Sleep Over!

Picture the scene, United had weathered the Crusader's storm at Seaview and then after two incisive passes from 'man-of- the- match' Aiden Watson, had taken a rather surprising 2-0 lead. Opposition manager Stephen Baxter, takes off a defender and brings on his top scorer Davy Rainey at the start of the 2nd half, while our manager does sweet F.A. in order to nullify this threat. The result of course is that the Crues crawl their way back into the match and snatch a point from the game. Surely Walker should've reacted by bringing on either (a) another defender or (b) another attacker, Roy of course, like Nero, fiddled and our three points were burned.

The United manager made two personnel changes to Saturday's team, out went Ramsay and team Captain Gazza, with Aiden Watson, getting Gazza's midfield berth and Sparky moving back to the striker's role. Colligan returned to leftback, Archie moved into central defence and top scorer Kevin Kelbie was shunted onto the left wing. Kevin is an 'out-and-out' striker, put him on the wing and he loses interest and why would you put your top scorer on the wing, it baffles me. Put him up front where he revels in scoring goals, if you need a left winger, you've got young Cushley kicking his heels in the reserves, use him instead.

United were subjected to some heavy pressure by the the home side, whose game plan on this disgraceful excuse for a pitch is a long ball from the keeper on every occasion. Despite this constant barrage for the first half hour, United kept their goal intact, although young Archie was clearly struggling against the flailing elbows of the home team's front men. The home team were also aided and abetted by a linesman who was rarely up with play and missed at least three blatant offsides. Referee Heatherington was in his 'nicey nicey' mood and instead of yellow cards for heavy tackles by the home team, it was a case of 'you're a naughty boy and you shouldn't do that', which of course meant the tackles got even worse.

United turned the game on it's head in a two minute period just before halftime, when Aiden Watson firstly set Andy Smith free with a defence splitting pass and Smickers rounded the keeper before slotting the ball into the net to put United one up. Two minutes later, in the 39th minute, Muir and Watson combined and Aidy then set up Taggart who chipped the keeper beautifully to make it 2-0 for the Sky Blues. United created at least two more chances before the break, but couldn't add to their tally. The inconsistency of linesmen then reared it's ugly head, when Kelbie sped up the wing only to be called back as Sparky was in an offside position, but taking no part in the play.

As I said earlier Baxter changed things round by discarding a defender and bringing on a striker, but our man merely dithered. The only reason I can find for this lapse from Walker, was that he was having a sleep over at Baxter's house and didn't want to annoy him too much in case he got no supper. The upshot was that the Crues barrage of the first half continued and in fact was far more penetrative and Archie was under sever pressure, but Walker was oblivious to it. Surely I thought Roy must react, we had at least two defenders cum midfielders on the bench,in Ramsay and Gazza, either or both of whom he could've thrown into fray at the expense of Taggart and or Watson, who were failing to get to grips with their counterparts.

Inevitably the goal had to come and when it did it was something special. Archie was adjudged to have fouled a Crues forward about 25 yards from goal and slightly to the right. United lined up their defensive wall and we could see there was a small gap at the left side. Home winger Donnelly found this gap with a beautiful bending free kick that left Nelson, who had looked unbeatable in the first half, well beaten and reduce the deficit to 2-1. Rip van Roy, finally acted or should I say over-reacted, taking off Archie and bringing on Gazza, which still left us a defender short. Gazza barely had time to get to the pace of the game when he failed to get a decisive header to a through ball and suddenly the game was all square at 2-2, when a Crues forward had the easy task of shooting past the unprotected Nelson.

Gary Muir wasted three opportunities in this half to put in telling crosses, but then again he seems to carry the ball too far rather than putting in the telling early cross which was his trademark at Distillery. He was the next man to be replaced with Ramsay taking his place and this at least looked like a sensible solution, bringing on a defender for a midfielder. Kelbie managed to bring a good save from the home keeper, but Sparky couldn't get to the rebound. Two minutes later the referee blew to halt play when United's Lee Colligan went down injured, but as he turned his back he failed to see the Crues number 5 flatten Kelbie into the railings. Kelbie had to come off with young Lennon taking his place and as if to add insult to injury the Crues failed to give the ball back to us, kicking it into touch instead.

There still was time for Sparky to be hauled down by the same number 5, which brought a yellow card from the referee, too little too late. United forced a couple of corners and played some nice football around the home team's penalty box, but without top scorer Kelbie, they couldn't find the vital breakthrough. Yet once more we had snatched a draw from the jaws of victory, but in my opinion our manager must take some of the blame for this lapse as he failed to read the game and made the wrong substitution and in my opinion, made it too late. There's an old saying from somewhere, 'too late, too late, will be the cry', Roy could do worse than take that into account!


Nelson (7), M.Smith (7), Colligan (7), Archie (5)(Sub: Gazza 6), Alb Watson (7), Muir (5)(Sub: Ramsay 6), Taggart (7), Aid Watson (8), Kelbie (6)(Sub: Lennon 6), A. Smith (7), Sparky (6)

Man of the match: Aidy Watson

Wasted Journey!

For the two hundred odd United fans who made the journey to Windsor Park today, it was a wasted effort, as our team never turned up. No they didn't miss the bus or anything mundane like that, they were there alright, but they showed no interest in taking part in a game of football. Our manager's penchant for playing men out of position is now costing us dearly. If he hasn't realised it by now, Archie is a central defender, in an emergency he can play at left-back, but it's not a natural position for him. Likewise Lee Colligan, yes he can play left midfield in an emergency, but his best position is left-back. For 70 minutes today we struggled with these two players out of position and even though that didn't directly lead to our defeat, it was part of the problem.

Then we have the 'famous' or is it infamous, Gary Muir, playing wide right, who twice 'chickened' out of 60/40 balls in his favour and when he is eventually substituted, he's replaced by Sparky who goes straight into a striking role, which necessitates Andy Smith dropping into a wide right role. I wonder if Roy was confused by the Linfield squad numbers which the announcer read out in no particular formation? Or is the rumour true, that he just doesn't have a clue and depends on divine intervention from above to help him make his decisions, I tell you it's becoming harder to 'only believe'.

Albert Watson returned to the team to partner Chris Ramsay in central defence, with Mike Smith, who can play either wide midfield or fullback, reverting to rightback. Sparky was relegated to the bench,along with Noel Anderson and Aiden Watson, so Gazza moved into central midfield with Taggart. To say we were diabolical was to make a gross understatement. We couldn't pass, kept 'messing up' free kicks and generally seemed to have a 'couldn't care less' attitude. Nobody typified this more than Gary Muir in right midfield, but in an ironic twist of fate he almost delivered a killer blow just before halftime. Having won a corner on the right he delivered a perfect dead-ball into the penalty box where Gazza of all people directed a header wide, when it looked easier to score.

The rest of the first half was fairly non-de-script, Taggart picked up the booking which should leave him eligible for the cup game, but on this showing that doesn't look like a bonus. Linfield defender Winky Armstrong was lucky to stay on the field when after picking up a caution for a heavy challenge, he then kicked out at Andy Smith, but the man who 'hears words that are never spoken', referee Trevor Moutray turned his back on the incident. Nelson was forced into a smart save by the home team's best player, Paul Munster, but all in all it was pretty poor stuff.

The halftime highlight was a United fan winning the Carling dribble, at least that's what I call it, well at least he showed the players how it should be done. The home team stepped up the pressure after halftime and United were unable to clear their lines although Taggart had a chance to set up a counter-attack, but instead gave the ball away and due to some slip-shod defending the ball fell to Phil Lowry on the edge of the box and he drilled it into the net to give the home team the lead. Surely we thought the manager must act, take off Muir and Taggart, bringing on Cushley and Locky to see if we can salvage something.

Of course he surprised us by taking off Muir and bringing on Sparky, who is basically a central defender, who can play up front in an emergency, now where did I hear that before? This made little or no difference to our offensive capabilities and in fact left us even more disjointed that we had been before. We still had the struggling Taggart in midfield and two players playing out of position on the left side. With 20 minutes remaining Roy took Archie off and brought on the Cush, but after 5 minutes switched him to the right side, instead of leaving him in his natural left side position. Cushley did manage to force former United keeper Alan Blayney into a save but it was really a fairly innocuous effort.

In a last throw of the dice Locky replaced Taggart, but it was far too late to make any difference to the outcome of the game. United did win a couple of free kicks about 30 yards from goal, but our prowess in that department is sadly lacking and so it proved today. United's Lee Colligan escaped without a booking when he deliberately blocked a Linfield forward just inside the penalty area. To the utter surprise of almost everyone in the ground the referee gave the home side a free kick on the edge of the box. But then what else is new, Moutray never did care for a true representation of the facts, if in doubt, make it up, appears to be his attitude! The match petered out with a measly two minutes of added time despite the blatant time-wasting tactics of the home side, but if they had played all night we still couldn't have scored anyway.

Nelson (7), M. Smith (7), Archie (5)(Sub: Cushley 6,), Alb. Watson (7), Ramsay (5), Muir (5)(Sub: Sparky 6,), Taggart (5)(Sub: Locky 6,), Gazza (6), Colligan (5), A. Smith (6), Kelbie (6)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Red Lead!

If any United fans were undecided about attending the Irish cup semi-final on Saturday April 10, there was nothing on offer yesterday at the Showgrounds which would give any hope of advancement. United were truly pathetic, slipshod in defence, overran in midfield and punchless up front. Manger Roy Walker made two changes to his starting line-up, with Gary Muir, replacing Colligan, who hasn't missed a game all season and Noel Anderson in for Gavin Taggart. Only one United player seemed remotely interested in the game, Aiden Watson. But alas he was powerless to prevent Clark giving Portadown the lead after 4 minutes. The United defence failed to clear their lines and Clarke was allowed time to pick his spot from 20 yards, leaving United keeper Dwayne Nelson well beaten.

When you fall behind the only thing you can do is score yourself and United equalised 5 minutes later, when Mike Smith got his head to a Ramsay cross and nodded the ball into the net. The United fans rose to acclaim this score only to have their cheers choked in their throats as the linesman flagged for an offside. Admittedly it was at the far end of the ground, but it looked to me that Smith was at best level with Ramsay who crossed the ball. But I must believe that the linesman made the correct decision, although later in the game he signalled for a goal to the visitors, when in fact the ball went wide. The remainder of the half was fairly devoid of incident although the visitors came close to adding to their score when O'Hara dragged a shot wide. The other talking point was a harsh booking for Aiden Watson for an innocuous tackle on Clark.

Watson failed to appear for the second period, with Lee Colligan taking his place which necessitated Muir moving to the right wing and Mike Smith moving inside to partner Anderson. United still appeared to be disinterested and none more so than Andy Smith, while new signing Muir has gone completely off the boil. Midway through the half United brought on Cushley and Mackers, taking off Sparky and Anderson, but despite stepping up the pace they couldn't make the vital breakthrough. Andy Smith did manage to force a save from Ports keeper Miskelly and the Cush fired in a vicious shot which the keeper spilled but no United player could reach in time. Mackers missed with a free header and at the other end Baker somehow missed an open goal from 8 yards, although as I said earlier the linesman at that end actually signalled for a goal.

Seven minutes from the end Ports defender Redman scythed down Andy Smith and referee Heatherington immediately flashed the red card. Despite their numerical advantage United couldn't find the telling pass and the visitors held out for a 1-0 win. On this showing United will struggle to overcome the Ports in the semi-final as they were minus at least 3 top players and still were rarely troubled, but as the old saying goes, tomorrow is another day!

Nelson (6), Ramsay (5), Archie (5), Sparky (6) (Sub: Cushley, 7), Gazza (6), M. Smith (7), Aid Watson (7) (Sub: Colligan 7,), Anderson (6) (Sub: Mackers 6,), Muir (5), A. Smith (5), Kelbie (6)

Man of the match: Mike Smith

Defensive Errors!

United manager Roy Walker selected 6 defenders in his starting line-up and rather ironically it was defensive errors which meant United having to settle for a draw, which necessitates a replay next Tuesday night at the Showgrounds. When I was handed the team sheet along with my programme (what a good idea, Bill Wray please take note), I thought here's a really negative approach and so it looked for long periods in the first half. But when we raced into a 3-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining I was feeling fairly optimistic, but of course it was after all, false hope, as we shot ourselves in the foot once more.

United began the game in an all-out attacking mode, forcing 3 corners in quick succession and home keeper Andy Plummer made two top class saves to deny United an early lead. Firstly he managed to parry a shot from Gazza, when the ball fell to him from our first corner and then two minutes later when it looked like a Kelbie header was beating him he managed to push it over the bar. Kelbie and strike partner Andy Smith were giving the home defence a hard time at this stage but as so often happens in football games it was the home team who got the first goal and what a controversial incident it was. Glenavon forward Grant dribbled into the box, Ramsay went to tackle him, withdrew his foot, Grant took a 'dive' and Ramsay looked on in consternation as referee Malcolm gave a penalty. Up stepped Molly Molloy, to blast home the penalty and put his team one up.

United were shell-shocked and were almost two down soon after when they allowed Grant a free header from a Molly cross, but luckily it flashed over the bar. Glenavon won a free kick when Barry Johnston went swallow diving as well but Molly's free kick cleared the crossbar. With halftime approaching United were given a lifeline when Glenavon defender McGee handled the ball when under pressure from Kelbie. the home side complained that Kelbie had pushed the defender, but Malcolm stuck to his guns and awarded the spot-kick, cautioning the home player in the process. Up stepped United's top scorer to blast the ball past the helpless Plummer to tie the scores up at halftime.

The home side came out for the second half in determined mood, but the United defence held firm. The United midfield, which had struggled a wee bit in the first half, began to assert itself in the 2nd period and gaps began to appear in the home team's defence. Nine minutes into the half United took a deserved lead when after Andy Smith had laid the ball back to him, young Mike Smith hit a screamer from 30 yards with his left-foot into the top right corner of the net, with Plummer grasping at thin air. This was no more than United deserved at this stage, as they were the better side and Kelbie almost snatched another soon afterwards when he latched onto an Andy Smith pass, but his right-foot shot eluded both the keeper and the goal.

United fans didn't have long to wait though for a third goal and that man Mike Smith was heavily involved again. Aiden Watson, so dominant in midfield, began the move with a delightful through ball to Mikey and he cut inside before squaring to Andy at the near post, who coolly drove it past Plummer to make the score 3-1. There's an old saying in football that you're at your most vulnerable just after the game should be safe and so it proved today. The home side swept forward and won a corner on their left. When the cross came in United keeper Dwayne Nelson appeared to be impeded as he came for the ball, which was then played to the unmarked Molly and he blasted the ball into the net. Referee Malcolm dismissed United's protests and awarded the goal.

Manager Walker took off Taggart and brought on Anderson, when surely an attack minded player like Cushley would have been the better option, I thought. As a result United began to defend deeper and deeper and surrendered midfield to the home team. With 5 minutes remaining the home side levelled things up when Ramsay allowed Costello to turn and run to the edge of the box before rifling a shot past the unsighted Nelson. This was a harsh lesson for the Sky Blues, coasting at 3-1 they took their foot off the pedal and now face a tricky replay on Tuesday night. Unfortunately due to other plans made a few months ago, Sky Blue Sport wont be at this game, so we'll just have to wish United all the luck in the world, although in all fairness, it should've been completely unnecessary!

Nelson (7), Ramsay (6), Archie (6), Sparky (7), Gazza (7), M.Smith (8), Aid Watson (8), Taggart (7)(Sub: Anderson 7,), Colligan (7), A.Smith (7), Kelbie(8)

Man of the match: Mike Smith