Winning Ugly!

United beat Bangor in their quest for Premiership survival, without ever being overly impressive. Manager Roy Walker selected the same eleven as started last Saturday's match and it was obvious from the start that Nathan McConnell's former team mate Darren Lockhart was determined to upset the United striker. Referee Davey Malcolm chose to talk to both players when after Lockhart swung a punch, Nathan went down rather histrionically. Yes McConnell did 'make a meal' of the challenge, but the punch was thrown just the same. As the players lined up once more McConnell lashed out at Lockhart and promptly got himself booked. United took the lead after 20 minutes when a clever Kelbie free kick was flicked on by Wardy and Paul Muir was on hand to flick the ball into the net with his right foot. Bangor attempted to get back on terms and United were indebted to keeper Alan Blaney for a smart save from former United player Dominic Melly. During this spell of pressure young fullback Michael Smith demonstrated what a good signing he was with some incisive tackling. Kelbie almost doubled United's lead when after a through ball from Colligan his shot ricocheted off McConnell's legs for a goal kick. Halftime was reached with United still leading one nil and I hoped for something better in the second half.

Nathan McConnell didn't appear for the 2nd half with Davitt Walsh substituting and suddenly United looked a bit slicker. Bangor were dangerous on the breaks and United were at times a bit casual. The points were virtually sealed 12 minutes into the 2nd period, when after a nice dribble from Kelbie, visiting keeper Brown could only parry the striker's shot and the 'lurking' Cushley hammered the rebound into the net to give the home team a 2 goal cushion. This was almost reduced 5 minutes later when the United defence allowed Melly a free header and Blayney was relieved to see the ball rebound to safety via a post. Wardy made way for Albert Watson with United reverting to a 3,5, 2 formation. This was obviously a 'what we have we hold' statement from the United management, but in a last throw of the dice Magill came on to replace Cushley. Young Smith almost broke his United scoring duck first with a free kick from 20 yards that Brown just tipped over and then a rasping left foot shot as he cut in, which just grazed the crossbar. Kevin Kelbie went too soon for an Aiden Watson through pass and when the linesman's flag was rightly raised, he petulantly kicked the ball away winning himself a needless yellow card. Despite some valiant efforts neither team was able to add to the scoring and United held out for three vital points as two of the teams below them lost ground with defeats. They are now into 8th position, still with an outside chance of making the top six and facing a crunch match with Glenavon next Saturday, but for the next 8 days, let's just savour the three points earned tonight!


Blayney 7 Aid Watson 7 MoM: Smith

Smith 8 McConnell 5

Colligan 6 Kelbie 7

Wray 7 Cushley 7 Referee: D. Malcolm 4

McDonnell 7 1st Sub: Walsh 7

Muir 7 2nd Sub: Alb Watson 6

Wardy 6 3rd Sub: Magill 6

Skittish Kittens!

The 'skittish' United defence seemed determined to shoot themselves in the foot during yesterday's game at the tight Seaview pitch on Belfast's Shore Road. United manager Roy Walker was forced to make one change to his defensive formation, with Albert Watson serving a one game suspension. It's unknown whether he ditched the favoured three at the back in Albert's absence, or because of the narrow playing surface a feature of the Crues home ground. As expected cup-tied Michael Smith returned to the team at rightback while Nathan McConnell made his début alongside Kelbie. McConnell announced his arrival by being caught offside, something our strikers are adept at but did force the Crues keeper to make a save early in the first half. Aiden Watson moved to central midfield alongside Tommy Wray with Michael Ward on the right and David Cushley on the left. Cushley continues to be an enigmatic figure, taking up good positions but then over-hitting his crosses or failing miserably with them. His corners were so bad that after three miserable efforts Michael Smith took over the task. United keeper Alan Blayney, was forced to make a good save at the expense of a corner when the united defence allowed the 'ugly duckling' Mark Dickson to get a shot on goal. They of course went asleep at the set piece and after an initial saving header were relieved to see Caddell's header rebound from the post although Blayney did appear to have it covered. The United defence had another lucky let-off when they allowed a cross to come in from the left and the unmarked David Rainey put his 'free' header over the bar with the United defence spread-eagled. Referee Alan Black was his usual inept self summed up by two incidents involving home defender McKeown. Firstly he allowed a blatant elbowing offence on McDonnell by the Crues defender to go unpunished, no mandatory yellow card, although he did give the free and then to the utter astonishment of the United fans he watched as the Crues defender actually hoisted Kelbie out of his way and allowed play to continue. Mike Ward missed United's best chance when he failed to get in a shot when the ball fell to him in the home penalty box. United seemed reluctant to have a pop at goal perfectly summed up when in one spell of pressure, 3 separate players passed instead of testing the home keeper when well positioned. Neither team could break the deadlock and they reached the first half scoreless but we hoped for better fare in the second period.

Alas United were an even bigger disappointment in the second period and almost suffered a disaster shortly after the restart. Keeper Alan Blayney was in the act of clearing the ball when he dropped it to launch it off the turf, but the lurking Rainey nipped it off his toe and Blayney fouled the Crues man in an attempt to recover the situation. Referee Black flourished a yellow card, but I think it should have been red as Blayney was clearly the last man. United survived this scare and Blayney kept them in the game with a couple of good saves from McKeown and Rainey. United stand-in manager Jim Grattan took off Ward and McConnell with Picking and new signing Magill taking their place. Magill almost made an immediate impact when his shot from a rare Kelbie pass was deflected for a fruitless corner. As United attempted to get back into the game the cynical side of the home team surfaced and in typical fashion midfielder Caddell chopped the legs from United's Lee Colligan, a vicious foul which drew a yellow card from referee Black. Five minutes later the same player 'rugby tackled' United's Aiden Watson, certainly a second yellow if not a straight red, but no action from the 'gutless' Black. Kevin Kelbie seems to be completely devoid of form at the moment and despite receiving the ball in some good positions he failed to deliver telling crosses or take defenders on by himself. United's Michael Smith was replaced by Craig McClean after picking up an injury and United held out for an insipid draw, despite the best efforts of the referee to award the home team dubious free kicks.


Blayney 7 Aid Watson 7 MoM: Muir

Smith 6 McConnell 6

Colligan 7 Kelbie 5

Wray 6 Cushley 5 Referee: A. Black 2

McDonnell 7 1st Sub: Magill 6

Muir 7 2nd Sub: Picking 6

Ward 5 3rd Sub: McClean 6

Damp Lethargy!

This game was yet another non-starter for the Sky Blues, in this most disjointed of seasons. One week we seem to capable of beating anybody and the next we look completely disinterested. The latter was the case in this Irish cup tie at the Showgrounds today, United didn't seem interested and they paid the ultimate penalty for their lack-lustre attitude, Admittedly they weren't helped by probably the worst refereeing and linesman display I have witnessed for some considerable time. The Linesman at the Fisherwick end was never up with play in the first half and missed numerous blatant offsides and then somehow 'missed' David Rainey's leg-break tackle, followed by a thrown punch. That was in the 20th minute and 2 minutes later as if to add insult to injury, Rainey scored the only goal of the game. I have said all season that this United defence has a bad habit of allowing crosses to come in and they paid the ultimate penalty for this benevolence today. Crues winger Martin Donnelly, blatantly offside again, sprinted past his marker (well he had a 2 yard start), United defender Paul Muir had time to close him down but instead allowed him to cross the ball and the unmarked Rainey had the easy task of heading past the stranded Blaney. Five minutes later it should have been two, when Albert Watson failed to clear, but 'ugly duckling' Mark Dickson sent his shot over the bar. United began the game with two changes from their starting line-up in their last game at Ballyclare, Aiden Watson, having served his 3 game suspension, came in for Ryan Deans, while Mike Ward replaced the injured Paul McNeill. The United midfield were being over-run by the hatchetmen, who were also living up to their name by chopping down United players every time they mounted an attack. Referee Moutray's response was to admonish them, a complete waste of time and after one horrendous foul on Ward he allowed play to continue, but took no action at the end of it. Halftime was reached with United not having had a shot on target and it was obvious that changes had to be made, or they were out of the cup for another year.

Craig McLean and Gavin Melaugh, made way for Davitt Walsh and David Cushley in an effort to stir things up for the home team. United to their credit did try to exert some pressure on the visitors goal, but the final pass seemed to let them down. Referee Moutray showed his biased nature shortly after halftime, when after a spell of United pressure the visitors went on the attack and Davitt Walsh was adjudged to have fouled a Crues player. The referee in contrast to the first half couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough and in fact took it out of his pocket as he blew his whistle. Compared to some of the earlier tackles this was nothing and was in fact the substitute's first foul anyway. United despite forcing several corners couldn't find the vital breakthrough although Paul Muir did come close with a vicious free kick which was headed over the bar for a fruitless corner. Then Kelbie broke clear on the left but failed to find Walsh with his pass and another chance went begging. Then in the best move of the game Walsh played Aiden Watson in and his shot was acrobatically saved by Crues keeper Kerr. The linesman who hadn't flagged once for an offside in the first half suddenly sprung into action and flagged when there was nobody offside. Referee Moutray finally had to caution a Crues defender when he blatantly elbowed Walsh in the centre of the pitch, but surely it should have been red and not yellow for that offence. For some reason known only to themselves (Muir and Cushley),Cushley took the free-kick and not Muir and he blasted it harmlessly over the bar. This was not United's day and despite matching the third placed Crues, they still lost by the solitary goal and so the trophy famine goes on and shows no signs of being alleviated!

Blayney 7 Melaugh 5 MoM: Colligan

Alb Watson 6 Ward 5

McDonnell 6 Kelbie 6

Muir 6 Colligan 7 Referee: T. Moutray 0

Aid Watson 7 1st Sub: Walsh 7

Wray 6 2nd Sub: Cushley 6

McLean 5

Justice Prevails!

After the debacle of having their cup match called off at halftime, United finally meted out justice to first division neighbours Ballyclare. Pretty it was not, clinical it was although there was nothing clinical about the goal that set United on their way to victory. 18 minutes were on the clock, when Paul Muir flighted a free kick into the home team's penalty box, central defender Forsythe rose unchallenged to head the ball to the 'lurking' Kelbie and he hit a delightful right-foot volley past the home keeper. This goal failed to settle United and the home team stayed in the game, despite only troubling United keeper Alan Blayney on one occasion. The pitch was a bit sticky on top and as a result United's passing game always came undone at the last minute and they failed to add to their tally during the remainder of the half.

Thirteen minutes into the 2nd period the tie was settled, when after a good run and 'nutmeg' from United midfielder Gavin Melaugh, young Lee Colligan was on hand to force the ball into the net and open his United scoring account. How United failed to add to their tally despite almost total domination, sums up precisely why we are the lowest scorers in the Premier league. Despite forcing several corner and free kicks they were unable to breech the Ballyclare defences again. United's only change from Saturday's starting 11 saw Ryan Deans recalled at right midfield in place of the cup-tied Michael Smith. Midway through the half McNeil was replaced by Walsh, but he struggled on the glue-pot surface. With 5 minutes left Deans made way for George Young and with virtually the last kick of the ball Craig McClean saw his toe poke just slip past the post. Two minutes later referee Turkington brought the game to an end and United had progressed to the next round. Not a game for the purists, but as the old saying goes, 'a wins a win' and United won't complain about that!


Blaney 7 Melaugh 6 MoM: Kelbie

Alb Watson 7 McNeil 5

Gav McDonnell 7 Kelbie 8

Muir 7 Colligan 7 B. Turkington 4

Wray 7 1st Sub: Walsh 6

Deans 6 2nd Sub: Young 6

McClean 6

Gavin Away!

The Sky Blues playing in their all Black strip, got a precious away point at Drumaho yesterday, but they won't need me to remind them they could and should've, taken all three. Two sitters were missed in a first half during which they had at least 70% domination and a couple of other half chances went begging also. The first culprit was Gavin McDonnell, who when the ball fell to him inside the 6 yard box, somehow scooped it over the bar and then his namesake, 'Gavin' Melaugh ballooned a similar chance into the crowd from a Kelbie pass. Kelbie himself should've done better, when he hammered the ball across the face of the goal, instead of either picking his spot or passing to his fellow striker Paul McNeill. United took the field with two changes to their starting line-up from the team that lost to Dungannon Swifts for the third time this season on Tuesday past. Albert Watson, back to full fitness, played on the right side of the 3 man defence, which appears to be in vogue at the Showgrounds at the moment. While Tommy Wray slotted into an unfamiliar central midfield role, in which it must be said he performed admirably. Former United striker Paul Brown, came in for some 'stick' from United fans and he should surely have been cautioned for his obscene gesture towards them, which had to have been seen by both linesman and 4th official. Referee Colin Burns, who somehow adjudged that United striker McNeill had fouled the 'Stute keeper with barely a minute on the clock, when in fact what happened was the keeper had collided with young Paul and dropped the ball, which was scrambled to safety. Midway through the half he then waved away legitimate penalty claims, when McNeil was bowled over in the box as he attempted to get on the end of a Kelbie pass. From a corner by Michael Smith, no United player could get a touch to a ball that was begging to be put away. As so often happens in these cases the home team almost snatched an undeserved lead at the end of the half but keeper Alan Blaney managed to block a shot from another former United striker, Kevin Ramsay.

The 2nd half was almost a carbon copy of the first, but it was the home team who dominated this time and United seemed content to try and catch them on the break. This should've paid dividends midway through the half when Craig McClean fed the ball through to young McNeill and with the offside Kelbie playing no part, the young striker took the ball round the home keeper and then seemed to panic and hoofed the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. United had a let-off at the other end when Lowry surged past the sluggish Paul Muir, but luckily for United he pulled his shot wide of the posts. Young Lee Colligan, with great tenacity, made a wonderful tackle in midfield, shrugged off another attempt to hinder him and somehow after doing the 'hard work' messed it up with an overhit pass. In another United break Kelbie just failed to get his foot to another through ball. When United won a free kick about 30 yards from goal on the right side, it looked tailor made for a Muir thunderbolt, but for some reason Kelbie took it and the chance was lost. Brown tried to 'con' the referee after a tussle with McDonnell, but he rightly waved play on. With 15 minutes remaining Cushley came on for Melaugh and then Walsh for McNeill, but still United couldn't manage to get the vital breakthrough and had to settle for a share of the spoils.


Blaney 7 Melaugh 6 MoM: Alb Watson

Alb. Watson 8 McNeil 6

Gav McDonnell 7 Kelbie 7

Muir 6 McClean 6 Referee: C. Burns 5

Smith 6 1st Sub: Cushley 6

Wray 7 2nd Sub: Walsh 6

Cooligan 7