Davitt Delivers!

United kicked off their Crest County Antrim Shield quest in fine style tonight with an 8-0 demolition of juniors Orangefield Old Boys. The result was never really in doubt when United scored twice inside a minute, through Randal Reid and Davitt Walsh. With 8 mins on the clock Reid burst onto a through ball and pulled it onto his left foot before rifling United into the lead and a minute later debut boy, Davitt Walsh opened his scoring account when he got on the end of a Stuart King cross when the visiting defence was breached once more. The United manager had made 6 changes to his starting line-up, with only keeper Paul Murphy, defenders Gary Haveron and Craig McClean as well as Mark Picking and Stuarty King holding their place. Thomas Wray and Albert Watson came into defence, with Lee Patrick and Gavin Melaugh slotting into central defence, while up front it was Randal Reid and Davitt Walsh, with Fitzy, Stephen Lowry and David Cushley on the bench. United tended to over-elaborate a bit much and so failed to add to their 2 goal lead. No one was more guilty of this than winger Stuarty King, but on the stroke of halftime United central defender Gary Haveron went on a mazy run from his own half, before finding Stuarty with a through ball and he rounded the keeper before scoring from a tight angle. A minute later United made it 4 when Mark Picking scored with a fine solo effort.

Stephen Lowry replaced Picking at halftime and it didn't take United long to get back to scoring when Davitt Walsh notched his second goal of the night getting a touch to a King inswinging corner. Five minutes later Lee Patrick got his first goal of the season when he drove forcefully through the visitors defence to give the keeper no chance and give United a 6-0 lead. Walsh completed an impressive hat-trick 3 mins later when he flicked a free kick into the Orangefield net. United manager Tommy Wright took off Randal Reid at this juncture with the 'out of form' Fitzy taking his place. Fitzy was somewhat unlucky to see the visiting keeper make a good stop from his goalbound shot two mins after coming on and 8 mins later drove the ball straight at the keeper, when a score looked on. United made their 3rd substitution when Craig McClean made way for David Cushley. United appeared to be content at this stage and allowed their opponents to get a grip in midfield and Albert Watson picked up a caution when he stopped an Orangefield attacker as he threatened our goal. Despite the resultant free kick being on target Murphy dealt competently with it. United stepped up a gear in the last 10 minutes and deep into stoppage Fitzy finally got on the score sheet, when after rounding the keeper he scored from a tight angle, with a crisp left-foot shot. The referee almost immediately brought proceedings to a halt and the upshot was that United had progressed to the quarter-finals of the Shield!

Murphy 7 Melaugh 6 MoM: Patrick

Wray 6 Reid 6

McClean 6 Walsh 7

Haveron 7 King 6 Referee: Colin Burns

Alb Watson 6 1st Sub: Lowry 6

Patrick 7 2nd Sub: Fitzy 7

Picking 7 3rd Sub: Cushley 6