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