Lights Out!

Ballymena, as forecast on Sky Blue Sport, began with the same eleven players as last week at a windswept New Grovesnor. To say that United were under the 'cosh' in the first half, was a gross understatement. The home team made full use of the elements and took advantage of a linesman who had next to no understanding of the offside rule. Time and time again the home team carved the United defence open on both flanks and more by good luck than anything else the visitors clung on as if their lives depended on it. After one blatant offside missed by the linesman Johnny Flynn got back to dispossess home striker Gary Browne, a crucial bit of defending by the youngster. United were only able to break occasionally and Kelbie and Walsh tested the home keeper with shots from distance. Just when it looked like United would survive to halftime their dam burst when an incisive movement down the right ended with Whites striker Gary Browne volleying the home team into the lead in the 35th minute. Surprisingly United, completely against the run of play it must be said, were given a lifeline when midfielder Gavin Melaugh beat home defender Muir to the ball on the edge of the box and hit a crisp left foot shot into the net after 40 minutes. This goal gave the visitors a bit of a lift and they won their first corner on the stroke of halftime and home keeper Matthews was lucky to grab the ball at the second attempt.

The second half was late in starting as a bank of floodlights at one side of the ground had failed to come on. The referee deliberated with both managers and both Captains before allowing the game to proceed. This was a mistake that was to prove costly to United as the lights that were out meant the left side of their penalty box was in almost total darkness. United stepped up the pace in the second half and the home defence were put under severe pressure but the visitors couldn't find the vital breakthrough. Shots and corners were rained in on the home goal, but with a bit of good fortune and some dogged defending they somehow survived. Then disaster struck for United when Andy Waterworth sprinted up the right wing into the dark area of the pitch and his cross deflected off United's Johnny Flynn and past keeper Paul Murphy who probably never saw the ball in the murk. That goal came in the 70th minute and seven minutes later the referee brought the game to a premature halt, citing unsafe ground conditions. I know we must abide by the referee's decision, but most United fans, myself included believed conditions were no worse than at the start of the second half. Home manager Paul Kirk was scathing in his remarks about the referee calling the game off, but I'm sure he's secretly delighted as its 90% certain that his team will be awarded the points. Generally when a game passes the 73rd minute the result stands and I can't see the 'punchless' I.F.A. do anything but stand by this rule. If the shoe was on the other foot (United leading 2-1 when the game was abandoned), I would definitely want this rule adhered to and my gut feeling on this occasion is it will be. I'm just annoyed we weren't allowed the chance to decide the result over 90 minutes, we might still have lost, but it wouldn't have left the empty feeling that this outcome has!


Murphy 7 Lowry 6 MoM: Melaugh

Callaghan 5 Scates 5

McClean 6 Walsh 6 Referee: A. Hunter 3

Haveron 6 Kelbie 6

Watson 6 Melaugh 7

Flynn 7