Bitter Sweet!

The injury struck Sky Blues suffered yet another body blow today when stand-in Captain Stuarty King suffered a broken ankle in the Boxing Day derby against the Coleraine scum. Stuarty bravely waved away the stretcher and hobbled off but was unable to shake off the injury and was replaced by Ryan Deans, with Kevin Kelby taking over as Captain. That happened in the first 15 minutes and before the half hour had elapsed, David Cushley was stretchered off to be replaced by Liam Mullan, but it is thought that he isn't as serious as at first feared and may be available for United's next match, away to Linfield on New Year's Day. United had taken the field with an unchanged starting line-up and got off to a disastrous start when Antrim referee Alan Black adjudged Gavin McDonnell had handled the ball in the area and awarded the visitors a penalty after only two minutes. This looked like a clear case of 'ball to hand' but there was little protest from the United defenders. Justice however was done when United keeper Alan Blayney saved defender Kyle McVey's weak spot kick. Referee Black appeared to be in a 'give the home team nothing' mood as he time and again punished them for innocuous offences while letting the scum away with bare-faced foul play. Never was this better illustrated than when he punished Cushley for a late challenge, where no contact was made and 2 minutes later in the exact same spot allowed scum Captain Tommy 'the poisoned dwarf' McCallion, to get away with a stomp on Cushley after the ball had gone. But if the referee was poor he was brilliant compared to the linesman at the Fisherwick end of the ground who missed at least 6 off-side decisions before giving one that was dubious to say the least. United's best efforts in the first half were a long distance shot from Cushley and a chance for Wardy when played in by his strike-partner Kelbie, but his first touch let him down. At the other end United's back 5 of Aiden Watson, Lee Colligan, Tommy Wray, Gavin McDonnell and the ever improving Archie Stewart gave the scum strikers barely a sniff at goal and they were ably backed up by penalty hero Alan Blayney. Referee Black allowed scum striker Davey Patton to get off without a caution, when he blatantly sunk his knee into Gavin McDonnell's back. Despite what seemed like five minutes of stoppage time for the two injuries to the Cush and King and a another minute for McDonnell there was only 3 minutes of added time.


United were attacking their favourite goals, the Fisherwick end in the 2nd period and began the half in a much livelier fashion. Still it was hard to see where the breakthrough was going to come from and it looked like it would take something special to break the deadlock. The visitors almost found that when only a saving header from Lee Colligan denied them 10 minutes into the half. The linesman at the Fisherwick end was so vigilant in the 2nd period that he was flagging the home team offside when they clearly weren't. United should've taken the lead on the hour mark, when Gavin Melaugh, coming back to his top form, sent Kelbie away with a good ball over the top. The United talisman seemed to hesitate when he reached the box, but when he went to shoot he had his legs clipped from under him, but referee Black waved away United's claims for a penalty. Five minutes later the dose was repeated and this time it was Wardy who burst through the sluggish Coleraine defence, only to mess up just inside the box. All looked lost before fate took a hand and 'fate' used an unlikely source on this occasion. 'Big Fat' Davey O'Hare, who has long been the butt of Sky Blue fans jokes, attempted to clear the ball, but could only watch in disbelief as the ball ricocheted off one of his own players and past him into the net. The large contingent of United fans, the best 'home' support of the season, were on their feet to jeer the scum keeper and cheer the goal, while the 'tub O lard' could scarcely believe his luck. Five minutes later United sealed the points when Kelbie beat at least 5 men in a mazy dribble inside the box, before rolling the ball into the net. About a minute later the scum were reduced to 10 men when substitute Gibson blatantly elbowed United's Aiden Watson and immediately drew a red card from referee Black. Then we had the third biggest cheer of the day when the linesman at the Fisherwick end tripped over his own feet and had to get attention from the United Physio. Substitute Liam Mullan made way for young James McVeigh no doubt to give the young guy a taste of first team action as United will need to call on all their resources as injuries start to mount up. United were in the ascendency now, but were content to play out time and ran out deserved winners, their fifth win in a row, but more importantly a victory over the scum from the 'dirty old town' of Coleraine!


Blayney 8 Melaugh 8 MoM: Blayney

Aid Watson 8 Ward 8

Colligan 8 Kelbie 8

Wray 8 Cushley 8 Referee: A. Black 3

Gav McDonnell 8 1st Sub: Deans 8

Stewart 8 2nd Sub: Mullan 8

King 7 3rd Sub: McVeigh 7

Kevin Delivers!

Glentoran and their manager Alan McDonald I imagine, are sick of the sight of United and their all black jerseys. This was the sixth meeting of the two clubs this season and before today the Glens had enjoyed the upper hand with 3 wins, a draw and one solitary defeat. United had been the only team this season to beat the Glens on their own patch when winning the 2nd leg of the C.I.S. cup by 2-1 on November the 4th and today they became the first team to take maximum points at the league leaders home ground also. I do believe we are in fact the only team to win at the Oval during the last 50 weeks and we've done it three times, a real sickener for the McCooeys. It was nice to have the presence of injured Captain Gary Haveron among the United faithful and he proved that he really is a 'dyed in the wool' Sky Blue fan. United, as intimated in Sky Blue Sport (we are jammy guessers), recalled Tommy Wray to a 3 man defence in the absence of the aforementioned, injured, Gary Haveron and (as again forecast in Sky Blue Sport), gave the Captain's armband to Stuarty King. Our formation was actually, 3,4,1,2 designed as a holding team and I must say we adapted to the system quite well. I must pay tribute to a man much maligned for his early performances in a United shirt, central defender Gavin McDonnell, this man was a colossus in defence today, with last ditch tackles, clearing headers and when the situation required a 'hoof' into touch. The Glens began the game at a frenetic pace, but the United defence held firm and after 15 minutes began to exert some pressure on the home teams creaky defence. David Cushley, revelling in his central midfield role, opened up the home defence with a superb through ball to Mike Ward, but the two goal hero from last week screwed his shot wide, a bad miss. At the other end McDonnell made a great tackle when Waterworth looked likely to score and then United keeper Blaney was relieved when Hamilton headed tamely into his arms when a score looked imminent. Kelbie then had a chance, after good work by Melaugh and King, but his shot just grazed the upright. Lee Colligan ran onto a delightful King pass but unfortunately blasted the ball wildly over the bar. Referee Keith Halliday dropped his usual clangers, punishing United for silly fouls and allowing the home team to get away with murder. A Cushley free kick was headed down by McDonnell, but no United man was able to get on the end of it. Gavin Melaugh was lucky to escape a caution when he was adjudged to have pulled Gary Hamilton down as the striker burst through, yet another 'home' decision, by referee Halliday. United spurned a glorious chance to go in one up at the interval when Ward chased down a weak back header and despite a blatant foul by the Glens keeper, managed to elude him, but then shot weakly and defender Simpson was able to clear off the line, yet another let-off for the home team.

The home team came out for the 2nd half and set about breaking down the United defence, but they held firm, kept their shape and weathered the storm. During this period all of the back three answered the call ably backed up by keeper Blaney, but it must be said Gavin McDonnell was faultless in his execution and helped calm the nerves when it looked like the home team must score. Lee Colligan, what a find this youngster has been, distinguished himself once again and it was no surprise when the Glens took off winger Scullion who was getting little joy down the right wing, with striker Halliday taking his place. Aiden Watson was playing well also but ran across the biased Halliday when he won the ball, but it struck him on the hand and the referee flashed the yellow card. This was a clear case of 'ball to hand', but the referee thought otherwise. The referee by this action, inadvertently, set in motion the chain of events that led to the home teams defeat. Manager Roy Walker took Watson off soon afterwards, I don't know if it was in case he got booked again or not, but he was replaced by youngster Ryan Deans. United were penalised on two occasions when breaking down the right wing, firstly it was Stuarty King, who outsprinted Simpson, but the linesman flagged saying that he had pulled the player back, a complete falsehood. Then there was an even worse incident when Kelbie sprinted past the exhausted Leeman and the linesman flagged again, the United fans and manager Roy Walker were up in arms, but all to no avail. Young Deans almost broke the deadlock when his volley from a King cross just shaved the post. Then in the 73rd minute we actually won a free on the right side of their penalty box, given by the same linesman, surprisingly. Up stepped Kevin Kelbie to power in the free kick and young Ryan Deans, (or should we call him Dixie), powered a header into the Glentoran net. The United fans were on their feet and why not, sure it was a grand wee goal. The Glens brought on yet another striker, Coleraine reject Boyce and we were treated to a most theatrical dive by Glens striker Gary Hamilton, but the referee ignored it. The United defence was finally breached after 82 minutes when substitute Boyce, who looked suspiciously offside, cut inside before beating Blaney at his near post. Glentoran had given up all semblance of playing football at this stage and it was 'route one' all the way and it looked like it was going to pay dividends. The United manager played his last trump card taking off the tiring Ward and bringing on Paul McNeill. The Glens laid siege to the United goal, but we somehow survived and in a rare breakaway got pulled up for an infringement about halfway into the Glens half. The fourth official had just intimated that their would be 3 minutes of added time and the home team were in a hurry to take the kick. In their haste the ball struck referee Halliday and fell into Kelbie's path and the flying Scotsman tore down on the Glens goal. It seemed as if he had been caught at the edge of the box, but he shrugged off the tackle before blasting the ball into the net with his left foot to send the United fans delirious once more. United held out for the last three minutes quite easily and ran out deserved winners, a lucky goal to clinch the points, but, they all count!


Blaney 8 Melaugh 8 MoM: Gav McDonnell

Aid Watson 8 Cushley 8

Colligan 8 Kelbie 8

Gav McDonnell 9 Ward 8 Referee: K. Halliday 3

Wray 8 1st Sub: Deans 8

Stewart 8 2nd Sub: McNeill 8

King 8

Winning Tragedy!

I think it was Rudyard Kipling who in a poem wrote, 'if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat these two villains just the same, then my son you will have become a man', well Sky Blue fans have met with disaster after disaster this season, with very little triumph and never more so than today at Bangor. We were about a minute into the three added minutes of stoppage time today, leading the home team by 3-0, when our team Captain Gary Haveron, went in to make a typical Gary Haveron tackle. The minute he went down we knew right away that he was hurt quite badly, but I don't think any of us thought in our wildest nightmare just how serious an injury it would be. It turns out that big Gary has a broken bone in his ankle and will be in plaster until February. I'm afraid I must lay the blame for Gary's injury on the shoulders of referee Mark Courtenay. How this 'gutless' man is still allowed to referee games is beyond my comprehension. This is of course the referee who, by his indecision (failing to send off Distillery keeper Philip Matthews for a professional foul), began the events that led to the 'infamous' lamb shank riot at the Showgrounds last season. With two minutes on the clock today former United player Dominic Melly 'went in over the top' on United player Kevin Kelby, a foul that should've drawn a straight red card, but the 'gutless Dungannon official merely cautioned the Bangor player and as the match progressed allowed the home team to get away with what can only be described as questionable tackles and it led to Gary's unfortunate injury which will probably mean he misses the rest of this season and we will really miss him. United manager Roy Walker made one change to his starting line-up, with Kevin Kelbie returning to his striking role, alongside Davitt Walsh, this meant no place for Tommy Wray and United went back to the flat back four of Aiden Watson, Gavin McDonnell, Archie Stewart and Lee Colligan. The midfield were Stuarty King, Gavin Melaugh, Gary Haveron and David Cushley. United it would be safe to say dominated the first period but were unable to make the vital breakthrough, while on the break they were indebted to fullbacks Aiden Watson and Lee Colligan. Time and again these two wee men came to the rescue with last ditch tackles and clearances, ably backed up by Archie Stewart and Gavin McDonnell. Stewart in fact made a last ditch block when a Bangor player looked likely to score, diverting the ball for a corner. Gavin Melaugh burst through the home defence after a Kelbie flick, but an alert linesman flagged him offside, a good decision, but unappreciated by the United fans. Close to halftime Davitt Walsh went down in a heap and came off with a suspected hamstring injury, with Mike Ward taking his place and suddenly the United attack began to look a bit more menacing. United's corners in the first half were as usual not up to the required standard, rarely getting past the first defender and when the referee blew for the end of the period we all thought we had missed the opportunity to get on the score-sheet.

Three minutes into the 2nd half and we won a corner down the right wing, up stepped the 'Cush' to deliver a perfect corner and Gavin McDonnell headed it powerfully into the net for his first goal in a United shirt. This score brought the home team to life and their tackles came in even harder but referee Courtenay was reluctant to take action. In one incident a home player went in really late and hard on Gary Haveron and by the noise of the tackle it was crunching and led to a bit of jostling amongst the players. Referee Courtenay didn't even caution the home player and in fact admonished the United Captain about his reaction. United got their 'insurance' goal after 68 minutes and it came from an unlikely source. Archie Stewart and Lee Colligan were involved and then Kelbie took over, finding the Cush with a neat pass and he threaded the ball into Wardy's path. The wee striker seemed to have missed his chance as the ball was partially cleared, but he curled his foot around the ball and found the net from a tight angle, for his first senior goal in a Sky Blue Shirt (well actually we were playing in black, but you know what I mean). Bangor then had a spell of pressure but the United defence held firm and during this period Aiden Watson and Colligan time after time rescued the situation when the home team threatened. United keeper Neal Blaney also distinguished himself with a good stop from a pile driver as the home team tried to salvage something from the game. Stuarty King relieved the pressure for United with a great run from his own penalty box to the opposite penalty box, before winning a free kick. United almost scored from the resultant free but the home goal somehow survived. United weren't to be denied for long though and after another great pass from the 'Cush' Kelbie sprinted down the left wing before finding Wardy who hammered the ball into the net for his second and United's third goal in the 85th minute.Stuarty King was suffering from a shoulder injury and he typically tried to carry on but was replaced after 87 minutes by Paul McNeil. Young McNeil missed a glorious chance to make it four when he just failed to score from a Kelbie pass. United were rampant at this stage and looked certain to add to their tally, when tragedy struck and the rest, as they say, is history!


Blaney 8 Melaugh 7 MoM: Aid Watson

Aid Watson 8 Walsh 7

Colligan 8 Kelbie 7

Haveron 8 Cushley 8 Referee: M. Courtenay 2

Gav McDonnell 8 1st Sub: Wardy 8

Stewart 8 2nd Sub: McNeill 7

King 7 3rd Sub: Deans 7

King(dom) Come!

Omar in his column a couple of weeks ago intimated that United's failing this term was down to the lack of goals from midfield. What an inspiration the 'old guy' is, not only have United won their last two games, their much criticised midfield contributed three of the four goals scored. It was another goal from midfield that was enough to see off the 'hatchet men' tonight and the scorer was the irrepressible Stuarty King. The United manager in the absence of his two top strikers, Kelbie suspended and Teggart injured, began the game with Davitt Walsh and the revitalised David Cushley as his two strikers. The two United men were given little protection from referee Creaney, as Crues defenders Coates and former United player Gary Smyth were allowed to get away with blatant fouling by the referee. The United defensive tactic of three at the back was continued but Gav McDonnell and Archie Stewart were somewhat shaky throughout. United survived a couple of scares and the tough tackling Gary Haveron came to their rescue when the 'hatchet men' threatened their goal on a few occasions. Big Gary is really starting to play a Captain's part in the United line-up and his example to his fellow players is superb and his leadership qualities are coming to the fore. United were under pressure from long-throws and were lucky to survive on one occasion when the ball bounced in the six-yard box with the home players frozen stiff, but luckily the ball was headed over by visiting striker Mark (the ugly duckling) Dickson. The only goal of the game came after 34 minutes when Stuarty King's rasper from 25 yards took a slight deflection off a Crues player before finding the back of the net past the bemused Michael Keenan. This was a goal United deserved and they should've stretched their lead on the stroke of halftime, but Colligan and Melaugh got in each others way after Stuarty King delivered an inch perfect pass.

United continued to look dangerous on the break in the second-half, seemingly content to soak up the Crues pressure and then hit back. Crues manager Stephen Baxter made two changes at halftime, bringing on leftback McBride and another former United player Jamie Marks. The Crues kept up the pressure in the 2nd half, with long throws and high balls into the box, but in all fairness the United defence held firm ably marshalled by Tommy Wray and keeper Neal Blaney. Manager Walker took off his two strikers who were stretching the Crues defence fairly well despite the ludicrous offside decisions of the linesman at the Fisherwick end of the ground, midway through the half, with McNeill and Ward taking their place. A perfect illustration of this linesman's ineptitude occurred when Walsh broke from his own half but was then flagged by the official when he received the ball, it had to be seen to be believed I tell you. Only McNeill knows how he failed to get on the score-sheet, when after a good run down the right, Melaugh played a superb ball into the strikers path, but the keeper saved at the 2nd attempt, but in reality he shouldn't have had a prayer. The next time Melaugh attempted to burst through he was caught by a vicious tackle from Coates, who in my opinion should've drawn a straight red card, but got away with a caution. With time running out Melaugh burst through the middle once more and as he bore down on goal he was hacked down by former United player Marks, on the edge of the penalty box who was rightly red carded. The United fans wished Jamie a Merry Christmas as he left. Gary Haveron's free-kick cannoned off the woodwork of the goal and bounced to safety. Deep into stoppage time the visiting keeper got caught out of goal when making a clearance, but unfortunately Gary Haveron failed to spot the opening and United missed another chance to seal the points. During the 3 minutes of added time the Crues forced 3 corners in succession, but the home team deservedly held out for a narrow but thoroughly deserved victory.


Blaney 8 Melaugh 7 MoM: King

Wray 8 Walsh 7

Colligan 8 Cushley 7

Haveron 8 King 8 Referee: S. Creaney 3

Gav McDonnell 5 1st Sub: McNeill 6

Stewart 6 2nd Sub: Ward 6

Aid Watson 8