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