Wake-up Call!

After their merited if somewhat lucky victory at Newry on Saturday, Roy Walkers team got a harsh wake-up call in tonight's home game with Dungannon Swifts, who triumphed by 2-1, their third victory over the Sky Blues this season. The United manager made two changes to his starting line-up from last Saturday, with Paul Muir making his first starting appearance and new boy Michael Smith taking over the wing-back berth in place of the suspended Aiden Watson. Little was seen of United early on as the visitors dictated the pace, their slick passing belying their bottom rung of the league, as they took the game to United. United's cause wasn't helped when Mike Ward limped off after 10 minutes with Walsh taking his place. The home team managed to survive the early pressure from the visitors, but as usual they were undone by their failure to stop teams crossing the ball. The culprit on this occasion was new signing Smith, as he allowed his man to get a cross in and after an initial shot had rebounded from a United defender, the ball was hammered into the net. This goal came in the 28th minute and I could see the home team's heads drop immediately. It was obvious it was going to take a bit of magic to get United back in the game. This bit of magic arrived in the 38th minute, when Paul Muir thundered in a free kick from thirty yards that left the Dungannon keeper flat-footed. United came more into the game in the last 7 minutes plus the 2 minutes of stoppage time. We witnessed a real gaffe from referee McFadden during stoppage time, when he stopped play to give a foul on United striker Kevin Kelbie, instead of applying the advantage rule as Kelbie was in the clear. That was a s good as it got for the home team as the halftime whistle sounded soon after.

United, despite being under the cosh at the start of the half, spurned a great chance to take the lead 9 minutes in, when McDonnell somehow headed against the post with the goal gaping from a Kelbie free kick. This miss was all the more galling as Tommy Wray was unmarked behind Gavin, but Gavin took the effort himself and missed. Ten minutes later the United defence (not for the first time this season), went asleep at a corner kick and visiting striker Timmy Adamson sent a powerful header into the United net to put the visitors 2-1 ahead. United to their credit did push for the equaliser, but they had nobody with that bit of flair who could open the visitors defence, although George Young made the visiting keeper make a good save wit a crisp shot from the edge of the box. United continued to push forward and had a couple of lucky escapes when the visitors caught them with breakaway attacks. Gavin McDonnell got a yellow card for an alleged professional foul, but it was more of a clumsy challenge than a deliberate one. After 80 minutes manager Walker finally made a change with Cushley replacing Craig McClean, but he had little or no impact and with 5 minutes remaining Paul Muir made way for Albert Watson. Albert picked up a booking after only 3 minutes for a heavy challenge, while Dungannon players were allowed to get away with similar challenges all night, but then what else is new. Thankfully United only lost by two goals to one, but it's obvious that players like Gary Haveron and Stuarty King, with their 'never say die' attitude are sorely missed in the United team and something's got to be done.


Blaney 7 Melaugh 6 MoM: Muir

Wray 6 Ward 6

Muir 7 Kelbie 6

McDonnell 6 Colligan 6 Referee: J. McFadden 4

Smith 6 1st Sub: Walsh 5

McClean 5 2nd Sub: Cushley 5

Smith 6 3rd Sub: Watson 6

Floodlit Robbery!

You've heard of 'daylight' robbery, but this afternoon at the Marshes, United committed Floodlit robbery. The home team spent 80% of the game encamped in United's half, forced at least a dozen corners, won about 15 free kicks in dangerous positions, but couldn't find the vital breakthrough or telling pass to unlock United's solid defence, in which Gavin McDonnell was a tower of strength. Time and again the big Dubliner foiled the Newry attack and on the couple of occasions they did get past him, once the woodwork came to our rescue and the other time keeper Neal Blaney made a tremendous save. United took the field with the same starting line-up as at Ballyclare, with their bench full of defensive talent, with Albert Watson returning after injury and new signing Paul Muir, ably backed up by the fit again Davitt Walsh, midfielder David Cushley and back-up striker Paul McNeill. United were under the cosh for most of the first half and Kelbie and Wardy up front were left isolated on too many occasions. On the few times they did get forward, Mickey Collins at the centre of the home defence was rock solid, but it must be said was allowed to get away with dubious tackles by referee Steven Weatherall. On one occasion as Kelbie slipped the ball past him at the halfway line, Collins went 'right through him', an automatic yellow card, but referee Weatherall instead merely chatted to him, a complete waste of time. Lee Colligan almost broke his scoring duck, when he took a pass from Wardy, but keeper Coleman was equal to his shot with a fine save. United were blown up for offside as Colligan broke through once more, but as this was him latching onto a back pass it seemed a strange decision. United had a let-off midway through the half, when, with McDonnell out of position, Archie was muscled off the ball by Garret and with Blaney advancing his chip struck the post and bounced to safety. From a free kick at the other end, a sweetly struck shot from Craig McClean forced a finger tip save from Newry keeper Coleman. The United midfield were being over-run by their Newry counter parts and were chasing shadows on many occasions. United managed to hold out until halftime and it was obvious something had to change if they were to turn this game round.

United did make a change at halftime, with Aiden Watson, making way for his name sake, Albert Watson, which meant Tommy Wray switching to right wing-back. This had no immediate effect as far as I could see and in fact we went even deeper into defence and a score for the home team looked imminent. The Newry juggernaut was relentless as they peppered the United penalty box and when United did try to break out they were caught by the well oiled Newry offside trap. In fact United's forwards were caught offside on one occasion when they were clearly onside when the ball was played, but these things happen in the Irish league. Midway through the half Newry took defender Collins off and this in my mind proved to be a turning point in the game. Suddenly we were able to carve out a few more openings, prompted by Gavin Melaugh in midfield, but were finding it hard to make that telling pass. McDonnell showed his worth with a double tackle on Garret, as the wily striker did his best to wriggle past, even taking an outrageous dive in an attempt to con the referee. United keeper Blaney pulled of a magnificent save to deny the home team what looked a certain goal and keep the scores level. With 15 minutes left Wardy limped off to be replaced by Walsh and this change seemed to galvanise United somewhat and they began to subject the home team to a bit of pressure. Four minutes later Gavin Melaugh forced his way through midfield before finding United Captain Kevin 'the King' Kelbie and the United talisman shrugged off his marker before drilling a shot towards the far corner of the net. Newry keeper Coleman catapulted himself across goal to push the ball away, but Davitt Walsh following up drilled the ball into the net. To say the United fans were delirious would have been a vast understatement, we were as the saying goes, 'over the moon'. Almost immediately United manager Walker took off Archie, with new signing Paul Muir taking his place and he proved his worth over the closing stages. United had further chances to increase their lead as the home team pushed all-out to try and salvage a point, but first Walsh had a shot blocked when a pass was surely the better option and then Kelbie was denied by the keeper once more. Referee Weatherall punished United keeper Blaney for allegedly holding the ball too long, a strange decision to put it mildly. United held out despite this ludicrous decision and for the 5 minutes of stoppage time, even though only 3 minutes was held up by the 4th official. The small handful of Sky Blue fans, who though small outnumbered the home fans by at least 3 to 1, applauded their heroes off the pitch, we not only took all three points, we broke Newry's hearts as well!


Blaney 8 Melaugh 8 MoM: McDonnell

Wray 7 Wardy 7

McDonnell 9 Kelbie 8

Stewart 6 McClean 6 Referee: S. Weatherall 4

Aid Watson 6 1st Sub: Alb Watson 7

Colligan 8 2nd Sub: Walsh 7

Young 6 3rd Sub: Muir 7

Blaney Blunders!

United entertained Cliftonville today with the chance to move up one more place if they could somehow manage a victory. On Cliftonville's previous visit, which had actually been the first match of the season, United suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat and goalkeeper Alan Blaney had a real nightmare in goals. Blaney has since came on leaps and bounds and has played an integral role in United's improvement over the last 7 games, 6 wins and one narrow defeat. Not so today though, Blaney was in fact badly at fault for the visitors first 2 goals and had another game he'll want to forget. United also, in my opinion, 'blundered' by electing to play against the strong breeze in the first half and as a result were under the 'cosh' for long periods in the first half. The visitors made good use of the strong breeze and subjected an unchanged United line-up to some heavy pressure. Referee Trevor Moutray enraged the home fans by blowing for innocuous fouls, while turning a blind eye to late tackles. The reds took a deserved lead after 15 minutes, when Blaney decided to come for a corner, then stopped and watched as a header from Mark Holland looped over his head and into the net, with Blaney flat-footed. Two minutes later, Holland was caught offside and despite the referee's whistle chipped the ball over Blaney and into the net. This offence draws an automatic booking but the referee astounded home fans by merely ticking the player off. Two minutes later he repeated the offence and this time the referee did caution him, but it was in my opinion 2 minutes too late. Holland, who should've now been in the dressing room for 2 yellow card offences, then tested Blaney with a shot from distance, a good shot, but one that is 'bread and butter' for any decent keeper. Blaney boobed once more and only pushed the ball into reds striker Scannel's path and he gleefully tucked it into the net and made the score 2-0 after 29 minutes. United continued to live dangerously throughout the remainder of the half and it was plain to see that Blaney had a problem as he was struggling to deal with back passes. In a goalmouth scramble at the other end the visitors just escaped conceding a goal after a corner had been partially cleared. It looked as if this would be United's only chance of the half but they got a lifeline on the stroke of halftime when Mike Ward broke into the box and reduced the score to 2-1 with a crisp shot into the net.

United attempted to lay siege to the visitors goal in the 2nd half but other than a snap shot from Cushley dealt capably by their keeper, United failed to press home their advantage. Gavin Melaugh was caught by yet another late tackle, ignored by the referee and had to come off 15 minutes into the half with George Young taking his place. Five minutes later Young lost the ball in midfield and the United defence was undone by a through ball and Francis Murphy gave Blaney no chance from the edge of the box to make the score 3-1 and leave United with a mountain to climb. Despite bringing on Craig McClean for Archie Stewart and Paul McNeill for Cushley, United couldn't find the telling pass to unlock the visitors defence where former Sky Blue Kieran Donaghy, excelled. Their day was summed up for me when a Kelbie shot was turned round the post for a corner with 5 minutes remaining, I just knew it wasn't going to be their day. In the end United settled for a 3-1 defeat, hoping it was only a glitch and that normal service would be resumed asap. Next week it's the cup away to Ballyclare, so hopefully Blaney will be back to his best, a repeat of this performance and I'm afraid it will lead to an embarrassing exit!


Blaney 5 Melaugh 7 MoM: Ward

Aid Watson 7 Ward 7

Colligan 7 Kelbie 6

Wray 6 Cushley 6 Referee: T. Moutray 2

McDonnell 7 1st Sub: Young 6

Stewart 6 2nd Sub: McClean 6

Deans 6 3rd Sub: McNeil 6

Special Delivery!

Kevin Kelbie answered his critics (Sky Blue Sport among them), with a perfect Captain's display at the Showgrounds yesterday. United took the field with the same starting line-up as on the trip to Windsor Park on New Years Day. there was however a welcome change on the bench, with the versatile Craig McClean returning after a long injury lay-off. United lost the toss and had to attack the Fisherwick end in the first half, but it was hard going and the visitors with their fresh legs, benefiting from their postponed match on New Years Day, looked the livelier during the early stages. The linesman at the Fisherwick end was a little sluggish and missed about 3 blatant offsides but luckily for the visitors United failed to capitalise on this good fortune. Alan Blaney made a good save when Gary Muir was allowed to waltz through our defence before shooting, just who was supposed to pick him up I don't know. A beautiful through ball from David Cushley fell kindly for Wardy, but a last ditch block-tackle from a Distillery defender, saved the day. Then it was the turn of Gavin McDonnell to save United with a similar tackle at the other end. Cushley then had a snap shot from 25 yards, but unfortunately it was straight at Matthews and he clutched it eagerly. Blaney was forced to make another good save late in the half from Armour, palming the ball away and the impressive Aiden Watson completed the clearance. United were playing some lovely football at times with close inter-passing trying to draw the visitors into a mistake. United wing-back, Lee Colligan, junked his way down the wing, playing a one-two with Melaugh, before swinging over a gem of a cross, but no United man was there to take advantage.

United began to dominate the game in the 2nd half and a Tommy Wray header from a Cushley corner was cleared off the line by a Whites defender. Referee McLaughlin appeared to have no yellow cards as he allowed the tough tackling visitors to get away with some late tackles. After one especially robust challenge just over the halfway line, the visitors paid the ultimate penalty. Tommy Wray took the kick and even though it wasn't particularly good, a defensive header fell to United Captain Kevin Kelbie and he delivered a swerving, dipping, half volley, which beat Matthews all ends up. This goal in the 60th minute, was worthy of winning any game and I'm sure that Whites manager Paul Kirk, no mean striker in 'his' days, 'secretly' appreciated it. The visitors attempted to get back in the game, but found the United defence, in which Gavin McDonnell was outstanding, in an uncompromising mood. Aiden Watson was harshly booked by the referee, when he appeared to make a fair tackle, but he continued to play in his usual uncompromising style. The Whites were awarded a dubious free kick on the edge of the box, but the ball never got through and didn't trouble Blaney.Lee Colligan went on a mazy dribble and was only denied by a last gasp tackle. McDonnell made a mistake when he tried a header to Colligan, which was intercepted but Blaney saved his blushes with a good save. The linesman at the Fisherwick end missed a couple more offsides, which luckily came to nothing and gave a free kick on the edge of the box for nothing obvious, but it was blazed, thankfully, over the bar. With ten minutes remaining Ryan Deans made way for George Young, son of a former United stalwart, Stephen 'Goosey' Young. In late United pressure, Aaron Stewart almost broke his scoring duck, it will come Archie, don't worry and Tommy Wray was denied with another header and then from the follow-up shot as well. With 5 minutes remaining Craig McClean replaced Cushley as United shut up shop and held out for a deserved victory and it was nice to see the two managers embrace at the end. Not so nice was an altercation between Kelbie and a Whites player after the final whistle, but I'm told it was a misunderstanding and no action was needed by the referee. That Kelbie goal will live long in the hearts of United fans, sure it was worth the admission price on it's own!


Blaney 8 Melaugh 8 MoM: Kelbie

Aid Watson 8 Wardy 7

Colligan 8 Kelbie 9

Wray 8 Cushley 7 Referee: M. McLaughlin 3

McDonnell 9 1st Sub: Young 7

Stewart 8 2nd Sub: McClean 7

Deans 7

Bally Flops!

After the sublime displays in United's last five games, it was a sickening blow when the team suffered an embarrassing flop against 10 man Linfield. United began the game with only one change from their starting line-up of Boxing Day, with Ryan Deans replacing broken ankle victim Stuarty King. King, who has been fairly influential during United's 5 game winning run, was badly missed here yesterday, not only for his playing, but in his leadership. Kevin Kelbie took the Captain's armband in Stuarty's enforced absence, but it's a position that United needs to sort out as soon as possible for Kevin lacks the leadership qualities required by United's many youngsters. Linfield, as expected, came out of the blocks like an express train and United survived an early scare when a shot cannoned off a post with barely 2 minutes on the clock. United leftback Lee Colligan was having a torrid time against former Distillery winger John Martin, although some of Martin's theatrical dives were something too behold. Alan Blaney, allegedly a target for Linfield, although United have had no official contact from the I.F.A. (sorry Linfield), made a good save when Martin waltzed past Colligan after 5 minutes and then stopped a goalbound shot from Carvill. United survived the early pressure from the home side and then began to exert some pressure of their own. David Cushley, who was carried off on Boxing Day, played with his leg heavily strapped, but he had United's first real chance with a thunderbolt from 30 yards, which Manus was glad was right at him. Wardy spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring, when he latched onto a through ball from Cushley but decided to pass instead of going for goal himself and the impressive Stephen Douglas was able to intercept. United's defence were at this stage on top form and McDonnell and Watson were both excelling. Kevin Kelbie, despite the attention of 3 home defenders, got a left foot shot in which just scraped the post with Manus stranded and Melaugh saw his shot just drift past as well in United's best spell. Referee Burns was at his usual ineptness, allowing the home team to get away with dubious and late tackles and United fans were wondering if he had taken the field without his yellow cards. This speculation was proved beyond doubt when after Carvill took a 'theatrical' dive, aka John Martin, United's Aiden Watson kicked the ball in frustration and it hit the Linfield player who was feigning injury. I say 'feigning' because he jumped up immediately and grabbed Watson by the throat and was promptly red carded by the official. This I have to say was harsh, a yellow card for Carvill and a ticking off for Watson would have been fair, but the referee had allowed the home team to get away with so much he probably had to take a stand or lose control of the match completely. This incident happened after 40 minutes but United failed to press home their numerical advantage during the rest of the half.

United were last out of the tunnel in the 2nd half and if truth be told were 2nd best throughout most of the 2nd period. The Linfield defence dealt easily with most United attacks and I can't remember their keeper having to make a worthwhile save during the rest of the game. The home team were beginning to put the Sky Blues (playing in their all black strip), under some pressure and forced a couple of needless corners won by their substitute Mark Miskimmin, who was proving a handful for the United defence. Twelve minutes had elapsed when a corner from the right was returned to the home player and from his subsequent cross Douglas got his head to the ball before the hesitant Tommy Wray and despite the efforts of Ryan Deans on the goal-line the ball found the net to give the home team a deserved lead. United manager Roy Walker took off, Cushley and Stewart, with McNeill and Mullan taking their place in an effort to kick-start the lethargic all Blacks. Despite loads of possession United couldn't unlock the home defence and their 'never say die' attitude was aptly summed up when Mullan played a decent ball into the six-yard box for the lurking Kelbie, but Douglas flung himself at the ball to deflect it for a corner. From the resultant kick McNeill attempted an overhead kick but it sailed over the bar. Mullan then failed to deliver a cross when he got to near the byline his cross going over the bar, another chance gone begging, while Wardy seemed unable to contribute anything despite getting plenty of the ball. Referee Burns had obviously picked up his yellow cards at halftime as he cautioned Linfield's Miskimmin for blatantly kicking the ball away and succumbed to the chants of the home team by booking United's best player Aiden Watson late in the game. Referee Burns ineptitude can be summed up by 'one' of many incidents throughout this game. Linfield winger Martin was darting across the pitch and was pushed off the ball by a United player and he (Martin), ran the ball into touch. Referee Burns then astounded the United fans by awarding Linfield a throw-in, it was clearly either a foul to the home team or a throw-in to United, but it was yet another clanger by the official. On a positive note, United took about 500 fans to the game (most of whom stayed to the bitter end and it was bitter believe me)and it was nice to see some of our former players in attendance, Goosey Young and a still youthful looking Michael Smith (United's last winning Irish Cup Captain), to name but two, despite them both finishing their careers at Coleraine, to us they are still Sky Blues!


Blaney 8 Melaugh 6 MoM: Aid Watson

Aid Watson 8 Ward 6

Colligan 6 Kelbie 7

Wray 6 Cushley 6 Referee: C. Burns 2

Gav McDonnell 8 1st Sub: McNeill 6

Stewart 7 2nd Sub: Mullan 6

Deans 6