White Washed!

The conquering hero returned to the Showgrounds today in the shape of former manager Tommy Wright, who 'ran' away from the United job 18 months ago. Tommy's teams were never good to watch, he was a kick and rush man, but when things went right and we got a lenient ref, he sometimes came out on top. Today was no exception, as his team literally 'kicked' us off the park, aided and abetted by some extremely lenient refereeing by Keith Halliday.
The visitors committed at least a dozen fouls in the first half but the referee only showed one caution and he got it wrong as it should have been a a red card instead. Glenn Ferguson clearly elbowed United defender Albert Watson (or was it an accidental clash of heads), but the weak official merely cautioned the culprit.
United had their chances in the first half but three great saves from visiting keeper Matthews kept the scores level at halftime.
United manager Roy Walker had given a rare start to 2nd choice keeper Sean O'Neil and he almost embarrassed the manager when he made a complete horlicks of a back pass, slicing it for a corner, but luckily it came to nothing. On the stroke of halftime United were denied a penalty when from a corner kick Matthews punched United's Chris Ramsay instead of the ball, but referee Halliday gave a free to the visitors. The damage was done however as Ramsay had to be helped off and took no further part in the game.

David Cushley took Ramsay's place at the start of the 2nd half which meant United were playing with two wide men, Ormo and Cushley and as a result Lockhart and Anderson had to work twice as hard. United had a perfectly good goal disallowed 7 minutes into the 2nd period when McConnell timed his run onto a Cushley through ball only for the linesman to flag him offside when the visiting defence called. There's no way this official could've known as he was 10 yards behind the action, but he flagged anyway.
The whites were a better side in the this half and put United under severe pressure and our old malaise began to surface, not picking players up at set-pieces. Twice we got away with it when after O'Neill had saved a Ferguson header, our benevolent defence allowed ex-United striker Davitt Walsh a free header. We didn't learn from this gaffe and from another corner allowed Ferguson a free one which just shaved the crossbar. A goal for the visitors looked inevitable and 19 minutes into the half it duly arrived, when the United defence was caught by a through ball and Ferguson was on hand to blast the ball into the bottom corner.
Obviously a change was needed but manager Walker's response surprised us all, when he took off Anderson and brought on defender Surgenor in his place. Surely a better move would have been to push Anderson upfront and taking off Ormo, but maybe Roy was trying to keep the score down. Whatever he was trying to do the closest United came to scoring was when the ball fell to Cushley about 30 yards from goal, but Matthews not for the first time today was equal to the task as he pushed it for a corner. Lockhart gave us hope when he rose unchallenged but headed wide, while a move between Mike Smith and McConnell just came unstuck at the last moment.
Cushley had a great run down the right wing only to be cynically pulled down when clean through, an automatic red card, referee Halliday merely booked the culprit. The free kick came to nothing and this is a part of the game United will need to brush up on, or their slide down the league will continue at a gathering pace. Kelbie then spurned a chance to go for goal, looking for a pass instead and a McConnell header drifted harmlessly wide. United have no game next week due to the disastrous fixture planning of the I.F.A., so manager Walker and his men have a chance to get things sorted, please, oh please, don't waste that opportunity!

O'Neill (6), M. Smith (7), Colligan (7), Alb. Watson (7), Ramsay (7)(Sub: Cushley 6), Ormo (6), Anderson (6)(Sub: Surgenor 6), Lockhart (7), McConnell (6), Kelbie (6).

Man of the match: Lee Colligan

Drawing Blood!

After 16 games without a draw in this years league race, United have now drawn their last two. Last week victory was snatched from our grasp when we conceded a late goal, today we eventually came back and then held out for a point. Manager Roy Walker made one change to his starting line-up of Tuesday night, Phillip Carson in place of Darren Lockhart. United got off to the worst possible start when referee Hugh Carville ruled that Albert Watson's high foot was grounds for a penalty, instead of the normal indirect free kick. Up stepped Brown himself but Nelson dived the right way and pushed his kick over the bar, a real let-off for the home team. Three minutes later a visiting player kicked David Cushley on the head and to the utter amazement of the home team the referee ignored the incident completely. The United defence was still jittery and they fell behind in the seventh minute when a free kick somehow eluded them all and visiting forward Scoltock was left with the simple task of beating Nelson from eight yards. The United defence were struggling and only survived with some last ditch tackles. When United tried to mount attacks the visitor pulled 8 & 9 men behind the ball and denied them space. Obviously changes would need to be made and the United manager decided to act sooner rather than later and he took off Surgenor and brought on young Archie after 25 minutes switching to 3,5,2 formation. United looked a bit more dangerous after this and twice in quick succession Lee Colligan got to the byline and put in good crosses, but the United forwards couldn't apply the finishing touch.
Cushley wasn't at his best today and two wild shots were the best he could manage. United were denied time and again by the slick offside trap which the visitors employed. Chris Ramsay almost showed his forwards how when he carried the ball from his own half and exchanged passes with Kelbie and McConnell, before firing just over the bar. Kevin Kelbie did almost get an equaliser just before halftime when after a McConnell effort fell to him, the keeper flung himself and luckily deflected the striker's shot for a corner.

Ten minutes into the 2nd period Roy Walker made a double substitution taking off Cushley and Carson and bringing on Lockhart and Andy Smith, while switching to a 4,3,3 formation, with a back four of Mike Smith, Albert, Ramsay and Archie. United began to look somewhat more purposeful, but still couldn't find the vital breakthrough. The Institute keeper thwarted McConnell when he blocked the strikers point blank shot with his feet when a goal looked imminent. Referee Carville was kept busy handing out the yellow cards as the visitors seemed determined to draw blood. After a spate of yellow cards mostly for the visitors, United finally conjured up the move which levelled the scores. Mike Smith and Andy Smith combined down the right and Andy then threaded the ball to Nathan McConnell. The big striker eluded a tackle before crossing for 'King' Kevin Kelbie to drill the ball into the net. The relief was almost too obvious and the visitors made a change, taking off Ramsay which pleased 'home' supporters no end.
United did have a few more attempts on goal, but in truth the last 20 minutes were all about making sure no mistakes were made. Nelson did have to make a good stop from a Brown shot, but all in all the big number ten was well policed by Albert Watson. Brown of course didn't like this and exacted his revenge with a vicious elbow into Watson's face (or was it an accidental clash of heads), which broke two of his teeth necessitating United to play the last 5 minutes plus stoppage time with 10 men. Goalkeeper Nelson remonstrated with the referee about the incident pointing out the culprit, but referee Carville saw nothing. Despite a couple of scares United held out for a fully deserved draw which keeps us in the bottom half of the table. One point's not great but it's a whole lot better than none!


Nelson (7), Surgenor (5) (Sub: Archie 7), Colligan (7) Alb. Watson (7), C. Ramsay (7), M.Smith (6), Carson (6) (Sub:Lockhart 7), Anderson (7) Cushley (5) (Sub: A. Smith 7), Kelbie (8), McConnell (7)

Man of the match: Kevin Kelbie

Gaffer's Gaffes!

United manager Roy Walker made in my opinion one or two (make that four or five at least),bad gaffes last night which ultimately cost us a place in the next round of the C.I.S. cup. I was worried when I picked up my copy of the Ballymena Times, by the manager's comments of fighting 'fire with fire'. Young Archie Stewart had struggled against Institute striker Paul Brown in the first leg, but it is a learning curve for the Castledawson youngster and he will get better. So why drop him for last night's game, especially after scoring his first senior goal for the club in our previous game? Admittedly Albert Watson came in and played well, but our young defence (average age 21 years-old), had developed a good understanding and it's my humble opinion that this change contributed to our downfall last night.
The other change made to our starting line-up was with my 'blessing', the resting of Andy Smith, whose confidence around goal is to put it mildly, 'shot to hell' and Kevin Kelbie on from the start. United got off to the worst possible start conceding a goal with only 10 minutes on the clock. Worse still it was the result of a defensive 'clanger and done by one of our best players. We were under a bit of pressure and when the ball was squared to the edge of our penalty box, Lee Colligan's attempt at a clearing header went horribly wrong and instead fell at the feet of Institutes Declin Devine and he thumped it past Dwayne Nelson to leave United one down on the night and 3-1 down on aggregate. Young Colligan and Archie have built up a good understanding over the last half a dozen games and if Archie had been on this incident might have been avoided, but we'll never know for sure, we can only surmise.
United's slow and deliberate build-up, taking 20 passes to get to the halfway line and then a hopeful punt upfield was 'bread and butter' to the visitors defence. United did get a lifeline halfway through the half when Mike Smith showed his forwards how it should be done. A throw-in on the right fell to the young fullback/midfielder and he turned and chipped a delightful shot into the net to level the scores on the night. This was Mike's fourth consecutive goal and surely it won't be long before someone's knocking on our door to take this young man, who seems to get better with every game, to a higher level. Referee Burns denied United a 'cast iron' penalty soon after when Kelbie was 'cleaned' in the box. United forced a corner on the left and when Smith's delivery was headed clear Cushley's shot was diverted for another corner. The next corner was an exact carbon copy of the first and this time the Cush's piledriver flashed past the post. Darren Lockhart burst on to a McConnell pass and squeezed his shot into the net, only for it to be ruled out by a very late flag for offside. Lockhart was involved in an incident at the other end of the pitch when after a brutal tackle on Institute midfielder Rory McClean, a former United player and in the resulting skirmish, Kevin Ramsay, another former Sky Blue threw a punch right in front of the linesman. When things had calmed down the referee, after talking to his assistant, called over and cautioned 'Stute's Declin Devine and our fears were confirmed, the linesman should've gone to Specsavers. Lockhart was then impeded as he tried to force his way to the byline but referee Burns ignored this bit of obstruction.
Ramsay, who had already escaped punishment seemed determined to try the referee's benevolence to the limit as he went in with his foot raised on United keeper Dwayne Nelson catching him in the groin area. This offence carries an automatic yellow card, referee Burns unsurprisingly took no action. Halftime arrived with the score tied at 1-1 and it was all there to play for, if only we could get the final touch.

United manager Roy Walker took off Darren Lockhart at the break, with Gavin Taggart taking his place, whether this move was tactical or the result of an injury I have no way of knowing, but if it was tactical, it was another major gaffe. United spurned a great chance to level the aggregate scores when after a Cushley shot bounced off the keeper's knees, Nathan McConnell's follow up someone how missed the target. Kelbie then headed over when it looked easier to score, a major let-off. Fifteen minutes into the half Roy decided he needed to make a change and what a change he made. Now consider the situation, we are trailing by a solitary goal, we have our three joint top scorers on the pitch, so what does one do? Roy in his wisdom, takes off two of his top scorers, namely McConnell and the mercurial Cushley, who can turn a game with one piece of brilliance to bring on the struggling Andy Smith and winger Ormo. At best it was 'like for like', when surely we needed to change things. In my opinion (which counts for nought), we needed to sacrifice a defender and substitute the out of touch Kelbie.
Roy was almost vindicated in his actions though and in all fairness should've been. Ormo's fresh legs took him past the visitors defence and he put over a 'gem' of a cross and Kelbie headed over the bar yet another glaring miss. After that it was mostly constant United pressure with visitors only getting the odd break, but looking dangerous just the same. Even Mike Smith was guilty of a bad miss when after some good link-up play, he blasted over with his weaker left foot.
I somehow always imagined they'd get a chance and my worst fears were confirmed seven minutes from the end. The United defence missed a tackle on the right and the cross found Devine and he coolly dispatched it into the net to virtually put the tie beyond us, meaning we needed to score three times due to the away goal rule. Kelbie should've given us hope, when after a quick free kick his left-footed shot cannoned off the outside of the post, but the goal had been there for the taking. Referee Burns warned the 'Stute keeper about time wasting and then rather surprisingly only added on the basic 3 minutes, in other words, it was okay in his book for them to flaunt the rules. During stoppage time United's misery was complete when after finally winning a penalty, Kevin blasted the resultant kick over the bar, which just about summed up his and United's nights contribution. The season which a few weeks ago looked promising is now in tatters and Walker (whether he believes it or not), is under pressure to get it back on track. The next three league matches are crucial, Roy you have been warned!

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

Man of the match: Mike Smith

Late Lapse!

Not for the first time this season the Sky Blues let 3 points slip from their grasp late in the game. At least this time it was only 2 points thrown away, as they recorded their first draw of this season's campaign. When former United player Stuarty King (or is it Queen), punted a hopeful ball into the box it looked to be sailing into United keeper Dwayne Nelson's arms. Sadly Nelson, who had pulled of a couple of good saves earlier, dropped the ball and Glenavon snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat, a galling result for the small band of United supporters. United manager Roy Walker had only made one change from his starting line-up of last Saturday, with joint top scorer David Cushley replacing Ormo. That meant a place on the bench for Kevin Kelbie which leaves him woefully short of match fitness. United started well with McConnell and Cushley linking up with some nice play, without troubling the 'giant' Tuda Murphy in the home goal. When the home team did manage to attack they found the young United defence rock solid, ably backed up by keeper Dwayne Nelson. Referee Mark Courtney was his usual ineptness as he seemed content to issue stern warnings to home defenders who made no attempt to play the ball. But even his patience finally snapped when midfielder Harper viciously scythed down United's Lee Colligan after he had dispossessed him.
There was a strange incident midway through the half when after United had won a free kick in the opposition's half, United's Andy Smith tangled with his team-mate, Mark Surgenor. Referee Courtney told both players to calm down and that seemed to do the trick. Soon after Surgenor was penalised in one of those incidents which referee's tend to give differing decisions for. I refer of course to when a player makes no attempt to go for the ball and the defender jumps over him to get it. The referee deemed it a foul by the United player on this occasion, but 10 minutes later when an opposing defender jumped over a static McConnell, ignored the incident completely. Mike Smith delivered two excellent corners for United but no forward could get on the end of them and as a result the score remained 0-0 at halftime.

Eight minutes into the 2nd half United got their noses in front when McConnell laid the ball off to Cushley and his right-foot shot from 25 yards was pushed round the post by home keeper Murphy. From the resultant corner Archie placed a firm header into the net, his first senior goal for the club, hopefully the first of many. Unfortunately the lead only lasted five minutes as Surgenor allowed King to get a cross in and Molloy slid in at the far post to level the scores. Andy Smith missed a sitter soon afterwards when he broke clear with McConnell alongside him but his wild shot didn't even trouble the home keeper. That was in the 61st minute and three minutes later after a neat build-up Cushley forced another good save from Murphy with a 20 yard shot. From the resultant corner the big keeper dropped the ball but gleefully dived on it as the United players looked on. At the other end Nelson pulled off a tremendous save from Molloy's free kick. Straight up the field and Andy Smith latched onto a mishit back pass but failed to find McConnell in the middle. Andy was replaced soon after with Kevin Kelbie taking his place and he (Andy) soon disappeared into the dressing rooms. United had a let-off when their defence failed to clear a through ball and as Nelson advanced from his goal Molloy hit a tremendous shot which crashed off the crossbar into Nelson's grateful arms. The ball was cleared up-field and McConnell held it up before exchanging a one-two with Mike Smith and then delivering the ball into the box for Smith to plant it in the net. Was that enough I wondered with 18 minutes left to play, would we hold out for another 3 points.
The United manager seemed to think so as he took off Cushley and brought on Carson but we shrunk back into defence as a result. We were under the 'cosh' for most of the remainder of the game but did manage a couple of breaks. Firstly Mike Smith spurned a great chance to wrap up the points when he side-footed an effort over the bar after good work by Lockhart and McConnell and then McConnell forced a good save from Murphy after a Kelbie flick on, with Smith driving the ball into the side netting. Kelbie also wasted a good opportunity when after a break down the left he failed to find big Nathan who had a free run on goal. The United defence finally cracked when a harmless King cross was dropped by Nelson and the rest as they say was history. United did manage an attack in stoppage time but couldn't find the killer blow. Deep into injury time Nathan was replaced by Ormo, but I doubt whether he even got a kick at the ball as the match finished all square.

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

Man of the match: Mike Smith