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