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