Cold Comfort!

Ballymena left Solitude today with the knowledge that they had played their part in a very good match, played on easily the worst surface imaginable, but unfortunately they left it pointless. United began with only one change to their starting line-up in Tuesday night's cup loss, Davitt Walsh, in instead of Gary Haveron. What a start they made too, with barely 5 minutes on the clock, Garth Scates inswinging corner was volleyed into the net by the unmarked Kevin Kelbie. That was a fortunate start, but from then on 'Lady Luck' deserted the Sky Blues and referee Mark Courtenay had a real stinker as well. The referee did however start out well, cautioning Chris Scannel for a blatant dive in the box and his strike partner George McMullan for dissent. Tragedy struck for the visitors soon after, when new signing Mike Ward got injured and had to leave the field, with Mark Picking taking his place. Five minutes later, Scannel 'fell over' in the box once more and referee Courtenay decided this time it was a penalty, a complete miscarriage of justice. Up stepped former United player Davey McAlinden to take the penalty, the ball struck Murphy in the chest and as he dived on the loose ball, big Davey came in over the top catching the keeper with an horrendous tackle. This is the sort of tackle which referee's in England are trying to stamp out, but obviously as far as Mark Courtenay's concerned it's fine as he didn't even caution the culprit, much to everyones amazement. Murphy was able to continue after treatment but he was badly shaken and Cliftonville tested him to the full. First he pushed a shot round the post and then tipped another effort over the bar. But United, whose defence it has to be said struggled in the heavy conditions, were defending desperately and a score looked imminent. From a corner on the left, Stuart King just managed to get a header over the bar with Murphy beaten. The goal when it came owed a lot to our keeper's lack of mobility as he allowed himself to be beaten as home defender O'Hara challenged him for a flicked on corner. United had come close to scoring themselves just before this setback, but Kelbie's header had hit the post and dropped into home keeper Connelly's grateful arms. United seemed to have taken the lead just before halftime, when after Kelbie sped to the byline, his cross was met by Walsh who headed it into the net, only to have the score ruled out for a doubtful offside. From our jaundiced view behind the far goals it was hard to tell, but Kelbie did appear to pull the ball back and it was hard to see how Walsh could've been offside, but the goal was ruled out. This meant the score at halftime was 1-1 and I was still hopeful as United were well in the game.

The home team stepped up the pressure in the second half, but the United back four held firm and we seemed to have weathered the storm. With 56 minutes on the clock McClean found Kelbie on the left flank and Kevin drew his marker before laying the ball into Walsh's path. The Letterkenny man sprinted into the penalty box and as he was about to shoot, he was 'cleaned' by home defender O'Hara with a tackle from behind, a cast iron penalty. But much to my surprise, Mister 'pathetic' Courtenay waved play on and as if to add insult to injury the home team broke upfield and as the United defence hesitated, Mark Holland diverted the ball past the hapless Murphy to give his team the lead. I thought to myself there's no way we can get back in this match now, as it seemed to be just one of those days when everything went against us. But this United team don't know when they're beaten and back they came again and put the home team under some pressure. They won a corner on the right, but as the ball came over they didn't attack it, despite 'me' shouting my head off for them to pile the bodies in and their keeper had an easy catch. United continued to press and they won another corner on the right again and this time they did attack it and keeper Connelly punched the ball against Tommy Wray and it bounced into the net to level the scores. It was no more than United deserved I thought, but from then on it was a back to the walls defensive action for them. United keeper Paul Murphy played a major part in keeping the scores level, ably backed up by left back Craiggers McClean and it looked like United were going to salvage a deserved point. In fact they almost took the lead but Garth Scates could only head over when he got on the end of a Picking cross. When the 90 minutes were up the 4th official signalled 3 extra minutes and I thought we should've made a substitution at this stage, bringing on Gary Haveron to help out our beleaguered defence. But our manager decided to go with the personnel he had and then in the 92nd minute disaster struck. A harmless looking shot from distance seemed to be covered by our keeper, but the ball bounced just in front of him and went over his despairing dive, to put the home team 3-2 up. Despite the referee playing another 2 minutes there was no way back for our team this time and they surrendered their unbeaten league run which had lasted since October last year. I felt gutted at the finish and I'm sure the players felt bad also, but in the end, we just had to grin and bear it!


Murphy 7 Melaugh 6 MoM: Murphy

Wray 6 Ward 6

McClean 7 Kelbie 7

Scates 6 King 6 Referee: M. Courtenay 1

Watson 6 Walsh 6

Kelly 6 1st. Sub: Picking 6

Goosey's Revenge!

There's an old saying that 'revenge is a dish which is better eaten cold' and former United keeper Goosey Robinson took his revenge on United manager Tommy Wright during the penalty shoot-out of last night's cup replay. One of the first things Wright did on arrival at the Showgrounds was to release keeper Robinson and the team have since struggled to find an adequate replacement until quite recently. United once more failed to deliver the goods, at least four times they should've rendered penalties unnecessary, but in the end they literally paid 'the penalty' for their poor finishing. There was only one change to the starting line-up, Ward replacing Fitzy, which meant United continuing with their 4,5,1 formation, which, although it has worked fairly well recently, is still a negative approach. Striker Kevin kelbie was too often ploughing a lone furrow up front as the midfield failed to get up to back him. United's first chance fell to Stuarty King, but as usual he failed to find the target from 20 yards, with Goosey well beaten. United forced six corners in the first period but never looked like scoring from any of them, a terrible indictment on the United coaching staff. Newry were playing some nice 'one touch' football and United keeper Murphy had to be alert just getting a hand to a Morgan cross, which saved the day. United had two claims for a penalty dismissed by referee Davey Malcolm (who had a terrible game), midway through the half. First Gary Haveron was tripped as he attempted to lay a pass to Kelbie and then in the follow-up move there was a deliberate hand ball ignored by the Belfast official. Stuarty King in the same move should've opened the score but with Robinson out of position his feeble shot allowed the keeper to get back to smother the ball. Just after Murphy had saved the home team they broke away and Garth Scates headed the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score. Newry were continuing to test the United back four but the in form Simon Kelly helped the team survive until halftime and keep the scores level.

Manager Wright made no changes during the interval and United continued with the same formation and the same players. New boy Michael Ward wriggled past his marker in the penalty box, but almost had his arm pulled from it's socket, a cast 'iron' penalty, ignored by both referee and linesman. At the other end Murphy was at full stretch as Morgan attempted to 'chip' him, but the United keeper clawed the ball out of the air. With 20 minutes gone a change was needed, but there was no action from the United bench. Then there were unsuccessful penalty appeals at both ends of the pitch, first Mike Ward was hauled down as he sprinted into the box and then Morgan went down under a Kelly challenge but referee Malcolm seemed to have decided there would be no penalties during normal time in this game. Scates missed another glorious chance when Goosey parried a Ward effort he somehow hit it over the bar, a glaring miss. With 10 minutes remaining the United bench sprung into action, but in a surprise move striker Ward was removed, with winger Picking taking his place, a not very positive tactic, which baffled me and the majority of United fans. Kevin Kelbie was occasionally winning headers but no United players were willing to gamble on this and chances were lost. Newry almost broke the deadlock, when Morgan, looking suspiciously offside broke clear but his shot was saved by Murphy once more. After the 90 minutes the score was still 0-0 and extra time was played. The 15 minutes each way failed to produce a breakthrough though Kelbie had a chance as he took a Picking pass, but a Newry defender got back to deflect the ball for United's 12th corner of the match. Gavin Melaugh then just failed to get enough on a header from a Picking cross, which would have given United victory , but it fell into the grateful arms of Goosey. During the first period of extra time the United manager had made a substitution, taking off Scates and bringing on Lee Patrick, yet another hard to fathom tactic. With time running out and the dreaded penalties looming I thought surely we'll see joint top scorer Davitt Walsh being brought on, but it didn't happen and United finished the game having only used two of their alloted 3 subs. I have never liked penalty shoot-outs and I somehow knew I wasn't going to like this one. Newry took the first penalty and scored and when I saw who United had elected to take theirs I buried my head in my hands and Goosey easily saved Stuarty Kings feeble effort. Newry converted their next and up stepped United Captain Albert Watson to convert for the home team, to leave the score at 2-1 for the visitors. Newry scored their next and then Kevin Kelbie scored for United. Newry then made it 100% with their fourth and the unfortunate Gary Haveron had his effort saved by Goosey and United had gone out of the cup for yet another year. It's hard to understand our manager's thinking on this one as he had our joint leading goalscorer and a man who has never missed from the spot, Davitt Walsh on the bench, but he didn't bring him on. He would surely have been the man to take the first penalty, but it has left United with only one objective, a high finish in the league, the Irish cup has eluded us for another year and the trophy famine goes on.


Murphy 8 Scates 6 MoM: Murphy

Wray 7 Ward 7

McClean 7 Kelbie 7

Haveron 7 King 5 Referee: D. Malcolm 2

Watson 7 1st Sub: Picking 6

Kelly 8 2nd Sub: Patrick 6

Melaugh 7

Late Show!

United stretched their unbeaten run to 14 games today, but they left it late, in fact very late. United lined up today, with team captain Albert Watson back in harness alongside Simon Kelly in the centre of defence. Young Johnny Flynn was in the stand and rumours were 'rife' that the West Belfast teenager was on his way to English Premier side Blackburn Rovers, but I was unable to confirm this with a United official. As expected Garth Scates returned in midfield, which meant no place for Lee Patrick, but the United manager did spring a surprise by playing Fitzy on the right of his 5 man midfield, instead of the more versatile Stephen Lowry or the veteran Mark Picking. United began the game in determined fashion and with barely 3 minutes on the clock Stuarty King intercepted a loose crossfield pass, but drove his shot harmlessly wide when a shot on target would have been more profitable. Four minutes later top scorer Kevin Kelbie repeated the dose when after a neat bit of play between McClean and Melaugh he was left in the clear but dragged his shot harmlessly wide. Crues had a couple of long range efforts, both on target during the first 10 minutes also and the game was shaping up very nicely. United wasted yet another chance to take the lead after 17 minutes and this time Scates was the culprit shooting wide, when a score looked imminent. United not for the first time this season paid a heavy price for these scoring lapses, when the visitors took the lead with just 20 minutes on the clock. After winning a corner on United's right flank, visiting player Colin Coates rose unchallenged to head powerfully into the net. United didn't allow their heads to drop and Kelbie should've levelled things when he found himself unmarked in front of goal, but instead of hitting the shot with his right foot he tried to get on his favourite left and the chance was missed. With 30 minutes on the clock another incisive move down the left put Kelbie in the clear and his cross was flicked on by Scates but eluded the goals once more. The visitors unlocked the United defence a few minutes later and United keeper Paul Murphy pulled off a magnificent save from Crues leading scorer David Rainey, whose shot from inside the six yard box had goal written all over it. United then won a free kick about 30 yards from goal on the right side of the pitch and Gary Haveron's shot was parried by visiting keeper Aaron Kerr at the expense of a corner. Referee Alan Black seemed reluctant to bring the half to a close, when after the 4th official indicated an extra one minute, he allowed play to go on for another 90 seconds.

United resumed where they left off in the first half and Kevin kelbie should've levelled matters in the 50 th minute when he burst through on the left, only to decide to pass instead of shooting himself and once again the chance went begging. This miss proved rather costly when the visitors in a rare attack found an opening and a harmless looking shot by Steven Coulter took a deflection before trickling into the net to give the visitors a two goal cushion. United looked shell shocked and it was obvious changes would have to be made, but there was no action from the United bench. Fitzy was so obviously struggling in his unaccustomed midfield role and United fans were urging their manager to make a substitution. With 20 minutes gone in the half the United manager finally acted, but to our fans surprise he took off Gary Haveron and brought on Mark Picking, with Fitzy moving into a more attacking role. United still looked devoid of ideas and the visitors were looking dangerous in breakaways and it was hard to see where the openings were going to come from. Then fate took a hand, after referee Black had just warned a Crues player for his violent play and made it blatantly obvious that another indiscretion would not be tolerated. United's Mark Picking was breaking out of defence when Crues player Barry Spence came in with a two-footed tackle and referee Black immediately produced the red card. In the ensuing melee another Crues player was cautioned and United were thrown a lifeline. The visitors and their goalie had been wasting time since taking the lead and this was to come back and haunt them in the latter stages of this game. Manager Wright took off Fitzy finally, with new signing Michael Ward taking his place and suddenly the home team began to look dangerous. Ward, after a slow start created another opening for the Sky Blues when his driven cross was feebly met by Gavin Melaugh with the goal at his mercy. That chance came in the 85th minute and the United manager played his final trump card a minute later bringing on Davitt Walsh in place of Craig McClean. Just after Walsh came on, former United player Gary Smyth was cautioned for time wasting and that brought that particular ploy to an end. United got a deserved equaliser a moment later, when after incisive play by Ward down the left, the striker's shot was pushed onto the bar by keeper Kerr and Melaugh was on hand to force the rebound over the line. Referee Black punished the visitors for their time wasting by adding on 5 minutes of stoppage time and United threw everything at the visitors in the added on period. Albert Watson of all people, even had a shot saved by the Crues keeper, but it looked as if United would fall short. Three minutes into stoppage time United won a corner and keeper Paul Murphy added his weight to the attack, but to no avail. Then in the 94th minute United won a free kick on the edge of the box and Murphy sprinted up once more. Garth Scates took this kick and the ball fell to Davitt Walsh and he thundered a shot off the crossbar and into the net to level the scores and give United a richly deserved draw. The United fans were on their feet from then until the final whistle and until every player had left the field. In the end a draw was a fair result, but it probably was yet another chance lost!

Murphy 7 Scates 7 MoM: Melaugh

Wray 6 Melaugh 7

McClean 6 Kelbie 6

Haveron 6 King 6 Referee: A. Black 5

Watson 7 1st Sub: Picking 6

Kelly 7 2nd Sub: Ward 7

Fitzy 5 3rd Sub: Walsh 7

Missed Boat!

Despite the fact that the Sky Blues are still in the Irish cup, I can't help thinking that they missed the boat today when they settled for a draw at the 'Marshes' against Newry City. On the balance of play a draw was probably a fair result, but United spurned at least three glorious chances to make a replay unnecessary. Albert Watson, made himself unavailable once more with a 'surprise' chest infection which meant Simon kelly getting a start at the centre of defence alongside Johnny Flynn, which in turn released Gary Haveron in a central midfield role in place of the suspended Garth Scates, Mark Picking got the nod ahead of Stephen Lowry on the right but the rest of the team remained unchanged. Newry tried to force the game from the outset aided and abetted by some strange decisions from Davey Malcolm and his 'motley' crew. United had appeared to have weathered the Newry 'storm' when disaster struck. Tommy Wray, a revelation since replacing want away fullback Aaron Callaghan at rightback, made a 'horlicks' of a simple pass, presenting the ball to Sean Friars, who promptly sped by the United defender and bore down on the visitor's goal. Young Johnny Flynn moved across to intercept, but his luck was out when Friar's shot ricocheted off his legs before spinning goalwards. It looked like a simple save for United keeper Paul Murphy but the United keeper allowed the ball to slip from his grasp and it appeared to trickle over the goal-line to put the hosts one up after 13 minutes. United attempted to get back on terms, but at one nil down the ploy of 5 in midfield was looking like a poor policy from the United management. The United fans were imploring their team to commit more men to the attack, but it was falling on deaf ears as United stayed in their shell. Mark Picking did on one occasion chase what looked like a lost cause and home fullback Emmett Friars gave away a needless corner, when under little pressure. Stuarty King delivered his corner to the far post and Simon Kelly planted his header firmly in the net past the despairing dive of former United keeper 'Goosey' Robinson. That goal came in the 29th minute and it gave the visitors and their fans a real lift. Despite their ascendancy for the remainder of the half the Sky Blues failed to unlock the home defence and the score was locked at 1-1, when referee Malcolm brought proceedings to a halt.

United started the second period in determined fashion and took a deserved lead in the 48th minute. Mark Picking danced his way up the right wing and even though his initial cross was cleared, Gavin Melaugh played the ball back in again and Kelbie rifled it past Goosey with a right foot shot from six yards. This strike was greeted by exhilaration by Sky Blue fans and players alike and one person even claimed to be Kelbie's lover, much to the shock of other United fans, myself included, but then again that's another story. Kelbie could and definitely should've wrapped up the tie for United, when after a bit of interplay with King he found himself clear on goal, but with the goal at his mercy he dragged his shot wide. Almost immediately Newry gave themselves a lifeline, when Stuarty King tried a crossfield path when an overhead kick up the field looked like the better option and presented the ball to a Newry midfielder, who in turn fed Morgan on the edge of the box and his crisp shot found the corner of the net to level the scores. United to their credit went looking for the winner and Mark Picking supplied a sublime cross but Stuarty King just failed to get his head on it with Goosey stranded. Morgan created a chance when looking suspiciously offside, Murphy just managed to push his groundshot round the post. Picking once more supplied an even better cross and Kelbie, Patrick and King all failed to make contact when a touch was all that was needed. Manager Wright, somewhat surprisingly to my way of thinking, took off Picking soon after, with Stephen Lowry taking his place. United won a free kick about 25 yards from goal when Kelly was upended after a forceful run, but Gary Haveron's left foot shot drifted just past the post. United's Kevin Kelbie went down injured and lay for 2 minutes before the ball was played into touch. Referee Davey Malcolm made the United striker wait for a good 2 minutes before waving him back on after his treatment, a petty decision to my mind. Stuarty King had a glorious chance to wrap up the tie but his 20 yard shot clipped the crossbar with Goosey well beaten before rebounding to safety. With the match drifting into stoppage time time Johnny Flynn's goal bound effort was blocked by a last minute clearance and King saw another effort deflected for a corner. But in the end United had to settle for a draw, although I can't help thinking it should've been totally unnecessary, but as they say, 'that's cup football and that's why we love it'!


Murphy 6 Picking 6 MoM: Kelly

Wray 6 Patrick 6

McClean 7 Melaugh 7

Haveron 7 Kelbie 7 Referee: D. Malcolm 4

Kelly 7 King 6

Flynn 6 1st Sub: Lowry 6

Side-Tracked Tommy!

This was an abysmal performance by the Sky Blues in their first home game of the New Year and for once the second half was just as bad as the first. I wonder if manager Tommy Wright's indecision, would he accept the 'Norwich post', rubbed off on his players, as they seemed in two minds as to what they wanted to do in today's match. Admittedly their preparations were somewhat undone by the absence of team Captain Albert Watson's unavailability, rumoured to be suffering from a back injury. I couldn't possibly comment on rumours circulating among United fans that his injury was caused by a bulky wallet, which held 'under the table payments' from a bigoted rival manager. Mister versatility Gary Haveron, slotted into defence alongside Johnny Flynn and the two performed adequately, Lee Patrick took Gary's place in midfield and Stephen Lowry, as suggested by Sky Blue Sport (lucky guess), got the nod on the right in place of Mark Picking. Gary Haveron, team Captain in Albert's absence, chose to play against the wind in the first half and to not attack our favourite goals at the Fisherwick end of the ground. To say that the first half was a non-event was to give it more credit than it deserved, to put it bluntly it was pathetic. Stuarty King, I hate to admit, was the one bright spark in the first half as he repeatedly eluded his marker in the first period, but the United players seemed unable or unwilling to get on the end of his crosses. I cannot remember visiting keeper Tuda Murphy, having to make one save worthy of the name during the first half. In fact the closest United came to scoring was when a Stuarty King cross was played into the six-yard box and a Glenavon defender under no pressure managed to clear it at the second attempt. The dearth of United goal attempts was in complete contrast to their incisive passing, which was quite exhilarating at times, but there was no end product. For the second game in a row an opposition player had to leave the field after a tackle from a United defender and on this occasion Tam Wray was lucky to escape the referee's notebook, as his tackle was definitely high. The visitors had a few shots on target but these were from outside the box and keeper Murphy dealt capably with them and despite forcing several corners, Glenavon failed to trouble the United rearguard to any great extent. Halftime was reached with the scores locked at 0-0 and we hoped the United manager would be able to turn his team around as he has done so successfully in the past.

He looked to have worked his magic in the 49th minute, when Kelbie nodded a pass to the unmarked Melaugh lurking on the left of the six-yard box. With United fans screaming for him to shoot, he instead delayed his shot and the ball was scrambled for a fruitless corner. this was to prove a costly miss, as it was United's only chance in the entire game. Oh they 'huffed and puffed' after this but to no avail, as they were unable to find the vital breakthrough that would unlock the visitors defence. With an hour gone the United manager took off Stephen Lowry, who wasn't the worst player on show by a long chalk and brought on Mark Picking. United began to pile forward looking for an opening and won a free kick about 25 yards from goal on the right-side of the penalty box. Gary Haveron the hero from Tuesday stepped up, but drove his free kick against the defensive wall and the chance was lost. The visitors were dangerous on the break and Paul Murphy was happy to see a snap shot hit the post before going over the by-line when his defence had gone asleep. With 15 minutes left manager Wright made another substitution, which if it was tactical, was ill-advised, when he took off Gavin Melaugh, by far the best home player on view and brought on Davitt Walsh. Yes we needed Walsh on, there was no doubt about that, but at the expense of Melaugh it meant we lost his footballing skills, which were in very short supply today. Of course Melaugh could've been injured and although I tried to find out about this I was unable to get clarification. Walsh could and should've been an instant success, when fed down the right by Tam Wray, but instead of bounding for goal he inexorably delayed his run before attempting a high cross that was easily cut out by the visitors defence. In a last throw of the 'dice', the United manager brought on David Cushley in place of Stuarty King, who had a poor second half, but at least continued to try. Cushley gave the home team some hope when he found Kelbie with a neat pass, but unfortunately United's top scorer went too wide and drove his shot harmlessly over the byline. Despite a couple of lengthy stoppages referee Best added on only 3 minutes of stoppage time, but in fact only played 2 of them, as inconsistent as ever. When the final whistle sounded it was a relief, as I don't think United would've scored if they has played all night. The one positive to come out of the game, was that United had kept a clean sheet, just as we did against Limavady United back in November and that led to 5 clean sheets in a row, I'd definitely settle for that, starting with next weeks game away to Newry. Okay we didn't win, but we didn't lose either, let's put it behind us and go out and win our next six games, a tall order I know, but not impossible! As the old saying goes, 'Miracles happen every day, the impossible (the possible in our case), just takes a little bit longer'!


Murphy 7 Scates 6 MoM: Melaugh

Wray 6 Melaugh 7

McClean 6 Kelbie 6

Patrick 6 King 6 Referee: D. Best 4

Haveron 7 1st Sub: Picking 6

Flynn 7 2nd Sub: Walsh 6

Lowry 6 3rd Sub: Cushley 6

Gary Glitters!

United went to the Oval today with a 10 match unbeaten run and left it with an emphatic win and it was no more than they deserved. Gavin Melaugh, despite looking doubtful with an injury, made the United starting line-up and with Craiggers McClean returning after a bout of flu, Lee Patrick, had to drop down to the subs bench. Stephen Lowry, the goal scoring hero on Boxing Day also dropped down to the bench, with Mark Picking getting his first start since facing Linfield on October 20. After a minutes silence, observed reverently by every spectator, United began brightly and Stuart King darted past his marker before delivering a cross onto Kelbie's head. Unfortunately the United striker headed wide, when a score looked imminent. that was after 5 minutes and Stuarty repeated the dose 4 minutes later and this time it was Mark Picking who missed a glorious chance to give United the lead, but he headed wide also. As so often happens Glentoran took the lead against the run of play and the United defence stood by and watched. After a good run by Scullion the ball broke to midfielder Kyle Neill and his snap shot was brilliantly parried by United keeper Paul Murphy, it fell to Hamilton who fired goalwards once more, only for Murphy to block the shot once more, Hamilton however made no mistake with the rebound and Murphy rightly berated his defence. That goal came after 12 minutes and the home team threatened to blow United away for the next 10 minutes, but the United defence, ably managed by Captain Albert Watson, held firm. United began to come more into the game and during a sustained bit of pressure, forced three corners in succession. The linesman at the City end of the ground , which the Sky Blues were defending, seemed loath to raise his flag for offsides and home striker Halliday took advantage of the situation on a couple of occasions, luckily for United, keeper Murphy got his angles right and Halliday dragged two efforts wide. United's pressure finally told in the end when in the 42nd minute King fed the ball through for Scates and he shot under the advancing Morris to bring United level. Scates, who played his 150 th game for the club on Boxing Day was clearly delighted and he punched the sky with delight, in fact I have to say in all honesty, it's almost as good to watch this United team celebrate a goal, as it is to watch them score it. Halftime was reached with the scores level and in all honesty I'd have settled for that as the final score, but this United team had other ideas.

Five minutes into the second period the Glens took a fortuitous lead, when a Kyle Neill shot deflected past keeper Murphy, to put the home team 2-1 ahead. Although it was a fortuitous score, it was nonetheless richly deserved as the home team had come out with 'all guns blazing' and one could see the goal coming. United looked a little shell shocked at this stage but prompted by Gary Haveron and Thomas Wray, they slowly began to claw their way back into the game. A glens player came off second best in a tackle with United Captain Albert Watson and had to be stretchered off, with former Sky Blue, Rory Hamill taking his place. Rory, who had a 'colourful' spell at the Showgrounds, was to inadvertently give them a lifeline in this game. United were mounting an attack when Hamill foolishly handled a Picking pass giving United a free kick, about 30 yards from goal. Referee Davey Malcolm had earlier made the United wall retreat 12 yards from a Glens free kick and for once in this game, he played it 'fair and square' and made the Glens wall retreat the same distance. As Gary Haveron lined up the kick, I was unsure as to the outcome, but Gary, 'god love him', struck a beauty over the wall and into the right corner of the net. The United fans were rapturous and rightly so as they knew this was the turning point of the game. That goal came after 67 minutes and despite referee Malcolm, giving fouls against United for perfectly good tackles, they still stuck to their task and in the 74th minute took a deserved lead. Gavin Melaugh, a former Glens player got this one, popping up at the far post after a Stuarty king shot had been blocked by the Glens defence and scoring with a fierce left foot shot, his first United goal, but hopefully the first of many. Like a wounded animal the Glens surged forward in search of an equaliser, aided and abetted by some strange decisions from referee Malcolm. He pulled United up for what looked like good tackles and then when Kelby was fouled as he broke away, he waved play on. The United manager took off Garth Scates, with Lee Patrick taking his place and then Mark Picking made way for Stephen Lowry. As the home team surged forward, Craiggers was rightly booked for fouling Scullion, but at this stage we were under severe pressure, but holding out. In a last throw of the dice, the United manager took off Stuarty King with Cushley taking his place. Cushley wasted a good opportunity soon after, when he lost possession when fed by Kelbie. United were indebted to the woodwork, when a cross ricocheted off the bar and shortly after we witnessed the 'unsporting' side of the home side. United keeper Murphy went up and claimed a free kick, but was fouled by a home player in the process, although the referee didn't stop the game and the United keeper had to knock the ball into touch. After treatment from the physio, the glens, instead of giving the ball back as is the norm, knocked it into to touch and in my opinion signed their own death warrant. Deep into injury time, United's Stephen Lowry broke away before playing the ball to top scorer Kevin kelbie and he coolly waltzed round keeper Morris before planting the ball into the net to make it 4-2 for the Sky Blues. The Glens kicked off and referee Malcolm blew his whistle and United had completed their 11th game unbeaten and inflicted the first home defeat on the home team during this league campaign and even better, went home with three richly deserved points!


Murphy 8 Scates 8 MoM: Haveron

Wray 7 Melaugh 8

McClean 7 Kelbie 8

Haveron 8 King 7 Referee: D. Malcolm 3

Watson 7 1st Sub: Patrick 7

Flynn 7 2nd Sub: Lowry 7

Picking 6 3rd Sub: Cushley 6