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