Nothing Gained!

Ballymena travelled to Windsor Park today to take on the Carnegie Premier League champions in their first competitive game of the season. If this game were to be used as a 'yardstick' to gauge or progress since last season, then I'm afraid it would dampen our enthusiasm in a very big way. United, for some inexplicable reason seemed to want to make a game of it, when surely the sensible thing to do was endeavour to get a result and avoid a heavy defeat at all cost. Time and time again United's leftback Craig McClean was left with two men to mark while Stuart King was employed in a mainly attacking role. United it must be said did take the game to the champions for a short time and exerted a little pressure by playing the ball behind the home defenders. Garth Scates almost gave United a shock lead but home keeper Alan Manus turned his effort from close range over the bar. But it was obvious that when the home team stepped up a gear the Sky Blues were badly outclassed. Linfield finally broke the deadlock after 25 mins and it was a goal the United defence will have nightmares about I'm sure. From a corner on the right the ball was partially cleared by the United defence but when the ball was returned to the box it struck Kris Lindsay on the shin and deflected past United keeper Murphy. This was a ball that should've been cleared in the first place but wasn't dealt with effectively by the United defenders. As United tried to get back on terms Linfield fullback McShane brutally bodychecked Stuart King, but referee Davey Malcolm played the advantage as United had possession, but when it came to nothing he didn't call play back and give the original foul. Then as if to add insult to injury when play stopped he merely reprimanded McShane for the foul rather than flourishing the mandatory yellow card. From a needlessly conceded corner the home team doubled their lead after 37 mins and again the United defence stood and watched as it happened. The ball fell to home striker Thompson and he scored from close range with the United defence idly standing by. Thankfully halftime was reached without any further scoring.

Referee Malcolm didn't come out for the secondhalf and his replacement Adrian McCourt set about stamping his authority on the game immediately. Firstly he booked United defender Simon Kelly for a mistimed lunge but then completely ignored an 'over the top' challenge from Paul McAreavy. He then astounded the whole of the meagre attendance at Windsor by booking Aiden O'Kane of Linfield for an alleged dive. United manager Wright took off the disappointing Gavin Melaugh and Kevin Kelbie, with Mark Picking and Fitzy taking their place. Then 5 mins later he took off Aiden Watson with Lee Patrick replacing him. United's worst fears were realised at this time when Linfield 'pensioner' Glenn Ferguson came on as a substitute. He was barely on the field 10 mins, when looking suspiciously offside, he brushed off an attempted tackle from U-21 International Aaron Callaghan, before rounding keeper Murphy to score his teams 3rd goal. United struck back immediately from the kick-off with a sweet move. The ball was played through for Picking on the right and Fitzy met his pass to give keeper Manus no chance from close range. United should've had another goal back when home defender Douglas blatantly handled the ball, no penalty given and then in the same move Paul Brown was upended. The United players stared at the referee in disbelief, while the home team took advantage of the situation and caught the United defence flatfooted and young Craig McClean inadvertently turned the ball into his own net when a low cross was driven into the six-yard box. United's misery was complete after 85 minutes when the Blues added a fifth from a free kick, while the United defence looked on. Referee McCourt thankfully stopped the game 2 mins early to save United any further punishment. After this poor display some United fans were booing the team off, but it is only the first game and hopefully they can turn it round in the next couple of games, but somehow I'm not convinced!


Murphy 6 Aid Watson 5 MoM: P. Brown

Callaghan 5 Brown 6

McClean 6 Kelbie 5

Scates 5 King 5 Referees: D. Malcolm 2, A. McCourt 1,

Alb Watson 6 1st Sub: Picking 6

Jones 5 2nd Sub: Fitzy 6

Melaugh 5 3rd Sub: Patrick 5