Riding High!

Maybe I should be saying, riding our luck also, as the Sky Blues continue to win, without really hitting top form. Some of these days we will be caught out, but hopefully it will be later rather than sooner. United began the match with two changes in personnel from the line-up that beat Lisburn Distillery last Tuesday night, a victory that jumped United up 3 places to 4th in the Premier league table with 25 points. Out went Aaron Callaghan, with Simon Kelly taking over the right-back slot, while Craig McClean was dropped in favour of Fitzy, with Gary Haveron dropping to leftback to cover Craig's absence. I believe Gary only has another 4 places to occupy on the United team sheet and then he'll have worn every jersey at least once. Although he performed well enough in the position, it isn't natural for him and hopefully Craiggers will return for the Boxing Day clash away to the scum. United lost the toss and seemed 'ill at ease' not being able to attack their favourite end in the first half. Johnny Flynn, was in top form in the home defence, backed up by keeper Paul Murphy and between them they 'snuffed' out any danger from North-west visitors Institute. United were caught out by some dodgy offside decisions and some unusual decisions by referee Carville, who seemed to have a weird interpretation of the rules. He did on one occasion indicate to an Institute player where to take a throw-in from, but when the player ignored him, he issued no second warning and gave the throw to United. United were struggling to get any attacks going, but Fitzy failed to get a cross in on one occasion, with the 'Stute defence split wide open. As the half came to a close, 4th official Steven Weatherall indicated that a minute of stoppage time would be played. There seemed little danger when United won a throw-in level with the visitors goal, but Kelly found Kelbie with the throw and he slipped his marker, before striking a shot which the keeper couldn't hold and it found the back of the net. Just how close this was to halftime was indicated by the whistle sounding just as the visitors kicked-off and it gave the home team a fortuitous 1-0 lead at the break.

Scatesy didn't appear for the second half, but whether this was tactical, or whether he was injured I couldn't say, but Lee Patrick took his place in midfield. Kevin Kelbie missed a glorious chance in the 48th minute, when he drove a shot straight at the visitor's keeper when a score looked likely, after good work by Kelly, Lowry and Melaugh. The visitors came more into the game in the second period and brought an end to United's great run of 5 matches without conceding a goal after 57 minutes. Simon Kelly allowed his man to hit in a low cross and it 'ricocheted' off United Captain Albert Watson's legs past the stranded Paul Murphy to level the scores at 1-1. That was the first bit of bad luck United have had for some time, but fortune swung their way ten minutes later. There seemed little danger when goalkeeper Dougherty was fielding a back pass, but live-wire United winger, David Cushley, chased it down anyway. The 'Stute keeper was not so 'astute' and he hit a feeble clearance which fell at Kelbie's feet. The United goal-machine collected the ball and surged goalwards and despite a bit of a stutter, he drove the ball into the net to put his side 2-1 ahead. The United manager took David Cushley off with Stuarty King taking his place, but it seemed to be a matter of what we have we hold for United from that point on. The visiting keeper made another 'horlicks' as his team pushed up in search of an equaliser, when he surged from his goal to chest the ball down, but instead of 'hoofing' it into touch, he tried to pass to one of his players. Lee Patrick picked up the ball in midfield before feeding Fitzy, but his feeble shot failed to find the target. The United manager took off Fitzy late on with Picking taking his place, but he had little time to make an impact. Despite the referee finding 5 minutes of stoppage time United held out for victory and held onto 4th place at the same time. A victory is a victory they say, but I for one would like to see us do it a bit more convincingly, though I would take a scrappy 2-1 win next Wednesday!


Murphy 7 Scates 6 MoM: Kelbie

Kelly 6 Fitzy 5

Haveron 6 Kelbie 7

Melaugh 7 Cushley 6 Referee: D. Carville 4

Watson 7 1st Sub: Patrick 6

Flynn 7 2nd Sub: King 5

Lowry 7 3rd Sub: Picking 6