Heart Breakers!

The small crowd of 'Larne yins,' who made their way to the Showgrounds on Friday night, must have went home very disappointed. The bottom club in the Irish Premiership they are, but they gave a great account of themselves at the wet and windy home of the Sky Blues, but went home with nothing. United, with the same starting line-up for the third time in a row, looked like a team with other things on their mind and despite having a strong wind at their backs failed to trouble the Larne defence to any great extent early on. The most interesting thing about the first half was in fact the constant use of the offside trap by the visitors and the linesman who didn't seem to know that you were only offside when the ball was played, not when you received it. Never was this better illustrated than when United had a goal disallowed near halftime when he 'flagged' for offside, despite the United players timing their run to perfection when McClean swung in a free kick, yes admittedly they looked offside when they got to the ball, but when it was played they were well on-side, but no matter the goal didn't stand anyway. United had created a few chances during the first period, but Kelbie and Walsh both messed up with clumsy touches when well placed and our long range shooting was so bad it was almost laughable. Halftime was reached with the score at nil, nil and I was a bit apprehensive about the second half with the visitors having the strong wind in their favour.

Surprisingly, or maybe given our form, unsurprisingly, we actually played much better in the second half, but still seemed incapable of finding the vital breakthrough. The visitors also looked more menacing and forced a couple of corners but the home defence with young Johnny Flynn in top form dealt capably with them. Larne central defender Hamilton, was 'putting' himself about, but referee Black took no action against the culprit. Garth Scates then missed a 'sitter' when he was played through by Gavin Melaugh, blasting his shot over the bar from 15 yards. Kevin Kelbie chased down a back-pass to the keeper, who after juggling with the ball, lost possession, before pulling the United man down deliberately. With the nearest Larne defender 30 yards away it was a clear cut sending off for the Larne keeper, but referee Black merely flourished a yellow card. With 20 minutes to go united manager Tommy Wright made what was to turn out to be an inspired substitution, taking off Craig McClean, who had performed well and bringing on David Cushley, this necessitated Gary Haveron dropping back to left back. Four minutes later United won a corner on the right and Cushley's inswinger was headed home by Kelbie to the delight of the Sky Blue faithful. Larne, to their credit, didn't allow their heads to drop and took the game to United and from one goalmouth scramble the ball struck the United post, before being scrambled to safety. Larne's number 7 then squeezed between Flynn and Watson, only to see his effort annulled by a one-handed save by Paul Murphy. United striker Davitt Walsh was then involved in a tackle with Hamilton of Larne, although the referee didn't give it as a foul the Larne player appeared to stamp on Walsh as he lay on the ground. The United striker was stretchered off with what was a suspected broken leg, but is now thought to be just heavy bruising, while the Larne defender escaped punishment. Fitzy came on as sub for Walsh and should have wrapped the points up, when a great cross from Cushley after a scintillating run just needed a touch, but Fitzy failed to apply it. Hamilton of Larne was finally booked by referee Black after one foul too many on United's Kevin Kelbie, not before time in the eyes of the home supporters myself included, I can tell you. Kelbie, with space opening up as the Larne players tired, found Fitzy with a delightful pass, but he shot straight at the Larne keeper, when it looked easier to score. Two minutes later in the 85th minute Fitzy made amends when he cheekily back heeled a Cushley cross into the net to virtually wrap up the points for United. Larne defender Hamilton picked up a second yellow and an automatic sending off when he pulled Kelbie down as the home striker sprinted past him on the edge of the box. Substitute David Cushley swept a beauty past the stranded Larne keeper from the resultant free kick to wrap up a three nil win for the home team. Three points, yes, impressive, no it was not, but who can argue with the result, we did after all send those harbour rats home, very disappointed!


Murphy 7 Scates 6 MoM: Flynn

Callaghan 6 Walsh 7

McClean 7 Kelbie 8

Haveron 7 Melaugh 7 Referee: A. Black 4

Watson 7 1st Sub: Cushley 8

Flynn 8 2nd Sub: Fitzy 7

Lowry 6