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