Only Believe!

After watching the first 35 minutes of today's game against Linfield I turned to my companion in the stand and said, 'where are we going to get a goal from'? He readily agreed that it looked unlikely, but then again, what do we know? United manager Roy Walker had made two changes to his starting line-up of last Saturday, with Andy Smith replacing Nathan McConnell in attack and David Cushley coming in for the injured Phillip Carson. With Cushley slotting into the left wing position this meant a re-jig for the defence. Colligan went to leftback, Archie and Albert combined in the centre and the versatile Chris Ramsay slotted in at rightback, releasing Mike Smith into a right midfield role.

United matched their more illustrious opponents in the opening salvoes of the game but had a real let-off when McAllister missed a free header with the goal at his mercy. Aiden Watson, restored to the team was having a good game in midfield and he combined well with Colligan on a couple of occasions, but unfortunately no-one could supply the finishing touch to two inviting crosses. Referee Steven Weatherall rightly got booed by the home crowd on two occasions, firstly when Linfield's Billy Joe Burns went down feigning injury when no contact was made and then making United's Lee Colligan wait on the sidelines for a full 2 minutes after receiving treatment.

With the match looking like remaining scoreless in the first half, United delivered two killer blows to seal the points. With 43 minutes elapsed Cushley drove in a thirty yard free-kick and United veteran Darren Lockhart popped up in the box to head past the despairing dive of former United keeper Alan Blayney. The crowd had barely settled down when Andy Smith intercepted a poor back-pass, before laying the ball off to Cushley, who in turn fed Kelbie and United's top scorer turned and drove the ball into the corner of the net with his 'sweet' left foot. To say I was over the moon, was to put it mildly, I just couldn't contain myself.

Halftime: United 2, Linfield 0

Linfield made a predictable change at the start of the second half going for a 4,3,3 formation as they sought to use the advantage of the wind. But although they did unlock the United defence on a couple of occasions their finishing let them down badly. United on the other hand probably should've sealed the game but were denied by the woodwork on a couple of occasions. Firstly a Cushley free kick rebounded off the post with Blayney flat-footed and then an Archie header from a Mike Smith corner struck the base of the same post, before being scrambled away for a corner.

Then in the best move of the game, Ramsay, Mike and Andy combined down the right, but unfortunately Kelbie just failed to make contact with Andy's driven cross. Archie came to the home side's rescue with a last ditch tackle as the visitors strove to get back in the game. Kelbie missed a glorious chance when he failed to find the target when released by strike partner, Andy Smith. Then it was the turn of Ramsay to be the hero when after O'Neill's parry fell to McAllister big Chris was on hand to clear the ball off the goal-line. United were forced to make their first change when Cushley was flattened at the resultant corner, with Mark Surgenor, who was celebrating his 24th birthday today, taking his place. Kelbie and Andy messed up another chance when United's top scorer hit his pass too far in front of Smith with the visitors defence floundering. United's at times desperate defending was epitomised by Aiden Watson who on several occasions hoofed the ball up-field and into touch, but it did relieve the pressure for a few seconds.

Chris Ramsay had to retire injured after yet another ferocious challenge, too many of those went unpunished today, with Nathan McConnell taking his place. Andy smith was cautioned for playing on after the referee had blown-up for offside, petty stuff and then Kelbie came off in stoppage time, with Ormo taking his place. Referee Weatherall barely played the 4 added minutes and United had their first victory since October, it was a long time coming, but it was worth waiting for. Happy Christmas everybody and bring on the Coleraine scum!

O'Neill (8), Ramsay (8),(Sub: McConnell 7), Colligan (8), Alb Watson (7), Archie (8), M. Smith (7), Aid Watson (8), Lockhart (8), Cushley (8)(Sub: Surgenor 7), A. Smith (7), Kelbie (8)(Sub: Ormo 7)

Man of the match: Aiden Watson

Black Sabbath!

Yet another three points were frittered away by United at Shamrock park today. The Sky Blues passed up two good chances of taking the lead in the first half and then paid the ultimate price for slack marking at a set-piece and then a linesman who failed to raise his flag when a striker was clearly offside a minute from time. United had started well with Darren Lockhart and Phillip Carson in centre midfield, ably backed up by Aiden Watson and Lee Colligan on the wings, they looked lively, but with a reluctance to shoot when clear on goal. Referee Alan Black uncharacteristically actually gave a couple of fouls in our favour and when Phillip Carson delivered one of these into the box, Kevin Kelbie was unfortunate to see his back-header rebound off the crossbar. Nathan McConnell should've scored from the rebound but screwed his shot wide, a poor effort. That chance came about 15 minutes into the game and a few minutes later, Archie and Colligan combined down the left and Archie put a cross onto Nathan's head, which he somehow failed to make proper contact with, yet another chance gone begging.

Portadown were playing some nice football but the United defence were keeping them down to long distance shots ably dealt with by keeper O'Neill. Ten minutes before halftime Lockhart limped off to be replaced by Noel Anderson when surely David Cushley would've been the likelier sub. From this point United seemed to lose their grip in midfield and it was no surprise when the home team took a somewhat undeserved lead. Referee Black who had been so lenient with no yellow cards issued to home players despite some heavy tackles soon, showed his true colours when he cautioned Kelbie for a clumsy tackle near the by-line. From the resultant free-kick Archie headed over for a corner, to relieve the pressure somewhat. As this corner came over United failed to cut it out at the near post and O'Hara of Portadown managed to force the ball into the net, yet another goal conceded at a set-piece. This goal came in the 41st minute, and United despite attempting to launch a counter attack, couldn't force a save out of home keeper Miskelly, even with 2 minutes of added time.


The second half was a non-event as the home team blunted the United attack, well as far as we could see stuck behind the goals at the Tandragee end of the ground. Something must be said here, although it will fall on deaf ears, about the ridiculous situation where Portadown have two stands one on each side of the ground, but visiting fans are herded into a stand which is 50 yards behind the goal-line, where the view is diabolical to say the least. Twenty minutes into the half, Rip Van Walker decided to act, taking off Carson and McConnell and bringing on Geordie Stewart and Paul McNeil.

I wonder why Cushley who has scored 5 goals from midfield was left sitting on the bench, surely he would've been a better option than Stewart, who seems completely devoid of confidence and continually ran into trouble. Even when United were given a possible lifeline late in the game with a free kick near the goal-line, Stewart failed to get it past the first defender and the chance was lost. As the home team broke out of defence Aiden Watson missed a tackle on the halfway line and Ports forward Lackey, who looked a 'mile' offside ran through to put the result beyond doubt as he side footed past the stranded O'Neill. Lackey had earlier been involved in one of those unsavoury incidents, which are all too common in the modern game. Aiden Watson had made a fair but hard tackle on the lanky player, but referee Black decided it was a foul and as Lackey lay writhing on the ground, he cautioned the United player. Lackey of course had got what he wanted a player booked and referee Black not for the first time had been duped. United fans were annoyed at the end and some of them made their feeling known to the players in no uncertain terms. I think this was a bit harsh as the players aren't trying to lose, but I 'can' understand the sentiment!

O'Neill (8), M. Smith (7), Archie (7), Alb. Watson (6), Ramsay (6), Aid Watson (8), Lockhart (7) (Sub: Anderson 5), Carson (7) (Sub: Stewart 5), Colligan (6), McConnell (5) (Sub: McNeil 5), Kelbie (6)

Man Of the match: Sean O'Neill