Second Rate!

United travelled to Londonderry today to take on local side Institute (better known as 'Stute), well I say travelled, in fact they never really turned up. With the same starting line-up as that which outplayed league champions Glentoran for most of the game last Tuesday, I expected something more. The 'Stute had them under pressure from the outset and the United defence were subjected to extreme pressure in the opening 15 minutes. The fact that their defence didn't wilt during this period was more to do with bad finishing by the opposition forwards and some lucky positioning by United goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson. United finally managed to string a couple of moves together, but Mike Smith whose free kicks and corner kicks, have been excellent of late, failed to deliver with his first corner today, not getting past the first defender.
Some of the decisions by the referee and linesmen had to be seen to be believed as after two particular vicious fouls by home players he preferred to talk to them, but when United were denied a cast iron corner, he quickly booked Nathan McConnell for dissent. The linesman at the goals United were attacking was very young and seemed to have no idea about throw-ins as he continually gave them to the wrong side. Despite all this poor officiating United did take the lead after 30 minutes. McConnell burst past his marker and fed the ball to Mike Smith, who clipped a shot with the outside of his right foot past the home keeper. This goal spurred the home team on and when the United defence went asleep, they somehow missed a sitter ten yards from goal, a real let-off for the United defence. The 'Stute were awarded a free kick when Kevin Ramsay shielded the ball out of play right beside me, but what the free kick was for I'm danged if I know. Despite allowing the home forwards a 'free go' United survived this miscarriage of justice to go in at halftime leading by a solitary goal.

I and the travelling support were hoping for better things in the 2bd half, but I'm afraid we were badly let down almost immediately. In their last two games, against Crusaders and Glentoran United have started badly in the first few minutes of the 2nd period. Today was no exception as the defence stood and watched as two former United players delivered the killer blows. Two minutes into the half Paul Brown found Kevin Ramsay and he was given as much time as he needed to beat Nelson and level the scores. United failed to plug this gap and 7 minutes later the 'dose' was repeated and Ramsay beat Nelson after another Brown flick-on to put the home team 2-1 up. That was that as far as United were concerned as they had no idea how to break down the stubborn home defence. Despite the promptings of Darren Lockhart (where does that man get his energy), United could not find the final pass to unlock the 'Stute defence.
Lockhart was sacrificed midway though the half as Kevin Kelbie came on but his obvious lack of match fitness meant he was way out of touch and he made little or no impact. Ten minutes from time Archie was substituted with Cushley coming in and he at least livened things up but United still couldn't find a way through. The referee continued in his own biased way, when after cautioning a home player and warning him that he was walking a tightrope, he then allowed him to get away with a vicious late tackle on United's Lee Colligan. the fourth official signalled that there would be 5 minutes of stoppage time, but the referee in fact only played four minutes, inconsistent right up to the end.


Nelson (6), M. Smith (7), Colligan (7), Surgenor (6), Ramsay (6), Archie (6) (Sub: Cushley 7), Ormo (6), Lockhart (7)(Sub: Kelbie 6), Anderson (6), A. Smith (5), McConnell (7)

Man of the match: Mike Smith

Negative Walker!

Picture the scene, there's 15 minutes remaining in the game and one of your strikers has just scored to give you a 2-0 lead. This striker has signalled that he has tweaked his hamstring and needs to be replaced. You have run the opposition ragged and your other striker has missed a sitter and a penalty, what do you do. A simple question and an easy answer, you take off the injured striker, bring on another striker or a speedy winger, which you just have to have kicking his heels on the bench. What does our manager do? He brings on a midfielder, leaves a lone striker up front and allows the other manager to throw a goal-scoring fullback, who everybody knows is lethal in the opposition box, up front and the rest as they say is history.
Let's be brutally honest here United should've had this game dead and buried before the Glens got their first goal. Darren Lockhart out-jumped everybody for a Mike Smith corner, but failed to find the target, a calamitous miss. Andy Smith took a pass from Nathan McConnell and failed to hit the target from 12 yards, yet another calamitous miss. Added to that was his penalty miss and his one-on-one with the keeper who was by this stage a virtual passenger, but still able to save Andy's weak shot. No in the end we got what we deserved out of this game, nothing.
Manager Roy Walker made only one change from his starting line-up of the previous week, Ormo in for Cushley, who failed a late fitness test, but he changed the system opting for a 4,4,2 with Mike Smith slotting into right midfield and Surgenor playing at right back. The linesman at the Fisherwick end had to be on his toes and he got a few right as the Glens were quite often in offside positions. The United defence weathered the early pressure from the league champions and then set about testing their stand-in keeper Taylor. United forced a couple of corners and the Glens defence was under some severe pressure but survived. Referee Alan Black was in a most lenient mood, warning two visiting players for bad tackles one especially bad on Mark Surgenor, but when United's Chris Ramsay made a clumsy challenge the referee produced an immediate yellow card. United didn't allow this biased refereeing to upset them and McConnell forced Taylor into a good save with a left-foot shot. The United defence had a let off when they allowed Gary Hamilton a free header from a Keith Gillespie cross, but fortunately he failed to find the target. Ormo and McConnell combined well down the left and Ormo's cross whistled across goal but no-one could apply the finishing touch.
United took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute when McConnell took a pass from Andy Smith before burying a left-foot shot in the top corner of the net. Referee Black saw fit to caution Nathan, allegedly for removing his shirt in celebration, I know it's in the rules, but please referee's, show a little bit of common sense, try to imagine the excitement of scoring a goal and give a little leeway. United had another let off just before halftime when Keith Gillespie was given loads of space and his attempted curling shot just shaved the post with Nelson scrambling. United spurned a good chance in stoppage time when Andy Smith allowed himself to be caught in possession when a pass to his strike partner would have been the better option.

United just like in last Saturday's match, started badly in the 2nd half and Archie who had played well in the first period had a 'stinker' in the 2nd. His first mistake came just 2 mins after the restart when under little pressure he completely messed up his attempted clearance but luckily he got it at the 2nd attempt. Here was an early warning which went unheeded and as Archie continued to under-perform as the match went on, but our manager took no action and in the end we paid a costly price for his indecision. But we weathered the early pressure and began to exert pressure on the Glens creaking back four with some great football. Ten minutes into the half Andy Smith missed a golden opportunity when after taking a pass from Nathan he completely missed the target from 12 yards. Five minutes later Ormo skipped into the penalty area only to be scythed down by Colin Nixon, surely a red card offence. Referee Black didn't even administer a caution, but he did give a penalty. Up stepped Andy Smith but his weak effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Taylor. Five minutes later Lockhart missed with a free header from Mike Smith's corner. Had we missed the boat I wondered as Archie miskicked once more at the other end, but cometh the hour cometh the man.
After a spell of pressure from the visitors Andy Smith and Mike Smith carried the ball out of defence and after exchanging a couple of passes Andy was sent away down the right and he drew a defender before squaring it into Nathan's path. The big striker neatly sidestepped the Glens goalie, before planting the ball in the net. The Glens keeper had to have treatment at this time and was thereafter a virtual passenger and unable to kick the ball. Almost immediately United manager Roy Walker took off Nathan but brought on Taggart in midfield, instead of reserve striker Paul McNeill who had been warming up, a strange move.
United held out for eight minutes as they allowed the visitors to dictate the play, twice making goal-line clearances but the Glens finally got a lifeline when Sub Andy Waterworth crashed the ball home following a corner kick. Two minutes later Andy Smith failed to score when one-on-one with the keeper, allowing the limping Taylor to save his weak shot. The fourth official showed 4 minutes of stoppage time but still our manager didn't act. He even waved the players back as they attempted to push forward, surrendering the midfield to the Glens. Colin Nixon scored two goals in the 91st and 94 minutes to give the Glens a victory in a game where they were outplayed and outclassed. But at the end of the day, it's goals that count and it's goals that win matches!

Nelson (6), M.Smith (7), Colligan (7), Surgenor (7), Ramsay (7), Archie (5), Anderson (6), Lockhart (7), A. Smith (5) McConnell (8)(Sub: Taggart 6), Ormo (7)

Man of the match: Nathan McConnell

Hatchet's Blunted!

The Hatchet-men came to the Showgrounds today with a swagger, not only had they beaten us last Tuesday in the Shield semi-final, they were also the league leaders. After today's game they're still the league leaders, but their swagger has gone as United swept them aside with a deserved 2-0 victory. United manager Roy Walker didn't 'tinker' too much with his starting line-out, taking out Gavin Taggart and bringing in Mark Surgenor, changing his formation to a 3,5,2 from his normal,4,4,2. Obviously the wily Walker had spotted something last Tuesday and saw this as his best way to counteract it. Despite electing to face the wind in the first half (and a strong wind it was), United held the leaders at bay, although they were under the 'cosh' for long periods. Dwayne Nelson in goals was almost caught out by a 50 yard lob, but was happy to see it clear the bar and then made sure that a 30 yard pile-driver was drifting wide. United looked good on the break, with both wing-backs, Lee Colligan and Mike Smith giving the forwards great support. The ever blossoming partnership between Andy smith and Nathan McConnell was also in evidence early on and they almost made the breakthrough after good work from Cushley but Nathan failed to find Andy with his final pass. The referee, K. Morgan from Wales, was in a fairly lenient mood and twice 'talked' to Crues players, where a 'booking' was more apt. United, as I said earlier, were under severe pressure as the visitors had the near gale-force wind at their backs, but they held out valiantly even though Nelson's goal-kicks were not top drawer.
United finally managed to break out of defence and in a flowing move Cushley found himself one-on-one with ex-United player Jamie Marks. The Shankill Road man calmly clipped the ball over Mark's head burst to the byline and drove over the kinda cross defenders hate, 'hard and low'. The Crues defence failed to deal with it and Mike Smith popped up to side-foot it into the net, scoring his first senior goal in the process. United almost doubled their lead a minute later, but McConnell just failed once more to get a pass to Andy Smith. Cushley and Mike Smith endeavoured to conjure up another goal from a free kick, but Cushley's final shot although on target didn't trouble Keenan in the visitor's goal. Referee Morgan somehow found 2 minutes of stoppage time and during this period United spurned a great chance to increase their lead. Andy Smith, such a revelation since taking over the Captain's armband, drew three Crues defenders to him near the halfway line, before laying a perfect pass into strike partner McConnell's path. Big Nathan is not the fastest thing ever seen but he trundled goalwards, took it round Keenan, but somehow missed the target when it seemed easier to score. The goal would've been a bonus but as the referee blew the halftime whistle United were applauded off the field by their faithful fans.

United were slow to start in the second period and seemed ill at ease with the Crues bringing on two subs, former United player Dominic Melly and Jordan Owens, while switching to a 3,4,3 formation, which the home team found hard to deal with. In a flowing move 5 minutes after the restart the visitors spurned a chance to level the scores when sub Owens missed a sitter from 6 yards out. This seemed to wake United from their slumbers and with Mike Smith, linking up with his namesake Andy, the Sky Blues began to get their game together. Cushley almost increased United's lead but his free kick from the left was tipped over the bar by Keenan. But fourteen minutes into the half they did put another nail in the visitor's coffin. Mike Smith released Andy down the right flank and he crossed for the alert Cushley to fire a right-footed shot past the helpless Keenan, to make it 2-0, and make himself United's joint leading scorer with 5 goals, in the process. United were in control from there on although the Crues did try to put them under pressure, but their young defence held firm.
Andy Smith came within a whisker of getting on the scoresheet, when after a partially cleared corner, he took a pass from his namesake and his vicious left-foot shot cannoned off the crossbar with Keenan transfixed to the spot. He later turned provider when after yet another link-up with Mike, he took the ball past Keenan but as the angle was too tight, he tried to find his strike partner McConnell but unfortunately the ball was behind him and the chance was lost. A word here has to be said about United's corners today, all taken by Mike Smith and all delivered to the right spot, what a change that makes. Darren Lockhart was 'harshly' booked by the referee when he jumped into a Crues player, his first foul of the game. Visiting manager Stephen Baxter made his final play taking off the ineffective Donnelly and bringing on Eamon Doherty. Late in the game sub Doherty committed a vicious foul on Cushley as the United winger sped goalwards and even though he was yellow carded it seemed somewhat inadequate as the Cush was unable to continue. Gavin Taggart came on in Cushley's place and United continued to out play the league leaders. United keeper Nelson whose goal kicks and drop kicks were so poor in the first half, hit most of them too long in the 2nd and we gained little from the use of the wind as a result. Late in the game Nelson denied Owens when he dived to his right making a good stop. Referee Morgan found 4 minutes of stoppage time from somewhere much to the surprise of our manager, who just for good measure took off McConnell and brought on McNeill to eat up some of it. The referee finally blew his whistle and United had won a memorable victory, kept a clean sheet and moved up into the top half of the league table!

Nelson (7), M. Smith (8), Colligan (8), Surgenor (8), Ramsay (8), Archie (8), Anderson (7), Lockhart (7), Cushley (8)(Sub: Taggart 7), A. Smith (8), McConnell (7) (Sub: McNeill 7).

Man of the match: Mike Smith

Thanks Howard!

United got their revenge on the Coleraine scum, with a fully deserved win thanks to an own goal from the scum's Howard Beverland. It's a pity that they had to win it with an own goal as they frittered away 3 golden chances in the first 15 minutes of today's game, but they got there in the end. In the absence of the suspended Darren Lockhart, Phillip Carson made a welcome return in right midfield and was the only change to last weeks starting line-up. United were quickly out of the blocks today and Noel Anderson should've opened the scoring in the first few minutes but his weak shot was easily saved by scum keeper, 'Fat' Davey O'Hare. Yet another chance was spurned after 8 minutes when Nathan McConnell burst through the static Coleraine defence, but his shot failed to exert 'Fat' Davey and another chance went begging all in the space of the first 15 minutes of the game.
United finally broke the deadlock midway through the half when after his header from a Carson corner had been parried by 'Fat', Andy Smith scored with an overhead kick. This was greeted enthusiastically by the Sky Blue faithful and the applause was milked by the United players. Soon after United won a free kick but Cushley's shot although on target was easily dealt with by 'Fat'. Referee Steven Weatherall then committed an awful gaffe, giving the scum a foul where there was none, but also giving it outside the box when it was a good two yards inside, luckily the 'wall' did it's job on this occasion. The referee later cautioned United's Chris Ramsay and the scum's Rory Patterson, after the Coleraine man appeared to lash out at his opponent.
Coleraine got an undeserved equaliser in the 40th minute after Phillip Carson gave away possession with a weak header and midfielder Eoin O'Kane was allowed to waltz through our defence before scoring from 10 yards. United to their credit didn't allow this set-back to faze them and restored their lead with a neat bit of football a minute before halftime. Andy Smith burst onto a pass from his namesake Mike Smith, held the ball up and then chipped it perfectly for Noel Anderson to head past the stranded 'Fat'. Despite two minutes of added time United held out for a a deserved 2-1 lead at the halfway mark.

United were not as good in the 2nd half and were put under a bit of pressure by the scum but despite their forcing of several corners the United defence held firm. Fifteen minutes into the half the subs were brought on with the visitors bringing on that wee 'minx', Tommy McCallion, who usually reserves his best displays for derby games. United then took off Carson, with Surgenor taking his place, but instead of that steadying us, we still looked vulnerable. Cushley made way for Geordie Stewart with 20 minutes remaining and he 'fluffed' a glorious chance to make the game safe with his first touch. Lee Colligan found him with a good pass and after sprinting down the wing he elected to try and chip 'Fat', but missed by a mile, surely it would have been better to cut in and blast the ball at 'Fat'. Almost immediately United conceded a soft penalty, when Ramsay's header struck his hand and Patterson blasted the spot-kick in off the underside of the crossbar.
That goal came in the 73rd minute and things looked ominous for the home side. Mike Smith had other ideas though and he sent Geordie away with a neat pass and as the 'wee man' cut inside Smith went on the overlap, took the return pass and hammered the ball across the six-yard box where Beverland could only help it into the net and that goal gave United all three points. Thereafter it was just a case of 'what we have, we hold' and the United defence and keeper Dwayne Nelson did it magnificently. With a back four whose average age is 20 years old, things are looking up for the Sky Blues, all I can say is, bring on the Crues on Tuesday night!

Nelson (7), M.Smith (8), Colligan (8), Ramsay (8), Archie (7), Carson (7)(Sub: Surgenor 7), Anderson (8), Taggart (8), Cushley (7)(Sub: G. Stewart 7), McConnell (8), A. Smith (8)

Man of the match: Gavin Taggart

Dunn Again!

Belfast referee Ronnie Crangle will not be invited to Ballymena's Christmas party and that's for sure. In his last three games at the Showgrounds when United played the Crues, Newry and today Dungannon, the whistler has sent off 3 United players, while ignoring blatant fouls committed by the visitors. Take today for instance, after 20 minutes play United striker Nathan McConnell was blatantly pushed when challenging for a a ball in the opponents penalty box, ignored by referee Crangle and his assistants and then 5 minutes later the official adjudged that Darren Lockhart's challenge on Dungannon forward Shane Coney, was not only inside the box, which it wasn't and warranted a straight red card. Contrast that to an incident later in the game when Coney, already on a caution, head-butted United's Archie Stewart, in plain view of the official, who took no action, not even awarding a foul to United. United manager Roy Walker had begun with the same team as on Tuesday night, with Lockhart as a 'stop-gap' central defender, leaving Mark Surgenor on the bench, this in my opinion was a fatal mistake, as the veteran struggled against the strong running Dungannon forwards and looked somewhat vulnerable.
United were under the cosh somewhat during the early stages but had weathered the storm fairly well and were beginning to come into the game when disaster struck. A long clearance from keeper Alvin Rouse (the object of alleged racial abuse by United fans), caught Lockhart back-pedalling and when he collided with Coney referee Crangle couldn't get the red card out quick enough and as United fans and players looked on incredulously he then pointed to the penalty spot. The penalty was duly scored and the match was to all intents and purposes over. The United manager moved new signing Chris Ramsay into central defence and brought Mike Smith back to his familiar rightback role. United midfielder Gavin Taggart was fouled right in front of referee Crangle who took no action and then exacted his own revenge but this time the referee flourished the yellow card immediately. The visitors were in a no-nonsense mood thereafter and the referee, after allowing them 'free rein' did issue a couple of cautions one of which was for a vicious late tackle by Coney. Halftime was reached with no further scoring and no further sending-offs or cautions.

Dungannon keeper Rouse was late coming out after halftime and was loudly jeered by the home fans and he spat derisively in their direction, a gesture unworthy of him. United were the best team in the second half but found it hard to break down the visitors defence and that defence continued with it's hard tackling ethic. Referee Crangle did caution at least 5 more of the visitors but ignored a blatant handball in the box from a Cushley free kick and then the flattening of McConnell by Rouse, late in the game, when the keeper made no attempt to play the ball. Gavin Taggart almost grabbed an equaliser after 65 mins, but his shot from 20 yards was saved at the post by Rouse. We then had the incident where as Archie Stewart headed the ball in the centre-circle he was blatantly head-butted by Coney, once more ignored by referee Crangle, Archie was able to continue after treatment The United manager took off Taggart and brought on George Stewart in a last ditch attempt to salvage something from the game.
George did manage to carve out one bit of magic when his cross was headed goalwards by McConnell only for rouse to make a finger-tip save. As United threw caution to the wind there were almost caught on the break a couple of times, but in reality Dungannon were second best in the second half epitomised by their stand-in manager, Darren Murphy, bringing on all three subs. United's display was best summed up by the performance of midfielder David Cushley, who ran himself ragged right to the final whistle. With time running out Lee Colligan almost got the goal that United deserved but Rouse somehow managed to block his shot from a few yards out. During the three minutes of added time United threw everything they had at the visitors, but to no avail and yet another home defeat was the end result.


Nelson (7), M.Smith (7), Colligan (7), Ramsay (7), Archie (7), Lockhart (7), Anderson (6), Taggart (7) (Sub: G. Stewart 7), Cushley (8), A. Smith (7), McConnell (7)

Man of the match: David Cushley

Strike Force!

United finally managed to do what has eluded them for such a long time here tonight, beat the current Cliftonville team. They won this match fairly comfortably in the end against a Cliftonville side which was devoid of ideas. With new signing, Antrim boy, Chris Ramsey, making his debut in the United number 2 shirt, for so long the property of United legend and Antrim boy Marco 'the unbeatable' Carlisle, United could and should've blown the Reds away by halftime. Such was United's dominance that it was almost half an hour before keeper Dwayne Nelson had a shot worthy of the name. By then United should've been two up as first McConnell and then Anderson screwed shots wide when it looked easier to score. McConnel was also upended when through by home keeper Paul McKane, a challenge which evoked an inadequate yellow card.
Andy Smith wearing the Captain's armband in the absence through injury of Kevin Kelbie also contrived to miss a seemingly open goal. I say seemingly as with the 'jaundiced' view afforded at Solitude to visiting supporters it's pretty hard to tell, but from our long distance viewing point it looked like a bad miss. United survived a rare scare when Nelson rushed off his line, missed the incoming attacker but luckily he could't keep the ball form crossing the by-line. Halftime was reached with the game scoreless but I couldn't help thinking we've possibly blown our chance.

It was a much improved home side who resumed in the 2nd period and they were soon encamped in United's half and with our slipshod defendeing a score looked inevitable. Twice we left men completely unmarked, but weren't punished for it as their forwards drove wildly over the bar. United fans were calling for manager Walker to make a change, but to no avail. In a rare United attack McConnell forced the home keeper into a good save and Cushley's shot from the rebound appeared to be 'palmed' away by a defender, but the referee merely gave a corner. Manager Walker's hand was forced on the hour when new signing Chris Ramsey limped off and was replaced by Mark Surgenor, who went straight into central defence, releasing Darren Lockhart in to central midfield, Anderson to wide right and Mike Smith to his familar right back slot. Suddenly United were a different team and after some good work down the right Andy Smith's right-wing cross was headed into the net by his striker partner Nathan McConnell with Lockhart following up to make sure. That goal came in the 67th minute and 3 minutes later it was two. David Cushley bravely chased a supposed lost cause and when the ball broke kindly for him he laid it off to Andy Smith. Andy drifted past two sluggish defenders before planting the ball in the net for his first league goal in a United shirt.
The home team 'huffed and puffed' in their attempt to get back in the game but the United back four where Colligan was outstanding, held firm. On the rare occasions when the home team got past the United back four Dwayne Nelson was in tip top form and dealt capably with everything that came his way. With ten minutes remaining Nathan went off to a standing ovation, with reserve striker Paul McNeill taking his place. Cushley wasted two good chance before bringing a top class save from home keeper McKane. Despite the 3 minutes of added time the home team could not dent the United rearguard and they ran out deserved winners by two goals to nil. Let's hope when they return here in a fortnight's time for the County Antrim Shield semi-final, United can get a similar result against current league leaders Crusaders. But that's in the future, United have started the 2nd league phase with a win, dare I say it, bring on those Swifts!

Nelson (7), Ramsey (7), (Sub: Surgenor 7), Colligan (8), Anderson (7), Lockhart (8), Archie (8), M. Smith (7), Cushley (7), A. Smith (8), McConnell (8), (Sub: McNeill 7)

Man of the match: Nathan McConnell