Blitzed Fitz!

United went into their final game of the season today with just one change from last Saturday’s starting line-up, Paul Murphy replacing youngster Sean O’Neill in goals. To say that the Sky Blues were indebted to their keeper during this game would be a vast understatement, as he kept them in the game with three crucial saves in the first half. Newry, who had lost their last 4 games, were intent in ending that sequence and deservedly took the lead, when Willis hammered the ball past Murphy as the United defence looked on. This goal after 23 minutes gave the visitors a one nil lead in a game they almost completely dominated, but it should have been an equaliser as 5 minutes earlier Darren Fitzgerald had perpetrated a shocking miss, even taking into account the ones he has missed in United previous two games. In a rare United attack, Mark Picking had crossed to the far post where an unmarked Fitzy headed over, when it looked easier to score. I do realise that Darren isn’t deliberately missing chances, but it is nevertheless galling, when despite not playing great, we miss, the best chances of the game. He repeated the dose twice more with two shots which should have ripped the net, but failed to trouble the visitor’s keeper. Newry’s use of the off-side trap didn’t allow United to play any free flowing football, but that was no excuse for their lack lustre efforts in the first half. Referee Mahon blew his halftime whistle with Newry still leading by a one nil scoreline.

United’s central defender and Captain Albert Watson, didn’t appear for the second period and Aiden Watson came on in midfield, with Haveron dropping back into central defence alongside Simon Kelly. Aiden gave the home team a bit more bite in midfield, but still United struggled to elude the Newry off-side trap, although there were a few close calls. Aiden Watson raced to the by-line on one occasion and his long cross was headed into the net by Fitzy, but the referee’s assistant (a female), ruled that the cross had gone out of play and therefore the goal was wiped out. United finally managed to beat the off-side trap once more and Picking’s perfect cross was once more headed wide by, you guessed it, Fitzy. That was about the 60^th minute and soon afterwards the United manager brought on Paul Brown and took the non-striking Fitzy off. United finally got back on terms, when Scates once more beat the off-side trap and as the Newry keeper left his line, he cleverly ‘chipped’ the ball over his head to level the scores. That goal came in the 73^rd minute and two minutes later the United manager took off the disappointing Stephen Lowry and brought on Boydie, who evoked the biggest cheer of the day from the home supporters. Suddenly we looked like a different team, with Boydie giving us the width on the left we had been lacking for so long. Top scorer Kevin Kelbie, spurned a great chance to give the home team all three points when he screwed a shot wide from the edge of the box. Despite forcing several corners United couldn’t achieve the vital breakthrough although they had a goal disallowed from a Kelly header, but for why I have no idea. So the match ended in a draw, a point that keeps the Sky Blues in 9th place and at the end of the day that perfectly sums up our efforts for the season. The conclusion is we have not improved over the last two seasons. The manager keeps saying we’re getting there, but I believe if it doesn’t happen soon, he and a lot of other folk, will be looking for a new job!

P. Murphy 8 Scates 8 MoM: P. Murphy

Callaghan 6 Fitzy 4

McClean 6 Kelbie 5

Haveron 6 Lowry 5 Referee: S. Mahon 4

Alb Watson 7 1^st Sub: Aid Watson 7

Kelly 7 2^nd Sub: Brown 7

Picking 6 3^rd Sub: Boydie 7

Picked Bare!

With just one game remaining United stay in 9^th position in the league table, but they’re now only a point behind Dungannon Swifts, so it’s all to play for next Saturday. Three points next week would mean we would score the same number of points (45), as last season and we’ll all be left to reflect on ‘what might have been’s’ during the close season. United manager Tommy Wright made two changes to his starting line-up of last Saturday, Fitzy coming in for the injured David Cushley and reserve keeper Sean O’Neill getting a start in place of Paul Murphy. The bench consisted of Paul Brown, Aiden Watson and Boydie. United got off to a flyer against already relegated Loughgall, taking the lead with just 3 minutes on the clock. Kevin Kelbie met a Stephen Lowry corner with a firm header to give visiting keeper Marc Robinson no chance. The lead however was short lived as from a long clearance from the visiting keeper, young O’Neill in the home goal found himself out of position, and the ball bounced over him into the net. The goal was credited to Loughgall striker Stevie Coulter, but I thought it went in straight from the keeper’s clearance. United carved out a marvellous opening 10 minutes later and Fitzy burst through on goal, only to shoot tamely at keeper Robinson. Loughgall then mounted a couple of attacks themselves and O’Neill distinguished himself with a couple of good saves. Fitzy missed yet another chance when ‘one on one’ with the keeper as United strove to get back in the lead. Fitzy then completed an unwanted hat-trick, when he missed a third chance after he yet again burst through the Loughgall defence, but this time he screwed his shot miles wide, without troubling the keeper. United got their noses in front once again, when after some good work up the left wing between Lowry and McClean, the latter’s low cross came in and Kelbie pounced to volley his and United’s second goal, with a sweet left-foot strike. That goal came in the 42^nd minute and Fitzy still had time to shoot tamely at the visitor’s goal again before referee McLaughlin brought the half to a close.

United stepped up the pressure in the second period, but were unable to turn their superiority into goals, although some of the interchanging of passes between Picking and Callaghan on the right flank was very entertaining. From one Callaghan cross Gary Haveron forced the visiting keeper into a good save from a powerful header. United finally made the match safe after 62 minutes, when after a good run down the right, Picking found Scates with a cross and the United midfielder fired home his fifth goal of the season and United’s third. Referee McLaughlin cautioned a visiting player five minutes later for a trip on Kelbie about 25 yards from goal, and keeper Robinson denied Haveron once more, tipping his fierce free kick over the bar. The United manager made three changes to his line-up over the closing stages, firstly replacing Scates with Aiden Watson and then after Fitzy had passed rather than shoot on a couple of occasions, he made way for big Paul Brown. Kevin Kelbie was denied a hat-trick for the second successive home game, when Robinson tipped his thunderbolt shot over the bar. Stephen Lowry had made way for Boydie prior to this effort and in fact it was Boydie who supplied Kelbie with the pass. The United defence ably marshalled by Albert Watson and Simon Kelly were put under a wee bit of pressure by the visitors, but held out quite easily in the end. United got a fourth goal deep into injury time when Simon Kelly headed a Mark Picking corner past Robinson, his first goal for the club, to clinch United’s biggest win of the season. Now all we need is a win against Newry next Saturday and that’ll wrap things up quite nicely for another season!

O’Neill 7 Scates 7 MoM: Kelbie

Callaghan 7 Lowry 7

Mclean 7 Kelbie 8

Haveron 7 Fitzy 5 Referee: M. McLaughlin 5

Alb Watson 7 1^st Sub: Aid Watson 6

Kelly 8 2^nd Sub: Brown 6

Picking 8 3^rd Sub: Boydie 7

Scum Cleaners!

What a beautiful day it was yesterday, bright sunshine and a beautiful result, Sky Blues 1, the scum 0. It doesn’t get much better than that I can tell you, even an Irish winner of the Grand National doesn’t come close. Just to see the disappointment in those Londonderry faces is enough to gladden your heart. When the teams last met (Boxing Day in Ballymena), we were harshly done by, when after a great fight back from two nil down, we were hit by a sucker punch and lost 3-2. This time it was us who stole the show, when former Coleraine player Gary Haveron struck a 30 yard ground shot into the net past ‘fat’ Davey O’Hare, with just nine minutes on the clock. The Sky Blue fans, though small in number, almost raised the roof of the terracing behind Paul Murphy’s goal. It was almost ‘cloud cuckoo’ land 5 minutes later when Haveron’s curling free kick smacked off the crossbar with fat O’Hare (or should that be Fatto’hare) flatfooted (apologies for the slight tongue twister). Haveron was selected in midfield to facilitate the return of United Captain, Albert Watson in defence and what a game the United Captain had on his return from injury. The United team changes from last Tuesday meant Aiden Watson and Paul Brown didn’t even make the team or subs bench, which meant Stephen Lowry starting in midfield and Fitzy dropping down to the bench alongside Darren Murphy and young hopeful Daley Carnduff. Boydie, we were told was injured, but surprisingly played for the reserves in a 3-0 win on Saturday morning. As mentioned in Sky Blue Sports on Friday night, United’s 4, 3, 3 formation, which in reality is mostly a 4, 5, 1, gives the opposition a mandate to attack, which then leaves them open to the counter attack. This system works well when you (A), you don’t concede any silly goals and (B), take your chances at the other end. United, unlike the cup replay at Windsor Park, got one part of the equation right yesterday, they didn’t concede anything, but they missed a hatful of chances at the other end, especially in the second half. United’s cause was helped somewhat when Coleraine animal Davey Patton was taken off after 15 minutes with former United player Noel Anderson taking his place. Midway though the half Kevin Kelbie burst through the scum defence but dragged his shot wide with ‘Fatto’ rooted to his goal-line. Albert Watson picked up a harsh booking for a hard tackle on a Scum forward, but with Mark Courtenay as referee, it was to be expected. The Scum number two burst through our defence just before halftime but as Murphy advanced he dragged his shot wide of the post and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

United started brightly in the second half and Stephen Lowry was unlucky not to open his United scoring account when his side foot from a Callaghan cross beat the scrambling ‘Fatto’ only to bounce across goal off the inside of the post, where Picking just failed to make contact before it was cleared for a corner. From the corner Kelbie managed to get a header on target but Fatto saved easily. The Scum then took up the challenge and United retreated into their own half, a dangerous ploy in my opinion. The defence had a few anxious moments but their luck held good, even surviving strong penalty claims, which referee Courtenay waved away. United had a couple of breakaways and young Cushley seemed to have the beating of his marker, as he showed when he raced to the by-line before crossing, but Picking and Kelbie apparently wanted to play, ‘you pass it to me and I’ll pass it to you’ instead of having a pot at goal and the chance was lost. Lowry also missed another glorious opening when he shot weakly at Fatto from close range. With 15 minutes left Kelbie, apparently injured, went off with Fitzy taking his place. Two minutes later in the best move of the game, Scates found Picking on the right and his perfect cross just eluded the incoming Fitzy, when surely a touch was all that was needed. Young Cushley made what looked like a good tackle in midfield, but came off second best and had to be stretchered off, with Daley Carnduff coming on for his senior debut. This meant a reshuffle for the United midfield with Lowry moving onto the left wing. This move should’ve paid an instant dividend when Picking once more delivered a great cross to the far post, where Lowry headed wildly over the bar. Then from a Callaghan cross, Fitzy headed over also, yet another poor effort. With the match approaching injury time Fitzy broke clear of the static Scum defence and as Fatto approached lifted the ball over his head. We all waited for the ball to find the empty net but Fatto ran back and stopped it crossing the line. Deep into injury time came the ‘miss of the match’ when after Fitzy sprinted clear once more, he drew Fatto and the defence before passing to Picking. Picking danced round the defenders and keeper and with the goal at his mercy blasted the ball wildly into the crowd. To say we were dumbfounded was like saying Coleraine are Scum, we just could not believe he had missed. Luckily the match finished 30 seconds later and we cheered our heroes off the field, but oh how they made us sweat and it had nothing to do with the hot sunny day I can tell you. For the United ‘homers’ (all true United fans were at the game), you missed a great victory, but if that’s your attitude, then we don’t need or want you anyway!

P. Murphy 7 Scates 7 MoM: Albert Watson

Callaghan 7 Lowry 6

McClean 6 Kelbie 7

Haveron 7 Cushley 7 Referee: M. Courtenay 4

Alb Watson 8 1^st Sub: Fitzy 6

Kelly 6 2^nd Sub: Carnduff 6

Picking 7

Just Desserts!

What a pathetic display we witnessed by United against Donegal Celtic on Easter Tuesday. It was so poor it was hard to believe that it was the same team as the one which beat Larne the previous Saturday. So many players were below form that I wondered if they’d been eating too many Easter eggs. It was evident from the start of the match that the Sky Blues had no stomach for a fight as it was ten minutes into the game before they mounted an attack. They even took the lead completely against the run of play after 13 minutes, when Garth Scates made a good tackle just inside the D.C. half, sprinted up the left wing and crossed for Fitzy to head past the stranded home keeper. That was as good as it got for the visitors during the first period and they were indebted to keeper Paul Murphy and extreme luck, to go in at halftime one nil ahead. I was convinced that the United manager would change things around at halftime as we were getting swamped in midfield, where Mark Picking and Aiden Watson were totally ineffective.

Alas I was disappointed as we took the field with the same personnel and system as in the first period. I knew it was only a matter of time before the home team got a goal and 12 minutes into the second half they finally did and the United centre-backs were shrugged aside during the build-up to the goal. Referee Steven Weatherall, seemed determined to give the home team the benefit of any doubt when making decisions, but suddenly gave United two free kicks in a row. From the second of these Gary Haveron of all people drove a left foot shot into the net via a post to put the visitors two one ahead again after 64 minutes. The United manager had been about to make a substitution, but declined after that goal was scored, another big mistake. Four minutes later the home team were level when United’s central defence crumbled once more and left Murphy badly exposed. The United manager finally acted, but to my utter surprise he took off Aiden Watson and brought on Darren Murphy, but worse still, he kept the same system, suicide if I ever saw it. United survived a couple of scares but kept plugging away and young Cushley seemed to find some form and we were starting to play a wee bit. Stephen Lowry came on for the ineffective Mark Picking and I started to wonder if we could salvage something from the game. Darren Murphy intercepted a through ball just inside his own half and with plenty of time to clear he instead played the ball towards leftback Craig McClean. McClean failed to reach it and it rolled over the touchline for a throw to the home team. The rest of the move was just a blur to me as the home team were allowed to take the throw, exchange 3 passes and fire their team in front with the United defence looking on. Manager Wright took off Fitzy and brought on Paul Brown as we now had to chase the game. Kevin Kelbie, the hero against Larne, missed two sitters in the last five minutes. Firstly he nipped between centre-half and keeper but sent his header feebly into the keeper’s arms, when all he had to do was head it over him as the keeper was 15 yards off his line. Then after a Scates free kick fell to him with the goal at his mercy, he somehow drove his shot wide. In all fairness though I have to say it would have been an injustice if we had taken anything from that game, for once I have to admit we got what we deserved, nothing.

P. Murphy 7 Aid Watson 5 MoM: P. Murphy

Callaghan 5 Fitzy 6

McClean 5 Kelbie 5

Scates 6 Cushley 6 Referee: S. Weatherall 4

Kelly 5 1^st Sub: D. Murphy 5

Haveron 5 2^nd Sub: Lowry 5

Picking 5 3^rd Sub: Brown 5

Easter Present!

The Easter Bunny didn’t leave any Easter eggs at Ballymena yesterday, but United had probably their easiest victory of the season over one of the poorest Larne sides I’ve seen for some considerable time. The United manager made two enforced changes to his starting line-up, with Albert Watson and Stuart King both failing fitness tests, Fitzy was drafted in alongside Kevin Kelbie upfront and 17 year-old David Cushley took King’s place on the left wing. With confirmation this week in the local paper that top scorer Kevin Kelbie intends to return to Scotland at the end of the season, was this then his farewell to United fans as he scored a rare hat-trick. Kevin has said that he’d still be available if United were to fly him in, but this could prove a tad expensive and United might be better going for a local based striker instead. Yesterday was as I said a stroll for United and they should’ve scored a bag of goals, but had to settle for three, all scored by Kelbie. The first came after 12 minutes when Gareth Scates made a run forward offering Mark Picking an option for a short corner kick. Picking refused that choice sending the ball into the penalty box instead. The corner was cleared over Scates’s head and he hooked it back into the penalty box for Kelbie to run onto before guiding a downward header past the stranded Keenan in the Larne goal to give the home team a one nil lead. The remainder of the half was almost totally dominated by the Sky Blues but they failed to add to their tally. Young Cushley cut inside and drew a good save from Keenan with a crisp shot. Then from a another Picking corner Haveron, Captain for the day in Albert Watson’s absence, headed over. Kelbie then spurned a great chance when he deftly flicked the ball over a Larne defender, before shooting straight at the Larne keeper instead of either passing to the unmarked Fitzy or picking his spot more carefully. Kennan then made an instinctive save from an Aiden Watson shot after Fitzy delivered an inch perfect pass into the box. Larne, despite forcing several corners, failed to trouble the United rearguard, in which Simon Kelly was outstanding, but they did have one anxious moment when Colm Kearney drove a shot just wide of the target. Referee Halliday blew his whistle for halftime with United leading by the solitary goal.

The second half was even more one-sided than the first with United attacking their favourite goals at the Fisherwick end of the ground. The catalogue of misses were almost too numerous, but suffice to say Fitzy, Cushley and Kelbie were the main culprits and Keenan kept a good goal as well. United winger Mark Picking had a great second half and it was he who set up Kelbie after 65 minutes for the goal that finished Larne off. The ex-Linfield winger skipped past his marker before picking (pardon my pun), out Kelbie with a glorious pass and he hammered the ball into the net for his and United’s second goal. Shortly afterward Kevin blotted his copybook so to speak when he feinted to tackle keeper Keenan as he tried to clear the ball and referee Halliday saw fit to caution him, which made the ref look as foolish as Kelbie. Five minutes later the referee waved play on as Scates was brutally hacked down, but when United lost the ball he didn’t call play back. Scates complained bitterly to the official, but all to no avail. Two minutes later Scates took his own revenge with a robust challenge and the referee couldn’t get his card out quick enough to caution the United man. Larne came close to scoring from the resultant free kick but Kelbie blew them away with a third goal, when after a corner had been partially cleared he drove the ball into the net with his weaker right foot after 75 minutes to complete his hat-trick. Manager Wright took off Cushley and the biggest cheer of the day almost was when he replaced him with Nigel Boyd. Two minutes later he took off Scates and brought on Lowry and United continued to dominate proceedings. Boydie almost snatched a fourth for United but the ball just eluded him at the far post, what a cheer that would have been. The United manager then took off goal hero Kelbie with Randal Reid getting 5 minutes of action. Aaron Callaghan had his usual overlapping run where he fails to deliver a cross and the match drew to its conclusion without United adding to their total. As I said an easy victory, but I can’t help but think it’s too little too late from United’s perspective!

P. Murphy 7 Aid Watson 8 MoM: Kelbie

Callaghan 6 Fitzy 7

McClean 6 Kelbie 8

Scates 7 Cushley 7 Referee: K. Burnside 3

Kelly 8 1^st Sub: Boydie 7

Haveron 6 2^nd Sub: Lowry 6

Picking 8 3^rd Sub: Reid 6

Kicked Again!

The Sky Blues were tried today at Windsor Park and found wanting, yes we had to play them (Linfield) and the three officials, but at the end of the day we weren’t just good enough. In our previous drawn game at the Showgrounds, Linfield’s talisman, Glenn Ferguson had a fairly average game, today he was a different ‘kettle of fish’ as ‘mister elbows’ ran rings round the overworked United defence. With barely 4 minutes on the clock Ferguson shrugged off the challenge of United’s Albert Watson before rifling the ball past Paul Murphy to give Linfield the lead. United struggled to get their attack going as the Linfield offside trap, aided and abetted by two eager Linesmen, caught them out time after time and there were some very debatable decisions I can tell you. Stuart King, who had Linfield’s Stephen ‘he couldn’t score in Ahoghill’ Douglas in his pocket, should have equalised when Aiden Watson split the home defence with a great pass, but unfortunately he drove his shot straight at Linfield’s Alan Manus. United’s corners as usual left a lot to be desired, but their free kicks were a thing to behold. Twenty two minutes into the game United deservedly got back on terms when after Kelbie had been fouled by Armstrong, the United top scorer then glanced a header into the net from a free kick by Garth Scates. The Sky Blue fans (estimated at 1700 +) were on their feet applauding their heroes. Seven minutes later they were delirious, when from another Scates free kick, Linfield keeper Manus was beaten and Mark Picking headed United into the lead. Linfield attempted to get back on terms but the United defence held firm. Albert Watson suffered a serious injury when heading clear on one occasion and after extensive treatment looked set to come off but shrugged off the injury and returned to the action. Mark Picking was hacked down viciously by Linfield’s Pat McShane, but Linfield season ticket holder and Belfast man Davey Malcolm merely gave him a ticking off rather than the mandatory yellow card. Aiden Watson missed a glorious opening to get a third goal for United, shooting tamely over the bar from inside the six-yard box. As United mounted another attack Picking was scythed down by McShane once more, but both referee and linesman ignored the incident. With a minute and a half of the two added minutes of stoppage elapsed, Picking was writhing on the ground after another late McShane tackle and not only did Davey not give a foul, he actually waved play on with the United man needing assistance.

Linfield came out for the second half with Irwin on for Douglas and with the wind at their backs set about the task in front of them. United were subjected to relentless pressure and three minutes into the second half former Larne striker Mark Dickson got on the end of a Ferguson flick to give Murphy no chance from inside the six-yard box. Dickson appeared to be well offside, but the linesman waved that he was okay, but I have my doubts. United were really under the cosh from this point as the home team sensed that everything was going for them and pressed forward in numbers. The United defence had a couple of lucky escapes but then Davey Malcolm made a crucial decision which changed the game. A Linfield played lobbed the ball over United keeper Paul Murphy and he made sure it was going over the bar only to be astounded by the referee awarding Linfield a corner. Obviously when one is playing Linfield at Windsor and an attack breaks down the referee is allowed to give the home team a corner (probably yet another I.F.A. rule they forgot to mention). From the resultant corner United failed to clear their lines successfully and the ball was finally played forward to Thompson who was at least 2 yards offside and he drove the ball past the helpless Murphy. We all looked at the linesman expectantly, but he was already anticipating his celebration at Linfield’s expense (a brown envelope in his hand no doubt) and signalled that the goal was good. Two Minutes later United’s Garth Scates scored but the goal was ruled out by a late flag from the linesman as Kevin Kelbie had supposedly strayed into an offside position, a diabolical decision which should’ve been annulled by the referee, but wasn’t. United took off Albert Watson at this stage with Paul Brown coming on and Gary Haveron moving into defence. A Minute later Aiden Watson bounded into the Linfield box, only to be hacked down by Oran Kearney, who was immediately red carded by the Linfield official (sorry I meant to say Belfast official). United fans stared in disbelief as Davey awarded the kick outside the box, when the foul was perpetrated a good yard inside. Stuarty King drove in the free kick and Manus made a good save pushing the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner Mark Picking saw his goalbound shot punched clear by Manus as it was heading goalwards. Paul Murphy’s reluctance to come for balls has been well documented by Sky Blue Sport and as Simon Kelly attempted to shield the ball back to him, Linfield sub Stewart nipped between them to hook the ball into the net for the home teams fourth goal. United to their credit didn’t give up and Mark Picking was deliberately taken out by McShane once more but all the blame should be laid at the referee’s door, who had allowed the Linfield man to get away with murder all day. He cautioned him on this occasion, but it was too little too late in my opinion. Big Paul Brown just failed to find the target with a header but by this stage United were a beaten team. The United manager played his last trump card bringing on Fitzy for McClean, but as far as I could see this move made no real difference. Despite 3 minutes of stoppage time United failed to trouble the home team again and the final whistle came as a relief almost. Thankfully the majority of the United faithful stayed behind to give their heroes a rousing reception. It was a good effort, but the trophy famine goes on and United only have a slim hope of a good league finish, but it is after all, the only show in town!

P. Murphy 6 Aid Watson 7 MoM: Picking

Callaghan 6 Picking 8

McClean 5 Kelbie 8

Haveron 6 King 7 Referee: D. Malcolm 1

Alb. Watson 6 1st Sub: Brown 6

Kelly 5 2nd: Sub: Fitzy 5