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