Almost! Almost!

United went into their last league game of yet another pathetic campaign, with a chance to leapfrog their opponents Glenavon and finish in an undeserved 8th place. Thankfully justice was done and we finished where we belong, in the bottom three, but we almost stole the win. It didn't look that way in the early stages as we conceded a goal after only four minutes and we were relieved to see another cross-cum-shot come off the bar soon after. Andy Smith made a surprise return to the starting line-up after injury, as did Sparky after suspension. United had a back four of Kit, Albert, Gazza and Archie, obviously Roy is obsessed with centre backs, while a midfield of Muir, Taggart and Mike and allegedly Andy Smith, backed up Sparky and Kelbie up front.

Referee Mark Courtney, no stranger to controversy involving United games (ham shank being one special one), gave the home team a controversial free kick, when former United player Stuarty King, lost possession of the ball and went in 'over the top' on Kit Ramsay, only for the referee to award a free to Glenavon. How he arrived at this decision is beyond me, but that's still no excuse for our defence's negative attitude in dealing with the situation. King took the kick himself and our defenders allowed it to bounce and it flew over Nelson's head into the net. Most fans blamed the keeper, but the defence was also to blame as they never attacked the ball, but Dwayne should have got it. Five minutes later another cross from the left cannoned off the crossbar with Nelson struggling.

United's attack was nearly non-existent at this stage and Andy Smith was running around like a headless chicken, sometimes in attack, sometimes in midfield and screaming every-time anybody came near him. The one bright spark in the United team at this stage was Mike Smith, who after one jinking run, tried a left-foot shot but failed to find the target. A change was needed if United were to get in the game and it happened unexpectedly, when after a late tackle on Kit he was unable to continue and the 'veteran' Locky came on. This meant the versatile Sparky was witched to rightback with Locky moving into midfield and suddenly we looked like a different team. The Glenavon players weren't so cocky now and when United were on one attack home player Murray deliberately handled the ball to stop play, referee Courtney failed to caution the culprit.

United finally got back on terms when Locky, belying his years, chased the ball wide on the left and despite having three defenders round him came away with the ball, cut along the by-line before finding the unmarked Kelbie at the far post and he headed his 15th goal of the season and allegedly his last in a United shirt. Suddenly we were full of confidence and Andy Smith should have given us the lead when Sparky found him with a neat pass but he shot across goal and the chance was lost. Despite the two minutes of stoppage time, United couldn't unlock the home defence and Murray got away with a heavy tackle and we were wondering if Mister Courtney had no yellow cards with him. Halftime was reached with the teams locked at one apiece and we looked forward to the 2nd period with anticipation.

Andy Smith didn't come out for the 2nd half, no big loss, being replaced by Mackers and we looked like a potent force, though Kelbie still looked uninterested. Mike Smith and Sparky were linking up well down the right but it was hard to find the telling final pass. Locky found his way into the referee's notebook (he obviously found his cards at halftime), when Stuarty King (or should I say Pinocchio's brother) went down as if pole-axed, but as soon as the card was flashed he got up and ran away with a smirk on his face, which brought quite a few taunts from United fans. Soon after Glenavon's Murray, who by now should have been red carded, picked up a yellow for a late tackle, finally, but it was too little too late.

Mackers almost broke his scoring drought when he got on the end of a cross from Sparky, only to see home keeper Plummer, claw the ball away for a corner from his well directed header. Gary Muir's corner from the left was too long, but why oh why did we not have a man stationed on the edge of the box just for that eventuality, if I can see it why can't our management? Glenavon were reduced to breakaways and the big nosed cheater (Stuarty King), was being given acres of space by Sparky. We almost paid dearly for this benevolence when Stuarty cut inside and his cross was headed over the bar by Murray, a bad miss. This was almost Murray's last contribution as he was replaced by another former United player, the much travelled Rory 'the one ball wonder' Hamill. A list of Rory's clubs would be too much to mention as it's easier to say he hasn't played for two or three clubs in the present league, but there's still time.

Glenavon were reluctant to give him the ball as he has a bad habit of losing them and so he made little or no difference. United almost (which has become a byword for Roy Walker's management), broke the deadlock when their utility player, Sparky, went on a jinking run before hitting a crisp left-foot shot which cannoned off the cross bar with Plummer beaten all ends up. As the game drifted into injury time, Mike Smith, was scythed down during an attack, the referee waved play on as we had the advantage, but when play broke down he didn't book the culprit, yet another miscarriage of justice. Smith limped off in the 90th minute with George Young taking his place, when surely it should have been McConnell as we needed the win, but that's not Roy's style. The match petered out to a draw, yet another game where we had, 'almost', 'almost', took all three points, but in the end 'flattered only to deceive'.

I must end on a sad note here, with the news of the death of a lifelong Sky Blue fan, Bob McCann. Bob was a real United stalwart rarely missing a game home or away and some of his subtle quips were real gems. To say he didn't like Stuarty King when he played for Ballymena was to make a gross under-statement and his judgement proved to be perfectly correct as we found Stuarty to be deceitful and a typical money grabbing gather-up. To travel with Bob in his car was not for the faint hearted, but we all survived nonetheless and are much better people for having known him. If there is a heaven, I'm sure Bob McCann is in it and it'll be a much better place because he's there. Cheerio Bob, it was a pleasure knowing you, you were a true Sky Blue and a true friend to the end!

Nelson (6), Kit (5)(Sub: Locky 8,), Albert (5), Gazza (6), Archie (6), M. Smith (8)(Sub: Young 6), Sparky (8), Taggart (5) Muir (6), A. Smith (5)(Sub: Mackers (7), Kelbie (6)

Man of the match: Locky