attempt by keeper Paul Murphy, his shot found the net via the keeper’s right-hand post. Should the United keeper have got a hand to this shot I wondered and I’m still not convinced as he was on that side of the goals. The home team had their tails up at this stage and United did well to hold out until halftime.

The second-half from our point of view was practically a non-event and I can only recall one effort worthy of the name, when Lee Patrick turned and shot over the bar from close range. United survived a scare early in the second period, when former player Anton Crawford, looking well offside, was allowed a free run on goal, but luckily for us he miskicked at the last minute. Crues played their ‘ace card’ early in the 2^nd half, bringing on ‘talisman’ Davey Larmour and inside three minutes he was involved in two good moves. First he set up Crawford, whose rasping shot was tipped over the bar by Murphy and then he got a header from the corner kick, which Murphy again clutched happily. Crues top scorer, Rainey had a shot pushed round the post by Murphy and it seemed only a matter of time before the United defence was breached once more. In situations like this you need all your players on top of their game, but unfortunately United’s Aaron Callaghan was not at his best, as he continually gave the ball away and put his team under even more pressure. Manager Wright had already taken off the ineffective Randal Reid, with the even less effective Austen Friel taking his place and then he took off Mark Picking and brought on Gavin Melaugh. At least this move did help to bolster our defence and Melaugh did help to get the United attack moving once more. But the match which had promised so much at first petered out to a 2-2 draw. United had once more, given the opposition two goals on a plate and it’s hard to see any improvement unless this defence is shored up and shored up very quickly.

P. Murphy 6 Patrick 7 MoM: Kelbie

Callaghan 4 Reid 5

McClean 6 Kelbie 7

Scates 6 King 6 Referee: D. Best 4

Alb Watson 6 1^st Sub: Friel 5

Haveron 6 2^nd Sub: Melaugh 6

Picking 6

Sneaking Through!

United are in the next round of the cup and barring a major upset and these never happen to us (I’m joking of course), we should be almost a certainty for the quarter finals. But back to yesterday’s game, as intimated in Sky Blue Sport, Tommy made just one change to his starting line-up, with Randal Reid coming in for the injured Fitzy and Gavin Melaugh getting a place on the bench. Tommy wouldn’t be drawn on the absence of Paul Brown, who let’s face has been a bit of a disappointment since his arrival at United, when I hinted that he, Tommy, maybe didn’t want him cup tied. Boydie it appears is still carrying a hamstring injury so young David Cushley was on the bench, alongside Melaugh and Austen Friel. United playing against the stiff breeze started brightly enough and whether by accident or design gave goalkeeper Paul Murphy a couple of early back passes which he dealt with easily enough. The Welders were put under some early pressure and despite United forcing a couple of corners the junior team survived quite easily. United on the other hand were caught out by a ball played behind their defensive line, not for the first time in recent games I might add, but luckily none of the visitors got the vital touch. With 15 minutes on the clock the United defence was undone from a corner kick and they all stood and watched as the ball broke to a visiting forward, who somewhat unluckily miskicked and the ball trickled into the grateful arms of keeper Murphy. United put the visitors under pressure and a Kelbie header was cleared off the line for a corner. Mark Picking’s corner was helped over the bar by the welder’s defence as it dropped invitingly in the penalty area for yet another corner. When Stuarty King delivered from the other side, the ball was partially cleared to Lee Patrick, who picked out United Captain Albert Watson close to the goal-line and he found the net with Randal Reid making sure. The United fans’ celebrations were short lived as the linesman’s flag ruled the goal out, presumably for offside, I’d like to see that on the T V but probably won’t get the chance. The Welders did conjure up another half chance before halftime, but United kept a firmer grip on them for the remainder of the half.

In the second half the wind seemed to have calmed a bit, but was still aiding the home team. Lee Patrick and Gareth Scates were beginning to exert some control in midfield and Patrick shot over the bar from just outside the box. United had their tails up at this stage and a score looked imminent and sure enough it came. After good work by Patrick and Picking, the ball fell to Scates and he drilled a low shot from the edge of the box, which hit the inside of the post on it’s way into the net, with visiting keeper Fox, well beaten. That goal came after 56 minutes and United and their fans greeted this goal with the wild elation it deserved and I settled back to watch us put the junior team to the ‘sword’. Alas it never happened, although we had plenty of chances. Firstly Stuart King, what a frustrating player he is, brilliant as a sub against the Glens, but back to mediocrity in the two games since, drilled a shot wide of the target, with only the keeper to beat. Then a Kelbie header went inches wide, while Reid and Callaghan combined well down the right but the final pass was abysmal. Midway through the half Tommy Wright took off Randal Reid, with Austen Friel taking his place. Friel has still to open his United goalscoring account from open play, his one strike so far coming from the penalty spot. He’ll never get a better chance than he did in this match; firstly he tracked Kelbie, as the United marksman went on a typical run down the left flank, but failed to pick out the unmarked Friel shooting across goal himself. Then after Kelbie had controlled the ball on his chest it fell to Friel who raced through unchallenged and with the keeper rooted to his goal-line blazed the ball wide of the target. These two missed opportunities almost proved fatal, when Paul Murphy’s woes returned to haunt him with five minutes to go. The United keeper came out for a through ball and instead of ‘hoofing’ it into the 3^rd row of the visiting stand, merely played it down the wing for a Welder’s forward. Luckily for United the home defence recovered and even though the ball went for a corner, the defence dealt adequately with it. The United manager took off Picking, with new signing Melaugh and almost one of his first contributions was to take the ball to the corner flag, in an attempt to ‘kill’ time. The United fans weren’t best pleased about this move as a cross looked the far better option. But our fears were allayed as the home team held out for a slender, but unimpressive victory. The United team came off to what can best be described as polite applause and hopefully they know that they must improve greatly on this performance if this season is not to be yet another big disappointment. The good news is that the ‘gods’ have been kind to them once more, with a tie against Amateur league opposition and even though they were drawn away from home, the tie should be switched to the Showgrounds. But before then United need to get their ‘A’ game into motion, or face a backlash from their disgruntled fans!

P. Murphy 5 Patrick 6 MoM: Scates

Callaghan 5 Reid 5

McClean 5 Kelbie 6

Scates 7 King 5 Referee: S. Weatherall 4

Alb Watson 6 1^st Sub: Friel 5

Haveron 5 2^nd Sub: Melaugh 6

Picking 6

Black Saturday!

After the euphoria of the win against league leaders Glentoran, United and their supporters came down to earth with a bump against lowly Glenavon. When the United management look back on this match, they can point the finger at the United defence, in general and goalkeeper Paul Murphy in particular. Murphy, who has been superb over the last few games, had a game he’ll want to forget in a hurry. Seven minutes were on the clock when Murphy handed the home team the lead, Albert Watson’s back pass, wasn’t probably the best, but the United’s keeper allowed Glenavon forward Harper to close him down and the ball struck Harper and fell nicely for the player. Murphy had another chance to redeem himself when the shot was straight at him, but he could only parry it into the player’s path and he found the back of the net easily. When United tried to get back into the game they found the home defence in no nonsense mood. This was epitomised on two occasions and it’s something the Sky Blues should take under consideration. First coloured central defender Atiba Charles harried United’s Kevin Kelbie and even fouled the United player when they both went out of play and as a result Kelbie’s threat was nullified for the remainder of the game. The second incident occurred when Fitzy broke clear of the home defence only to be pulled down when a score looked certain. Referee Keith Halliday totally ignored the normal procedure and didn’t even caution the home defender and Scates failed miserably with his free kick, which went miles over the bar. This was in complete contrast to an incident from last Tuesday night’s game, when Gareth Scates allowed Glentoran’s Colin Nixon a free run on goal, rather than pull him down when he had the chance. Glenavon doubled their lead soon after when the United defence wilted once more. Left back Craig McClean allowed winger McGinnis too much room and when his cross-cum-shot came in, it bounced into the United net, despite a last ditch attempt from keeper Murphy. That was in the 23^rd minute and I think I knew then that it was not going to be our day. This was compounded 16 minutes later when a through ball was chased by Harper and Watson, with Murphy advancing to the edge of the box. The keeper was reluctant to leave his area and the ball appeared to strike him and fell kindly to Harper, who hammered it into the United net. United did have one or two chances when the only player to rise above mediocrity, Mark Picking, had a couple of openings, but he chose to pass rather than shoot for goal. This fact was remarked on by former United stalwart Norman Clarke, during the half time interval. Just before the interval Fitzy was replaced by Randal Reid, a strange move with halftime looming.

United did try to mount a few attacks in the second period but they appeared to be going through the motions. Randal Reid was given the chance to add to his impressive scoring record, when after good work by Scates wide on the right he shot feebly at the home keeper when a goal looked certain. A goal then might have given the Sky Blues some hope but I do believe they didn’t deserve to have any. Stuarty King was having his usual ineffective game and it was no surprise when he was substituted midway through the second period. The only surprise was the fact that Darren Murphy was the player replacing him. Surely it would have been more advantageous to have brought on Austen Friel and go to a 4, 3, 3 formation, in my opinion. But we instead went for what looked like a 3, 4, 1, 2 with Picking playing behind Kelbie and Reid and Murphy slotting into a back three with Watson and Haveron. United actually managed a consolation goal with 15 minutes left when the best player on the park, Atiba Charles, somehow put through his own goal, after his keeper made a hash of a cross ball. Could United pull this game out of the fire I wondered, but deep down I knew the answer was no. We even had to watch as Kevin Kelbie hit the ball wide when it looked easier to score. United’s day of woe was summed up when substitute Darren Murphy had to be substituted after a heavy fall, with Friel taking his place. United keeper Paul Murphy almost committed yet another gaffe when he attempted to dribble a Craig McClean back pass out of defence with McGinnis in hot pursuit. The fourth official held up the board for 4 minutes of added time, but luckily for United referee Halliday totally ignored this and added just 2 minutes more. The United fans had seen enough, they had wanted the match over at halftime, by then their team was well and truly beaten. I just hope the ‘Welders’ didn’t have us watched today, or they will be rubbing their hands with glee for next Saturday’s Irish cup encounter, I on the other hand am as nervous as a kitten!

P. Murphy 4 Patrick 5 MoM: Picking

Callaghan 4 Fitzy 5

McClean 4 Kelbie 5

Scates 5 King 4 Referee: K. Halliday 3

Alb Watson 4 1^st Sub: Reid 5

Haveron 5 2^nd Sub: D. Murphy 6

Picking 6 3^rd Sub: Friel 5

United Stand!

With new signing Gavin Melaugh as yet not cleared, United manager Tommy Wright named almost the same starting line-up as last Saturday. Darren Murphy got the nod on the left wing instead of Stuarty King, at the stock car tracked Showgrounds. Our feelings against these so called Sportsmen, has been well documented, but surely the time has come when Ballymena United should be looking for another venue, to play their home games, as these individuals seem to believe they have a god given right to plough through the Showgrounds pitch. United didn’t allow the pitch damage to affect them as they took the lead with virtually their first attack. Fitzy and Randal Reid were involved in the move, with the young striker cutting in from the right and when his pass was diverted to Fitzy, his goalbound effort was deliberately handled by leftback Kyle Neil. Referee Frankie Hiles pointed to the spot and then cautioned the visitor’s leftback for his infringement. Up stepped United’s central defender Gary Haveron and he hammered the ball into the net under the diving body of Glen’s keeper Elliot Morris. The Glens stepped up the pace after this setback and United hung on desperately, but goalkeeper Paul Murphy tried to calm his defenders down, by making a couple of good interceptions. Just when it seemed United had weathered the storm their defence was breached. Gary Hamilton despite the attentions of Albert Watson managed to drive a cross into the box, where Aaron Callaghan completely sliced his attempted clearance and in the ensuing scramble Callaghan’s attempted clearance on the goal-line hit Albert Watson and trickled into the United net, to level the scores at one apiece. Two minutes later Hamilton elbowed United striker Randal Reid, when the young striker was helping his defence out at a corner and he had to leave the field with a facial injury. Referee Frankie Hiles saw nothing and didn’t even give a free kick. Kevin Kelbie took Randal’s place, but United were still under the cosh and Murphy again came to his side’s rescue with a point blank save from a McCann piledriver. Aiden Watson had to get attention to a damaged wrist and then became the second player to be cautioned when he over-ran the ball when carrying it out of defence. This was practically his last kick as he was then substituted, with Gareth Scates taking his place. United were unlucky not to go in ahead at halftime when a Kelbie shot was cleared off the line after good work by Picking and Fitzy.

Ten minutes into the second half United deservedly took the lead when after a foul on Murphy, Kevin Kelbie got on the end of a Scates free kick, to head the ball past Murphy and give United a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later Darren Murphy was adjudged to have fouled Glen’s fullback Colin Nixon and as he walked away Glen’s number 11, Peter McCann kicked out at the United player. As this happened in front the dugouts, Glens manager Paul Millar and Murphy seemed to square up to each other. When the dust had settled, the upshot was a free kick to Glentoran and a booking for Murphy and McCann. Dixon, who had appeared to be critically injured, was just bluffing and he proved this a short time later with a speedy dribble up the right wing. Taking a return pass from Hamilton he gave Paul Murphy no chance from twenty yards with a daisy cutter, not bad for a man who had appeared to be critically injured. Darren Murphy was then substituted by United with Stuarty King taking his place. Stuarty was to play a vital part in United’s winner, again scored by Kevin Kelbie. After Fitzy had set Kelbie on a run at the Glen’s defence, first beating former United Captain Gary Smyth, who clipped the striker’s heels, he then took the ball away from the Glen’s keeper and when his cross came in, it was headed for a corner with Fitzy lurking. Stuarty King’s corner from the right was partially cleared, but Mark Picking played it deftly to King again and Kelbie rose majestically to head his cross into the net. The United fans, myself included, were deliriously happy and began taunting the caravan dwellers from East Belfast. Glen’s manager Paul Millar replaced McCann with Jason Hill and he was decidedly lucky to stay on the field, when he scythed down Mark Picking in full flight, Frankie Hiles merely cautioned him. Then we witnessed one of those bizarre incidents, which leave most people in the ground confused as to what is the rule. Jason Hill was involved once more and when tackled by Fitzy he lay on the ball. As Fitzy attempted to winkle the ball loose, Frankie Hiles blew for a halt, which I thought meant a free kick to us. Before Frankie could reach the incident Glen’s central defender Paul Leeman quite clearly punched the United player, a clear sending off offence. The referee merely cautioned Leeman and then as if to add insult to injury, awarded the free kick to the visitors. In a last throw of the dice Millar then brought on Chris Morgan in place of Kyle Neil and the visitors went to 3 at the back. United went into a fairly defensive mode at this point and despite a few scares held out fairly comfortably, with keeper Murphy a calming influence at the back. Despite four minutes of added stoppage time, United held on for a notable victory and three vital points. I’ve now decided that I’ll hang up my stocking next Christmas Eve, there’s definitely more going on here than meets the eye!

P. Murphy 8 Patrick 7 MoM: P. Murphy

Callaghan 6 Reid 7

McClean 7 Fitzy 7

Aid Watson 6 D. Murphy 7 Referee: F. Hiles 4

Alb Watson 8 1^st Sub: Kelbie 8

Haveron 8 2^nd Sub; Scates 7

Picking 7 3^rd Sub: King 7