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