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