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