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