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