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