Poor Show!

The one thing United needed to avoid yesterday was the slipshod defending which has been a feature of their C.I.S. cup campaign so far, but I'm afraid it shows no signs of abating. Ten minutes were on the clock when Linfield won a 'dubious' free kick on the far touchline near the corner flag. Up stepped Damian Curran to deliver a free kick and while the United defence looked on, Peter 'if he plays for Ulster so can I' Thompson was allowed to pick his spot with an easy header. Not only did we not mark the Linfield striker, we had nobody on the post to give the keeper extra cover either. United manager Tommy Wright had made one change to his starting line-up from last Tuesday night, Aaron Callaghan getting the nod instead of Simon Kelly. United's own attack was easily marshalled by the Linfield defence and it was particularly galling to watch Paul Brown being muscled out by the lighter Linfield players. Referee Mark Courtenay was in a benevolent mood and allowed Linfield's Steven Douglas to get off with a ticking off after a brutal tackle on Stephen Lowry. United's on-loan striker Davitt Walsh spurned a good chance midway through the half when he latched onto a through ball but delayed his shot initially and then it was easily blocked. United won a strange free kick when a Linfield player came 'in over the top' and the referee awarded an indirect free, just what his thinking was I don't know. Gary Haveron's shot from Scates pass was easily blocked by the Linfield defence. United's Craig McClean was having a torrid time and the United goal had a few narrow escapes as Ferguson was always available for crosses. We soon witnessed referee Courtenay's bias when after Ferguson showed dissent he merely talked to him and then booked Walsh for slamming the ball into the turf. Steven Douglas then took Paul Brown out on the touchline and he landed heavily on the stock car track, referee Courtenay didn't even give a foul. The so called 'sporting' Linfield fans were calling for the Ballymena man to be carried off so as the match could continue, when he was clearly badly injured. The stretcher was called for, but Browner was able to walk round to the dressing room with his shoulder strapped up and Randal Reid took his place. United did manage to get a shot on target when a half cleared corner was sent back by Haveron and Linfield keeper Manus pushed it round the post for a corner. United had a let-off when Murphy saved with his legs from a Ferguson shot, but luckily Callaghan was there to hoof the ball clear. With halftime approaching, Mark Dickson eluded McClean once more and from his cross Ferguson powered a header goalwards. It looked like a routine save for Paul Murphy, just to tip the ball over the bar, but he in fact tipped it into his own net for a disastrous own goal.

At the start of the second half United took off Picking and McClean and brought on Kelly and Cushley, Kelly went to right back with Callaghan switching to the left, while Lowry switched to the right to accommodate Cushley. Linfield seemed content to play out the half without too effort and I would have settled for that result myself. The Sky Blues couldn't seem to get a breakthrough against the Linfield rearguard, but they did force several corners. Only once did they look like scoring when a header from Kelly was cleared off the line with Manus beaten. Randal Reid gave the Linfield defence more problems by winning a few headers but Walsh was unable to feed off him.Tim Mouncey came on as a sub for Linfield and scored with almost his first touch when Simon Kelly failed to shepherd the ball back to Murphy (who not for the first time in his United career was slow off his line) and Mouncey nipped in to elude the keeper and score from a tight angle. Luckily for United the visitors were happy to settle for that result and they escaped a much heavier defeat which wouldn't have flattered the visitors and are 'surprisingly', still in with a shout of making the knock-out stages of the competition. Okay, they need to beat Dungannon by three clear goals, but at least their fate is still in their own hands, but a dramatic improvement is needed if this season isn't going to be a repeat or even worse than the ones that have gone before.

Murphy 5 Aid Watson 6 MoM: Aidan Watson

Callaghan 6 Walsh 6

McClean 5 Brown 5 Referee: M. Courtenay 3

Scates 5 Lowry 6

Alb Watson 5 1st Sub: Reid 6

Haveron 5 2nd Sub: Cushley 6

Picking 6 3rd Sub: Kelly 5