Seeing's Believing!

United manager Roy Walker made two changes to his starting line-up from last Saturday, with Davitt Walsh replacing Mike Ward and Aiden Watson in for the suspended Gavin Melaugh. But the most important change was his tactical switch from a 4,5,1 formation, to a 3,5,2. Tommy Wray, Gav McDonnell and Archie Stewart were the back three, which allowed Lee Colligan and Watson to take up the wing-back positions and Stuarty King to shine in a rare central midfield role alongside Gary Haveron and young Ryan Deans. The other thing that was noticeable today was that United, in their all-black attire, were willing to take a shot at goal. Despite bossing the early part of the game United were unable to open the home team's defence and one incident summed up their luck when a Ryan Dean shot cannoned off Kelbie and wide of the posts with home keeper Tuda Murphy struggling. In fact it was noticeable that United failed to put extra pressure on the home keeper throughout the game, despite the fact that he was struggling with a leg injury and was having dead ball kicks taken by an outfield player. The turning point in the game came after 30 minutes when Aiden Watson attempted to come away with the ball and Glenavon forward Molloy, first obstructed him and then elbowed him, drawing a yellow card from referee Halliday. Before the free kick could be taken the referee was alerted by his linesman and the upshot was that Molloy was red carded, as he allegedly made a rude gesture concerning the referee. United failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority and gave away a silly corner 3 minutes later. As usual our marking was non-existent and Glenavon player Liggett rose unmarked to head his team into the lead. Five minutes later he was again given a free header, but luckily this effort went over the bar. Try as they might United just couldn't seem to get going and halftime was reached with them trailing by a goal to nil.

The much criticised United midfield came good at the start of the 2nd half and the much maligned Stuarty King was at the heart of it. Two minutes into the half Stuarty burst across the box and turned to hit a ground shot which appeared to take a slight deflection before finding the bottom corner of the net. The United fans (well the fifty or so who answered the call and made the journey to Lurgan), were on their feet and why not, sure it's not every day a midfielder scores a goal for us. Five minutes later Kevin Kelbie spurned a great chance to make it two when he screwed his shot wide after bursting through on the left wing. United lost their Captain Gary Haveron with a leg injury in the 55th minute, with David Cushley taking his place. Never has a better substitution been made, when after good work by Kelbie 'the Cush', with his first touch, hammered a left foot shot into the net to send the United fans wild once more. Ryan Deans was helped off after a late tackle in the 63rd minute, with Liam Mullan replacing him. Kelbie spurned another great chance to secure the points, but again missed with a left foot shot, although it was deflected for a corner on this occasion. Then we had one of those bizarre incidents which seem to happen all too often. A home player was injured in a 50/50 tackle and as he lay on the ground the United defence allowed the home team time to kick the ball into touch. With the United defence all pushed up a home player refused to do as requested and instead ran towards the United goal. Luckily for United Archie Stewart saved the day with a good tackle and Colligan finally kicked it into touch so as the player could be treated. Colligan was having a marvellous game and some of his last ditch tackles just had to be seen to be believed. United took off Davitt Walsh in the 70th minute with Paul McNeil taking his place. United had a scare soon after when Blaney dropped a high ball and even though Liggett was again unmarked from the resultant corner the United goal survived. The all-blacks finally clinched the victory 12 minutes from time when Stuarty King burst through the home defence, before squaring the ball for Paul McNeil to slot the ball home.The rest of the game was an anti-climax as United were content to take the ball to the by-line and despite the 4 minutes of stoppage time they held out for a good victory. One bizarre incident happened during this period, when a frustrated home player attempted to head butt United's Kevin Kelbie, which drew a yellow card from the referee, but he also warned the United players saying they shouldn't be trying to draw tackles. Two minutes later the game was over and United had recorded their 2nd away victory of the season and only their second win in the league. It's a start, but they have a long hard slog ahead of them, but let's enjoy it for a week and then we can worry about the next game. As the old saying goes, 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going', let's hope this is such a moment!


Blaney 7 Aid Watson 8 MoM: King

Wray 7 Walsh 7

Colligan 8 Kelbie 7

Haveron 7 King 8 Referee: K. Halliday 4

McDonnell 7 1st Sub: Cushley 7

Stewart 7 2nd Sub: Mullan 7

Deans 7 3rd Sub: McNeill 7