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
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