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