Class Apart!

There's one thing about Sky Blue Sport, we are opinionated and don't mind letting folks know how we feel. We have championed the case for Marty Quinn being the United manager to anybody who would listen and to others who refused to listen, all to no avail. The United board in their wisdom (or foolhardiness), have first went for Tommy Wright (an unmitigated disaster) and now Roy Walker. Walker has done quite well, after a disastrous start, but then again that start was down to his poor management, but I wonder if he's just been out of the game too long and he's lost his edge. Let's take today's defeat as a prime example, picture the scene if you will, United had just taken the lead, a deserved lead in my opinion, when Glenavon manager Marty Quinn brought on two substitutes and changed to a 3,5,2 formation. Glenavon then began to subject us to severe pressure and it was obvious to all and sundry that our defence was about to crack. A change was needed, but our manager did nothing and we subsequently, deservedly it must be said, lost by two goals to one. It's these type of decisions that set the 'class managers' apart from the 'also rans' and it's why we'll still be searching for that elusive trophy for a few more years I think. As for today's match, the usual inept refereeing was in contrasting evidence, referee Michael McLaughlin cautioned David Cushley for a block tackle and then allowed Tony Grant to get away with kicking United's keeper Sean O'Neill on the head. Luckily for O'Neill and United the keeper was able to continue after intensive treatment. Midway through the half grant had to be substituted with Molloy taking his place and he soon found his range and tested O'Neill with a rasping shot which the young keeper did well to parry for a corner. At the other end Cushley forced Plummer into a save with a well struck free-kick from 35 yards. United were almost undone when Molloy was allowed to continue his run after being originally offside, but O'Neill pulled off a marvellous save from point blank range to keep the game scoreless.

Nine minutes into the 2nd half United took a deserved lead when Cushley found Teggart on the edge of the box and the striker fired past Plummer, who although he got his hands to the ball couldn't prevent it going into the net. United then spurned a couple of good chances to increase their lead, Cushley in one case firing over when a score looked imminent, before paying the ultimate price when the home team deservedly took the points. The United defence had survived a couple of scares, leaving players unmarked in the box, but their benevolence was finally punished when McDonagh rose unchallenged to head home a corner in the 77th minute. Still no reaction from the United bench and 3 minutes later Costello was given the 'freedom of the park' before controlling a Molloy pass and shooting past O'Neill. Five minuted later United fans and players were on their feet when a Cushley shot from the left wing caught Plummer unawares and he appeared to carry the ball over the goal-line, but according to the linesman it was no goal and he had a better view than I had. With time ticking away, Rip van Winkle, sorry Roy Walker, finally made a change taking off Mike Ward and bringing on Paul McNeill, change for changes sake. United despite forcing a corner couldn't make the basic delivery (past the first man)and so they lost their 3rd game in a row. Roll on the end of the season, it can't come a moment too soon!

O'Neill 7 Aid Watson 6 MoM: Teggart

Smith 7 Teggart 7

Colligan 6 Kelbie 6

Wray 6 Cushley 6 Referee: M. McLaughlin 2

Alb Watson 7 1st Sub: McNeill 6

Haveron 6

Ward 6

Dunn Over!

Few Ballymena fans will be sorry if Dungannon Swifts end up playing their games in the first division next season. United's record against the Swifts this season makes depressing reading, played 4, lost 4, by far the worst record against any other team in the league. United manager Roy Walker, made 3 unforced changes to his starting line-up, out went Albert Watson, Nathan McConnell and Ryan Deans, with Mark Picking, Aaron Stewart and Gary Haveron taking their place. Tommy Wray missed the game with a recurrence of flu and Paul Muir's knee injury kept him out. On the plus side Kevin Kelbie returned from injury and David Cushley after his one game suspension. United got off to the worst possible start when the Swifts scored after just 2 minutes. This goal was typical of United's slip shod defending which has been such a feature this season. A high ball was hoisted into the penalty area and it was a question of whether any of United's defenders were going to challenge for the ball. Unsurprisingly they didn't and Conor Forker said thanks very much and knocked the ball past Alan Blayney via a post. United to their credit didn't allow this setback to affect them and came within a whisker of levelling the scores. Aiden Watson, who hasn't scored this season, found himself in front of goal, swivelled and fired a glorious right-foot shot which crashed off the crossbar with Swifts keeper Alvin Rouse rooted to the spot. This was just typical of our luck this season and as if to prove the point Dungannon went into a 2 goal lead almost immediately. Swifts striker Timmy Adamson, found himself in acres of space wide on the right before rifling a thunderous shot which once more crashed off the post leaving Blayney helpless, a really marvellous goal. United got a lifeline 2 minutes later when David Cushley curled a right foot shot into the net to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Nineteen minutes on the clock and 3 goals, we hardly had time to draw breath. Cushley, who was finding acres of space on the left forced the save of the season from Rouse when from an seemingly impossible angle his left foot shot was tipped over the bar, a truly wonderful save from the Swift's keeper. It got even better for United when after a spell of sustained pressure Lee Colligan fired past Rouse to level the scores and send United's travelling supporters wild with delight. I must give a pat on the back to United's long suffering fans who, despite our defensive frailties still turn out in their numbers, a credit to the 'high' country. Referee Jim McFadden then became the villain of the piece, leaving United fans wondering if he was exacting revenge after his altercation with United's management last Saturday. Firstly he rightly waved play on when a home player took a blatant dive in the penalty box and then to the consternation of United fans and players alike, he changed his decision after consulting his linesman and gave the home side a penalty which they duly scored. He then demonstrated his completely biased refereeing when after having allowed the home team to get away with kicking the ball away when he had blew for an infringement,including one player actually scoring, which carries an automatic booking, he cautioned Kevin Kelbie for a similar offence. David Cushley spurned a great chance to level the scores when he shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy, a costly miss. Just as it looked as if the teams would go in with the home team 3-2 ahead at halftime, up popped the 'ghost man', Darren Murphy, to fire his team to a 2 goal lead. Murphy, is the ghost man, as he told former United manager Tommy Wright, that he was retiring from football because of his damaged knee and he was going to manage Dungannon's reserve team, since then he's hardly missed a match for the Swifts, he epitomises the 'honesty' of footballers and the miraculous healing powers of the local water.

United made two changes at halftime with Albert Watson and Gavin Melaugh replacing United's central defensive pairing of Stewart and McDonnell, with Gary Haveron dropping back alongside Watson in defence. United had more of the play in the 2nd period, their defence was no steadier than in the first half, but somehow they managed to concede no further goals. This was mainly due to bad finishing by the home team as United continued to give their forwards the freedom of the park. Typical of this 'devil may care' attitude was when from a Swifts corner two of their player were left completely unmarked, not a United player within ten yards of them and they still contrived to miss the target. Referee McFadden had got the half off to a typical start when after Mike Ward had been deliberately tripped, he allowed play to continue and when the United man stumbled into a home player he gave the foul against him, nothing new there. He continued in this vein cautioning Albert Watson after Adamson took a blatant dive, nothing new there either. The referee once more demonstrated his biased nature, when after rightly penalising Gary Haveron for a blatant push, two minutes later he allowed the same offence to go unpunished when a Dungannon defender pushed Mike Ward out of his way. . With 20 minutes remaining in a last throw of the dice, Mark Picking made way for Neal Teggart. Kevin Kelbie spurned a great chance to reduce the deficit when his feeble shot was blocked on the line and Cushley's follow up was saved by Rouse's legs. United got a lifeline after 70 minutes when Teggart notched his 11th goal of the season when he got on the end of a Cushley cross. Were we in for a grandstand finish we wondered, the answer of course was no. Probably the most frustrating thing about following the Sky Blues is when they need to take the game by the 'scruff of the neck', they seemingly can't be bothered. This was demonstrated when late in the game we seemed unwilling or unable to get the ball past the first defender even though the home team were fighting a rear-guard battle. In fact if someone had just arrived at the game and not known the score, they might have deduced that we were in the lead as we seemed content to play out time. During the 3 minutes of added time, home keeper Rouse was blatantly time wasting, aided and abetted by the referee who actually made him take a free kick twice, as they say a leopard never changes it's spots!


Blayney 7 Aid Watson 7 MoM: Cushley

Smith 6 Ward 5

Colligan 7 Kelbie 5

McDonnell 5 Cushley 8 Referee: J. McFadden 0

Stewart 5 1st Sub: Alb Watson 6

Haveron 6 2nd Sub: Melaugh 6

Picking 5 3rd Sub: Teggart 7

Bloot Larkin!

I wondered what to do after United's capitulation at the Showgrounds today against Newry City. Then I thought, 'why not do a Bloot Larkin', in other words, go and get drunk. Bloot was of course, during my formative years anyway, the town drunk, the stories about him are many and varied, but simply put, he was rarely sober. United began today's game without the injured Kevin Kelbie, also missing was his strike partner Neil Taggart, which meant a 'new' strike-force for United, in Mike Ward and Nathan McConnell. In the absence of David Cushley, flu victim Tommy Wray returned to the fold. Newry set out their stall early with some incisive passing movements and United were indebted to keeper Alan Blayney who dashed from his goal to save at the feet of Stephen Garret. United then put together an incisive move them selves, when Aiden Watson skipped past two defenders, got to the by-line before crossing for Mike Ward to open the scoring. The cheers died in the throats of United fans as Lines-person Rogan, flagged the goal out for offside. It was hard to see how this was possible as Wardy was actually behind Aidie and therefore couldn't have been offside. This was in the 22nd minute and three minutes later the linesman at the Fisherwick end failed to flag Garret offside and he slid the ball past the advancing Blaney and despite the efforts of Paul Muir and Lee Colligan the ball found the net. United were given a lifeline after 30 minutes when a Newry defender deliberately handled inside the box. For some reason Albert Watson was elected to take the kick and United's luck was out when Albert's shot hit the keeper on the leg and rebounded to safety. I resigned myself from then that we wouldn't score a goal and unfortunately I was proved 100% correct. There was no further scoring during the first half thanks to Rogan's persistent flagging for offsides against the United forwards, some very dodgy decisions they were as if to prove a point and despite the Linesman at the other end letting another three blatant ones go, United held out.

Ten minutes into the 2nd period manager Walker took off Albert Watson and Tommy Wray, with Mark Picking and Gary Haveron taking their place. Watson seemed less than pleased by this decision and he tore his shirt off as he disappeared into the tunnel. United were still unable to prise open the visitors defence, not helped by the linesman at that end who now flagged constantly when any United man broke through. It was no surprise when Newry got a second goal when Paul Muir allowed himself to be dispossessed near the goal-line and Clarke blasted home the cross. That goal came in the 66th minute and four minutes later the points were wrapped up when substitute Kevin Keegan, had all the time in the world to turn and rifle a left foot shot past Blaney from 20 yards. At the other end only Paul Muir knows how he failed to find the target with a free header form a Picking corner, yet another chance gone a begging. In a last throw of the dice manager Walker took off McConnell with McNeill taking his place. McNeil almost got a consolation goal for United when his header beat the keeper but rebounded off a post, just typical of our luck on the day. Picking showed some of his old skills with a couple of good runs up the right but no-one was on hand to apply the finishing touch to his crosses. Blaney who was giving an up until then 'man of the match' performance, blotted his copybook when he allowed a feeble Clarke shot to get past him into the net with 4 minutes remaining. The 4 nil scoreline did somewhat flatter the visitors, as United had had a legitimate score ruled out, missed a penalty and hit a post, but at the end of the day they were not good enough and they didn't earn their wages. Well there was one man who played his heart out, Aiden Watson, but his colleagues were for the most part found wanting. Time and time again Aiden popped up at the last minute to put in a timely tackle or clear a dangerous situation, pity we hadn't got more of his type on our team. Fortunately there was no further scoring and referee Dessie Loughrey didn't make us suffer much more as he only played 2 minutes of stoppage time. United's last home game was typical of their season, diabolical, a vast improvement is required for next season, as I for one, am finding it hard to believe!


Blayney 7 Aid Watson 8 MoM: Aid Watson

Smith 6 McConnell 6

Colligan 7 Ward 6

Alb Watson 6 Deans 5 Referee: Dessie Loughrey 3

McDonnell 6 1st Sub: Picking 6

Muir 5 2nd Sub: Haveron 6

Wray 5 3rd Sub: McNeil 6

Torpor Torture!

Yes this was a boring game, even though it did produce a rare home win for the Sky Blues, it still was boring. The players and referee Trevor Moutray did their best to make it interesting with at least 6 bookings and 2 sending offs. Despite the number of bookings only the referee knows how former United player Kevin Ramsay stayed on the pitch despite two running battles with United players. The former United man almost broke the deadlock when he wriggled past Albert Watson, but fortunately his shot drifted wide. Then Blayney reacted smartly to pull off a brilliant save from a free kick. The closest United came to breaking the deadlock came when Cushley's shot drifted well past the post. After the referee refused point blank to give a foul against Lee Colligan, there was a wee incident involving Assistant manager Jim Grattan and the 4th official, all settled amicably by the referee.

The 2nd half was a much better game, with plenty of incidents to keep the fans interested. The crucial move of the game came when Kevin Kelbie won a rare header and David Cushley volleyed the ball into the net from 25 yards. Cushley had earlier almost broken the deadlock when after a poor clearance by the keeper his return chip fell into the grateful keeper's arms. United were in control at this stage and both fullbacks, Colligan and Smith proved their worth as the visitors tried to up the pace. With 8 minutes remaining, Cushley having lost possession, tackled too robustly for the referee's liking and drew a second yellow card which meant dismissal. Manager Roy Walker rung the changes with first Paul McNeill replacing Neal Teggart and then the biggest cheer of the day when Gary Haveron, missing for 4 months with a broken leg, replaced Ryan Deans. The visitors one man advantage didn't last long as defender Ogilby picked up a second caution to join Cushley in an early bath. United comfortably held out for a one nil victory which virtually guarantees premiership football for the Sky Blues next season!

Blayney 8 Aid Watson 7 MoM: Smith

Smith 8 Teggart 6

Colligan 7 Kelbie 7

Alb Watson 7 Cushley 8 Referee: T. Moutray 4

Gav McDonnell 7 1st Sub: McNeil 7

Muir 7 2nd Sub: Haveron 7

Deans 7