Raw Deal!

As I forked out my admission price tonight to enter the Limavady Showgrounds, I couldn't help thinking it was pretty expensive, £8, to watch what I knew in advance would be dismal fair. United manager, Tommy Wright made three changes to his starting line-up of Tuesday past, back came Craig McClean and Simon Kelly, in defence, while Lee Patrick got a start in midfield in place of Garth Scates. United did get off to a good start and striker kevin Kelbie turned provider, crossing from the left wing for Gavin Melaugh to prod the ball into the net to give the Sky Blues a one nil lead after 20 mins. At this stage United were in control and we all fervently hoped for them to go on and win the game from that point. But of course we didn't press home our advantage and the home team got a lifeline a minute before halftime when number 8 Tommins took a pass and beat Murphy from 15 yards to leave the scores level at the interval.

Limavady made a substitution at the break with former Coleraine veteran Paul Gaston coming on, the United management took no action, no surprise there. Gaston drew a booking from referee David Carville almost immediately but he did steady the home defence and United despite dominating the early part of the half couldn't find the vital breakthrough. They forced several corners but the Limavady players defended stoutly and were rewarded for their persistence. United gave the ball away cheaply when mounting an attack, the 'sluggush' Lee Patrick failing to reach a pass from Craig McClean and the home team showed United how it should be done with four crisp passes, which ended with McClean beating Murphy with a low volley from 25 yards after 67 minutes. Soon after the United manager took out the underperforming Stephen Lowry and Lee Patrick, bringing on the hopeless Mark Picking and Garth Scates in their place. Where was the positive move here I thought, take off 2 mediocre midfielders and bring on 2 others of the same ilk, while Stuarty King continues to impersonate a footballer and contrbutes nothing to the team. The Sky Blues got worse after this and it was no surprise when the home team scored a 3rd with 6 minutes remaining, Tommins glancing a header into the net as the United defence looked on. I don't know what happened after that as I left feeling utterly disgusted by this passionless display, while thinking to myself how I and the 200 plus United fans who made this journey got a very raw deal. Surely the time has come for the United board to act, Tommy has had his time, he has no idea of how to turn this team round and he must go sooner, rather than later!

Murphy 6 Melaugh 6 MoM: Melaugh

Wray 5 Ward 5

McClean 5 Kelbie 6

Patrick 4 King 4 Referee: D. Carville 4

Watson 5 1st Sub: Scates 4

Kelly 5 2nd Sub: Picking 4

Lowry 5

Damp Squib!

United and their fans made the short trip to Larne today hoping for some fireworks after their epic 2-2 draw at home to Lisburn Distillery on Easter Saturday. Despite making a bright start, it was Larne playing in an all black rig, who got the first goal. There seemed little danger when a shot came in from distance, but United keeper Paul Murphy failed to hold the ball and Larne's Bertie Fulton reacted quickly to fire the rebound into the net. This goal was timed in the 13th minute and it rocked United back on their heels. Larne playing down the slope should've doubled their lead soon afterwards, but first the post came to United's rescue and then Gavin Melaugh got in a last ditch tackle to save the day. Midway through the half United finally beat the Larne off-side trap but as Wardy burst through he was pulled down on the edge of the box. Referee Ball merely cautioned the Larne defender and Gary Haveron's free kick struck the Larne 'wall' and was scrambled to safety. Despite forcing several corners United couldn't find the breakthrough and in a frantic spell where home keeper Spackman had an attack of the jitters, the United forwards couldn't force the ball over the goal-line. The 4th official indicated there would be 2 minutes of stoppage time as the half drew to a close and this seemed to spur United on. United striker, Kevin Kelbie, making his 100th appearance for the club burst through the home defence, only to be tripped on the edge of the box. Kevin to his credit didn't go down and crossed to Wardy who slid the ball into the net, but referee Ball incredulously didn't give the goal and in fact gave a free to United outside the box. United players and their fans were beside themselves with anger at this miscarriage of justice, as everyone thought the referee had allowed the advantage rule as he didn't blow his whistle. Once again the last defender escaped with a caution and Stephen Lowry's free kick was pushed for a corner by Spackman. United failed to capitalise once more and the referee blew for halftime with the home team still leading by a solitary goal.

United seemed devoid of ideas on how to break down the stubborn Larne defence and yet another Larne player escaped with a caution when a red card looked the more likely outcome, when he went in over the top on United's Garth Scates. United finally got back in the game in the 59th minute when top scorer Kevin Kelby took a pass from Wardy and then curled a left foot shot past the stranded Spackman. For some reason known only to them United seemed to back into their shell at this stage and Nigel Boyd got caught out and committed a brutal foul on Larne scorer Fulton and was lucky to escape with merely a caution. From the resultant free kick the United defence stood by and watched as Larne number 5 Hamilton, controlled the ball, before turning and shooting past Murphy from 20 yards. As United tried desperately to get back in the game we saw one of those bizarre incidents that are hard to explain. United's Garth Scates challenged a home player for the ball and got an elbow in the face for his trouble, referee Ball, stopped play and then gave a bounce ball, which baffled everybody players and fans alike. Five minuted later Scates still smarting from this injustice went in hard on a home player, who retaliated and there was a bit of a scuffle in midfield involving half a dozen players from both sides. The outcome was a booking for Scates and everybody else getting away with it. Stephen Lowry missed a glorious chance from inside the box screwing his shot well wide, another chance gone begging. Manager Wright took off Boydie and brought on Walsh with 20 minutes to go and we all hoped for a positive breakthrough but it never came. Two minutes later Lowry made way for Picking and the next chance fell to the afore mentioned Picking and he screwed his shot wide also. Larne almost put the game beyond United's reach with a third goal, but Paul Murphy rescued his side saving with his feet when a Larne player bore down on goal. In a last throw of the dice Garth Scates made way for Lee Patrick but United couldn't find a pass to unlock the Larne defence and both central defenders Haveron and Watson shot over the bar from long range more in frustration than anything else. The match ended after four minutes of stoppage time and with it ended United's quest for a 4th place finish in the league and with Crusaders and Newry City only a one and two points respectively behind us, we now have a battle to hold onto 6th. The only bright light on the horizon today was our dear friends (the Coleraine Scum) losing, maybe it's true what they say, 'every cloud does have a silver lining'!

Murphy 6 Melaugh 6 MoM: Kelbie

Wray 5 Wardy 6

Boydie 6 Kelbie 7

Scates 6 King 5 Referee: A. Ball 2

Watson 6 1st Sub: Walsh 5

Haveron 6 2nd Sub: Picking 5

Lowry 5 3rd Sub: Patrick 6

United Fans!

This was probably the most explosive and most fascinating games involving the Sky Blues that I have ever attended. For forty minutes this tie ebbed along with little to commend it, United's Craig McClean booked by referee Mark Courtenay for dissent, noticed only by himself but otherwise nothing too exciting, though Simon Kelly preferred in central defence alongside United Captain Albert Watson, did hit a 40 yard free kick just over the bar and Gavin Melaugh saw his snap shop saved by visiting keeper Phillip Matthews. The match sprung to life after 40 minutes when United's Mike Ward (Wardy), starting his second game in succession chased a long ball down the right wing, beyond the last defender in the visitors team, only to be scythed down by goalkeeper Phillip Matthews. As the letter of the law stands this offence is a 'mandatory' red card, but referee Courtenay chose to ignore the 'directive' on this occasion and merely flourished a yellow card, a weak and insipid decision. In time added on at the end of the first half two Distillery defenders were cautioned as United stepped up the pressure but halftime was reached with the match scoreless.

United stepped on the gas in the second half and took a deserved lead in the 48th minute, when after keeper Matthews had fumbled a Stuarty King inswinging corner, defender Kelly crashed the ball into the net. One minute later all hell broke loose, when after United keeper Paul Murphy was fouled while going for a cross, ignored by referee Courtenay, Simon Kelly appeared to stop the ball with his chest, but the referee deemed it a deliberate handball. This time he did adhere to the letter of the wall and red carded the United player. Whites striker Darren Armour blasted the resultant penalty into the net to level the scores. United made a substitution at this stage, with winger Stephen Lowry making way for Gary Haveron to slot into defence alongside Watson. Despite having ten men United continued to press forward and when they won a corner on the left, Gavin Melaugh delivered a 'peach' of a corner kick and Albert Watson headed it majestically into the net to restore United's lead. Disaster struck for United shortly after when Stuarty King's pass fell short and Craig McClean caught Whites winger McCann with a clumsy challenge. Referee Courtenay called the United man over and flourished a yellow card, Craig's second of the day and an automatic sending off. With United reduced to 9 players now, Wardy made way for Lee Patrick, leaving Kelbie to fight a lone battle up front. This the United striker did very well and referee Courtenay allowed visiting defender Paul Muir to get off with a tackle on the United striker when he was the last man, without even drawing a yellow card on this occasion. The United goal had a few close shaves as the visitors pressed forward at every opportunity, with the crossbar coming to their rescue on one occasion. United keeper Paul Murphy was caught by an unfair challenge, but referee Courtenay refused to stop play and the United man had to get up and kick the ball into touch in order to get treatment. Distillery defender Muir (not only a former United player, but a local man to boot), ran to the thrower and told him not to give the ball back to Ballymena as is normal in these circumstances. Muir and United manager Tommy Wright then had an altercation and the referee had a word with them both. Whites striker Nathan McConnell knocked the ball away from Murphy illegally, but the referee took no action except to give the foul. The fourth official indicated that 5 minutes would be added and a minute into this added time disaster struck once more for United. McConnell once more challenged the United keeper with a 'vicious' elbow delivered to his jaw and referee Courtenay merely flourished an ineffectual yellow card. The United keeper was unable to continue and had to be stretchered off with Kevin Kelbie bravely volunteering to take over in nets with Walsh coming on up front. Even allowing for the stoppage due to Murphy's injury referee Courtenay played well over the alloted 5 minutes and it was no surprise when the visitors got an undeserved equaliser. This was bad enough, but the biggest insult was that the scorer was McConnell who shouldn't have been on the field after his elbowing of the United keeper. The angry scenes at the end of the game were a result of Paul Muir inciting the United fans and taunting them about the score. As the teams left the field United manager Tommy Wright, who quite rightly in my opinion refused to shake hands with the visitors, was involved in an altercation with visiting manager and another former United player, Paul Kirk. The United fans surrounded the tunnel and there were some violent scenes and Paul Muir's face was completely devoid of colour as he crept away from the Showgrounds pitch. No doubt United will be taken to task over these closing scenes and referee Courtenay suffered the ignominy of leaving the pitch under police guard covered by a raincoat. But in the end most of this trouble was down to him and his inept handling of the game and he is the one who must live with his conscience !


Murphy 9 Scates 8 MoM: Watson

Wray 8 Wardy 8

McClean 8 Kelbie 9

Melaugh 8 King 8 Referee: M. Courtenay 0

Watson 9 1st Sub: Haveron 8

Kelly 8 2nd Sub: Patrick 8

Lowry 8 3rd Sub: Walsh 7

Unlikely Hero!

United desperately in need of a win today got off to the worst possible start, going a goal down after only 15 minutes. The linesman at the 'Farm Lodge' end of the ground raised his flag during an Armagh attack for what we all assumed was an offside decision, but was in fact a free kick for the visitors. When the free kick came in Armagh central defender Gary Fitzpatrick easily out-jumped the United defence and home keeper Paul Murphy's despairing dive ended with him helping the ball into the net. Five minutes later it should've been two when the United defence went asleep once more and visiting striker Shane Cooney burst through but luckily Paul Murphy managed to block his effort with his legs. Gary Haveron and Simon Kelly were United's central defensive pairing while new signing Dean Pooley was conspicuous by his absence. Mike Ward got the nod up front alongside top scorer Kevin Kelbie, while Aiden Watson and Stephen Lowry got a start in midfield at the expense of Garth Scates and Mark Picking. Ward drew an elbow from visiting defender Fitzpatrick, completely ignored by referee Hall, who added insult to injury by not even giving the foul. He did however caution striker Shane Cooney for a deliberate handball when he guided a Slater cross into the net with his hand. Kevin Kelbie was thwarted when he tried to set Ward away, with yet another handball, but both referee and linesman saw nothing. United were struggling in the first half but only Gavin Melaugh knows how he sliced a ball in the six-yard box, after a Kelbie cross, with the goal at his mercy, which eventually went for a throw-in. With the half drawing to a close Gary Haveron picked up a booking when he was adjudged to have fouled a visiting player, a harsh decision as the player in question caught Gary with his studs. Stephen Lowry perpetrated the 'miss of the match' when he headed a 'rare' Stuarty King cross over the bar with the goal at his mercy. King then blasted the ball wide a minute later, when it looked easier to score and Gavin Melaugh hesitated, when he should've shot and yet another chance went begging.

In the second period the visitors seemed content to hold on, only pushing one man up front, while playing uncompromisingly, fouling at every opportunity, which brought a rash of bookings from referee Hall. United seemed devoid of ideas and with home fans calling for the United manager to make some changes, Cushley for King being a popular cry, United won a free kick out on the right. Up stepped the much maligned Stuarty King and his left foot free kick, deliberate or not, deceived former United keeper Stuart Addis and nestled in the top left corner of the net. United had been given a lifeline but still seemed unable to unlock the Armagh defence and it was obvious a change of personnel was needed. Manger Wright finally acted, taking off Lowry with Scates taking his place, not what I had in mind I can tell you. United were still unable to find a move to unlock the visitor's defence and visiting forward Cooney had a let-off when after another deliberate handball, coupled with kicking the ball away the referee merely gave him a talking to. With 8 minutes remaining manager Wright took off defender Craig McClean and brought on striker Davitt Walsh. United were now in full attacking mode, 3 at the back, 4 in midfield and 3 upfront. The breakthrough finally came in the 84th minute when Gary Haveron found Kelbie with a long pass and the United striker sidestepped his marker before drilling a left foot strike into the net to give the Sky Blues a 2-1 lead. Almost immediately the United manager took off striker Ward with Lee Patrick taking his place and United tried to 'shut up shop'. Of course they inevitably gave the visitors a a couple more chances and there was some desperate defending to do before the game was over. Deep into the 3 minutes of added time they in fact gave away a needless corner, but we fans breathed a sigh of relief when Paul Murphy plucked the ball out of the air. That was almost it as the referee blew the final whistle as Murphy cleared the ball upfield, it had been a long wait for a victory and it was almost worth it!


Murphy 7 Melaugh 7 MoM: Ward

Wray 6 Ward 7

McClean 6 Kelbie 7

Aid Watson 6 King 7 Referee: I. Hall 4

Haveron 7 1st Sub: Scates 6

Kelly 6 2nd Sub: Walsh 6

Lowry 6 3rd Sub: Patrick 6