Deja Vu!

United fans could be feeling a real sense of 'de ja vu' after yesterdays league opener, Cliftonville were the visitors yesterday for the first game of this seasons campaign for the Irish league Premier title sponsored by Carling, just as they were at the same stage last season when they lost by the margin of 5-1. The visitors were a little flattered on that occasion as they created five chances and scored them all. They were not as clinical yesterday as they created four chances and only scored once, but they outclassed the Sky Blues at times and already the worrying signs are there for manager Roy Walker and his charges. Only one player in the United starting line-up survived from last season's game, team Captain Gary Haveron and he was one of the few to emerge from this game with any credit. United's pre-season friendlies against first division and junior opposition must have given them a false sense of security as judging by this performance another long hard season lies ahead. The slick moving visitors took the lead after only 13 minutes, when the United defence were all at sea and goalkeeper Sean O'Neill just watched as the ball was driven past him into the net. United had a chance to draw level when Reds keeper Connolly flapped at a corner, but no-one could supply the finishing touch. The visitors should have doubled their lead soon after when their Captain Chris Scannell, looking suspiciously offside, sent his chip wide of the posts past advancing United keeper Sean O'Neill. United prompted by veteran Darren Lockhart and ex-Glen man Philip Carson attempted to get back into the game, but the uncompromising Reds defence ably backed up by some unbelievable decisions by referee Burns and his two helpers (I use the word helpers quite loosely as they were really pretty inept) held firm. Andy Smith, in his first competitive game in a Sky Blue shirt, found the target with a fierce free kick, but keeper Connolly was equal to the task. United winger Orman Okunaiya (hereafter called Ormo),suffered at the hands of an inept linesman when he flagged for an alleged shirt pulling incident, despite the United players shirt being the one being tugged. Ormo almost had the last laugh unwhen after a neat dribble he cut inside before unleasing a vicious left foot shot which sailed just wide. Referee Burns soon had to flourish a yellow card when United's Lee Colligan was 'cleaned' as he dribbled down the left. Soon after he warned United's Darren Lockhart for getting involved, but he foolishly sinned immediately after and earned himself a caution. Halftime was reached with United still trailing by the solitary goal and there was little to cheer the fans in the halftime scores as their big rivals, the Coleraine 'scum', were leading Linfield by 2-0.

United came out for the 2nd half with no changes but it was fairly obvious that soon changes would have to be made. The supposed new midfield dynamo, Gavin Teggart, looked well out of his depth, while upfront Nathan McConnell was pretty ineffective. The home team were missing striker Kevin Kelbie, serving a three game suspension and with their only striking option on the bench being young Paul McNeil, manager Walker seemed reluctant to make the change. Finally the manager did act taking off Teggart and the tiring Lockhart and bringing on David Cushley and former youth player Noel Anderson. These changes made little difference as it was still the visitors who dictated the action and Scannell missed another sitter midway through the half. Scannell had run onto a delightful through ball and as United keeper O'Neill sprinted from his goal and then miskicked his attempted clearance Scannell was left with the easy task of finding the empty net. Much to the relief of the United faithful he screwed his shot wide, yet another let off.. In one of the best moves of the game fullback Smith sprinted through the static visitors defence, but shot over the bar, not forcing Connolly to make a save. Colligan then found his way into the referee's book for a late tackle on Scannell, which the striker 'milked' to the extreme, but then escaped a booking himself when he pulled Colligan to the ground after the United man dispossessed him near the byline and attempted to clear his lines. Colligan came to his sides rescue soon after when Scannell easily outsprinted Paul Muir but Colligan got back to dispossess the Reds striker. For some strange reason Cushley, an out and out left winger, moved onto the right with Ormo popping up on the left. Ormo did mange to get to the byline, but his fierce hit cross was unable to be diverted by Carson and in fact the ball just ricocheted off his head over the goal line. Cushley drew a good save from Connolly who did well to smother the wingers shot. Cliftonville then committed the 'miss of the match' when from a driven free kick from wide on the right four unmarked players all missed making a connection with the United defence sleeping and keeper O'Neill stranded at his near post. In a last throw of the dice manager Walker took off McConnell and brought on McNeil. The young striker was full of running but by then United had resorted to a route one offence which was 'bread and butter' to the Reds defence ably marshalled by former United player Kieran Donaghy. During an added 4 minutes of stoppage time , no doubt added on for the 'blatant' time wasting of visiting keeper Connolly and his fellow players, United did spurn a glorious chance for an undeserved equaliser. Keeper Connolly advanced to the edge of his box to smother a Carson shot and as the ball broke to McNeil on the edge of the six-yard box he bleanged the ball over the bar. That was the end as far as the home team was concerned although Andy Smith did screw a vicious shot wide just before the final whistle.

Team, with ratings and subs in brackets:

O'Neill (6), M. Smith (7), Colligan (6), Haveron (7), Muir (6), Teggart (5), (sub Anderson,6), Ormo (6), Lockhart (6), (sub Cushley, 6), Carson (7), McConnell (5),(sub McNeil, 5) A. Smith (6).

Man of the match: Gary Haveron