Sore Points!

On paper this looks like a comprehensive victory, but in truth this was a very poor Institute side and United could and should've won much more convincingly. Still if I'd been offered a 3-0 result before the start I'd have gladly taken it and then some. Neither of United's Scottish duo made the match due to the Volcanic ash saga, which meant only one change from last Saturday's starting line-up, Sparky for Kelbie. It didn't take Sparky long to celebrate his call up as he opened the scoring after only 9 minutes. It was a move started by United's player of the month, Aidy Watson, who found Mike smith on the overlap. The United rightback cut inside his marker and his driven cross was tucked away by the alert Sparky.

United suffered a setback moments later when Locky limped off with a recurring knee injury with Kit Ramsay replacing him, releasing Mike Smith into right midfield. The United goal had a lucky escape when former player Rory McClean broke through, controlled the ball beautifully, but with the goal at his mercy he drove his shot wide. With 30 minutes on the clock United virtually tied up the points when Ramsay and Mike Smith combined down the right wing and when the 'Stute keeper spilled Smith's shot Lee Colligan was on hand to tap in with his right foot.

United were content to soak up the pressure from the visitors and test them on the break, although their 3rd goal came from a defensive mistake, when a defender attempted to head back to his keeper, but the alert Andy Smith managed to prod the ball into the net for his 10 goal in a United shirt. That goal came on the stroke of halftime and left United and their fans to enjoy their halftime cuppa.

United Captain Gazza, was substituted at halftime, but whether this was tactical or due to injury I couldn't say. Mackers made a rare appearance in Gazza's place and this necessitated Kit moving to central defence and Mike Smith back to fullback and Andy Smith moving to right midfield.. The second half was typified by some over-elaborate play by United and some real heavy tackles from the visitors, which went unpunished by referee Crangle. This was in contrast to his booking of United's Aidy Watson for a mistimed tackle. Five minutes later Andy Smith was caught by a horrendous late tackle and had to leave the field to be substituted by David Cushley. Not only did Andy's tackler go unpunished, United didn't even get a foul.

Cushley had one or two mistimed tackles before he was booked, while the visitors continued to kick our players indiscriminately, without caution from the referee. Ten minutes from the end United were reduced to 10 men when Mike Smith was caught with yet another unpunished tackle and he left the field, while Albert Watson was pushed forward as he was obviously not at his best either. Just before the end the ambulance arrived to take Andy Smith to hospital with a suspected broken ankle and despite being down to 10 men United continued to fritter away the chances.

Their best effort was a Cushley shot which was laid off to him by Sparky, but the keeper did well to save the winger's shot. Despite some late pressure from the visitors United held out for a crucial if costly victory and the realisation that 2 points from their remaining 3 games would see them finish no worse than 9th or 10th place. A poor result after the high hopes at the start of the season, but safely in the premier league for another term. Of course this will not do, we have been in the doldrums too long, it's time for the tough to get going!

Nelson (8), M. Smith (8), Archie (7), Albert (7), Gazza (6) (Sub: Mackers 6,), Locky (6) (Sub: Kit 7,), Aidy (7), Taggart (6), Colligan (7), A. Smith (7) (Sub: Cushley 7,), Sparky (7)

Man of the match: Mike Smith