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