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