Hard Fought!

United made things difficult for Belfast visitors Cliftonville today, but still ended up on the wrong side of a one nil scoreline. Manager Wright restored teenager Johnny Flynn to the centre of defence alongside Albert Watson, with Simon Kelly moving to the rightback slot in the continued absence of Aaron Callaghan, while upfront Davitt Walsh got the nod ahead of the unfortunate Fitzy. This was in my opinion a mistake as Walsh was completely lacking in match fitness and as a result was virtually a passenger throughout the match. But United did battle and matched their opponents during the first hour of the match, but it was hardly exciting stuff. Walsh had a chance for the home side midway through the half when he burst through the visitors defence only to hurry his shot and it was an easy save for the visiting keeper, when surely a pass would've been more fruitful. Stuarty King also had a good run up the left flank, but his cross pulled back from the byline eluded the United forwards. Referee Burns committed a gaffe during the first half when he stopped play for an apparent head injury to a Cliftonville player, but when the player refused treatment from the physio and didn't go off he allowed him to stay on, surely once the physio has been summoned a player must leave the pitch, at least that's what I thought anyway. The visiting keeper also dropped a free kick but the United forwards were unable to force it over the line and the chance was lost.

The second half was similar to the first until the referee adjudged that home keeper Murphy had got a touch to a driven shot which appeared to go under his body and wide of the goal. Murphy obviously thought it was a goalkick, but the referee gave a corner to the visitors. Former Distillery player Francis Murphy delivered a 'gem' into the box and when the ball broke, Barry Holland fired through a ruck of players and into the net. The timing of this goal was typical of United's season so far, just an hour into the game, just that time when limbs start to tire and the strains of a midweek match start to tell. United were badly in need of a good shake-up but with Scates and Melaugh struggling in centre midfield, McClean looking lost at leftback, Picking having a poor game on the flank and Davitt Walsh out of sorts it was hard to see where to start. Manager Wright decided to take off Walsh and Picking with Fitzy and Lowry taking their place, but United were still devoid of ideas. In a last throw of the dice Craig McClean made way for Randal Reid and 5 minutes after coming on Reid missed United's best chance of the game. Fitzy broke down the right flank and his driven cross looked like a gift for Randal but he somehow failed to get a touch and the chance was lost. Fitzy was out of luck near the end with a snap shot which unfortunately was straight at the visiting keeper and United had lost their fourth game in a row. Yes there was encouragement here today, but we created too little and it's hard to see anything but another defeat away to Linfield next week, roll on November, is all I can say!


Murphy 6 Melaugh 5 MoM: Flynn

Kelly 6 Walsh 4

McClean 5 Kelbie 6

Scates 4 King 6 Referee: C. Burns 4

Alb Watson 7 1st Sub: Fitzy 6

Flynn 7 2nd Sub: Lowry 5

Picking 5 3rd Sub: Reid 5