Floodlight Robbery!

United were caught with two late sucker punches when they lost 2-1 to the hatchet men at Seaview. United had led through Gary McCutcheon's 37th minute strike, which was his third goal in as many games for the Sky Blues. It was backs to the wall stuff for United for most of the remainder of this game, but just when it looked like they might hold out the Crues stole their thunder with 2 late goals in the last 2 minutes of normal time. This was especially hard on United keeper Dwayne Nelson, who in a 'man of the match' performance, had kept his team in the lead with some wonderful saves.

United manager Roy Walker had selected his more attacking 4,4,2 formation with Gibbo and Cutch up front and leaving local boy Mo McDowell on the bench. United started slowly and it was a good 10 minutes before they began to mount a serious attack on the hatchet men's goal. The Crues on the other hand were constantly buzzing around United's penalty box and Denver Gage was making quite a few blunders, which led to even more pressure on our beleaguered defence. Nelson pulled off a couple of good saves and Albert (Watson), also stepped up to the plate when required. Twenty five minutes into the game and United were relieved two see two shots in quick succession thunder off Nelson's left-hand post.

The first shot was a long range effort from defender McCann, who intercepted a Gavin Taggart pass before thundering a 25 yard shot off the post. Ex-Glentoran player Mike Halliday picked up the rebound and cut in from the left, but his cross shot cannoned off the same post to safety. United were under the cosh for the next few minutes and a score for the home team looked imminent, but we weathered the storm and gradually began to get a foothold in the match. Gavin Taggart split the home defence with a lovely through ball to Cutch, who drew home keeper Keenan from his goal and then cut inside before firing into the net to put United one ahead in the 37th minute. This goal was completely against the run of play, but referee Creaney appeared to be hell bent on evening things up as he continually favoured the home side with some bizarre decisions.

None was more bizarre than his award of a foul against Gibbo when he dribbled past Crues defender McCann and then was pulled up after he found Cutch with a pass, weird and wonderful are the workings of a referee's mind. The linesman at the City end of the ground tried to join in the act when he refused to hoist his flag when a home player was two yards offside, luckily the move petered out and United were able to clear the ball up-field. Right on the blow, Gage came to the Sky Blues rescue, with a vital saving header as Halliday closed in. This meant United went in at halftime with a slender if somewhat undeserved halftime lead, but knowing it would take two goals to beat it.

2nd Half
The home team made a change at halftime with last year's top scorer Rainey taking Halliday's place upfront. United seemed content to let the home team dictate the pace, though when they did try to break-out, referee Creaney always found some petty infringement to pull them up for. It was obvious a change would have to be made to the United line-up, but when it came it was something of a surprise for all concerned. Rory Carson was proving to be a tigerish tackler in midfield, but it was he who made way for Mo. Well he at least tried to, but before he made it off the field referee Creaney in his wisdom allowed the game to restart. Here we had the ludicrous situation where United had a man on the pitch who for all intents and purposes was an illegal player, luckily referee Creaney finally awoke from his slumbers a minute later and allowed the substitution to take place.

With Mo coming on in the wide left position Hanley moved inside, but I think we lost Carson's high work rate and tough tackling in midfield and it was a crucial factor in our losing of this game. Still I'm not the manager and his substitution almost paid a huge dividend when Mo sprinted down the left wing onto a Hanley pass, before cutting inside. We all held our collective breaths waiting for Mo to bring the ball onto his right foot and go for goal. Alas we were disappointed as the wingman just squared the ball aimlessly and the chance was lost. At the other end Nelson made a superb one-handed save to deny Owens and then was relieved to see Rainey miss with a far post header.

Gavin Taggart limped out with 12 minutes remaining on the clock to be replaced by Gazza and then it was really backs to the wall as Nelson's punch barely cleared the danger area and we were lucky to get the ball clear. As the home team continued to press Gage cleared the ball up field where it fell into Gibbo's path and the big striker sped down the left wing before cutting inside and shooting for goal from an acute angle. Home keeper Keenan produced a wonder save to deny Gibbo, but I wondered if Gibbo should have passed to Cutch instead, who was better positioned. The home team were battering away at United and when Gibbo tried to relieve the pressure with a headed pass to Cutch, referee Creaney again allowed that the big striker had committed a foul. Nelson saved us again when he clutched a goal-bound header at the last moment.

Tragedy struck for the United defence in the 88th minute when a long range shot from Coates went past the unsighted Nelson to level the scores and 2 minutes later the mugging was complete when Owens squeezed in a shot after United had failed to clear their lines and the 3 points that were in our grasp had slipped away. The only bit of silver lining was the news that our dear friends from the bannside had lost again and still haven't managed a goal, after five matches, life as they say, can be a bitch, but sometimes, it can be a rather nice bitch!

Nelson (9), Sparky (7), Archie (7), Albert (8), Gage (7), M. Smith (7), Carson (8)(Sub: Mo 6), Taggart (8)(Sub: Gazza 7), Hanley (6), Cutch (8), Gibbo (7)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Armagh's Da's!

United proved tonight that they surely like the conditions in the County of Armagh, with this their second successive win in the orchard County. Glenavon, unbeaten before tonight, were undone by the Sky Blues with just 8 minutes on the clock. United had made just one change to their starting line-up of six days earlier at Shamrock Park, Portadown, with Rory Carson replacing George Young. United continued their ploy of playing Cutch up front on his own backed up by a 5 man midfield. Glenavon showed some early touches, but the United back-four, in which Denver Gage was outstanding dealt easily with them, before deservedly taking the lead through top scorer Gary McCutcheon.

Gavin Taggart, revelling in his midfield role saw his shot deflect off Stuarty King's nose (forgive me for a bit of poetic licence here), before Cutch placed a delightful header beyond the outstretched arms of home keeper Plummer. This goal set the United band rolling and they continued to take the game to the league leaders, with debutant Rory Carson involved in most moves. Trevor Molloy (Molly Malone to United followers), showed a nice bit of dribbling skill, but luckily for the Sky Blues he shot over the bar. Soon after the wee Dubliner sped onto a Grant knock down but United keeper Nelson, came out to block his shot, which in any case was aborted by the linesman's flag for offside.

As United tried to exert some pressure themselves, Rory Carson was felled by a high tackle and referee Malcolm took no action against the culprit and in fact wouldn't allow the United physio to attend to the player, who was obviously dazed. Finally the 'penny dropped' for Malcolm and he allowed the United physio to lead the player to the sidelines and administer the smelling salts. A late tackle by Grant and seconds later a deliberate push on Denver Gage were overlooked by the referee. But ten minutes before halftime he booked United's Nathan Handley for a high tackle on Molly Malone and even though the player 'milked' the situation, it was obvious that he was unhurt.

Dwayne Nelson, who had one of his better games, completely mishit an attempted clearance and was happy to see the follow-up shot drift wide of his posts. Despite renewed pressure from the home side United easily held out until halftime, although Grant somehow missed with a free header and then when he finally managed to get one over the keeper's head, Gage was there with a clearing header which went over the bar for a corner. Halftime was reached with United still leading by a solitary one goal.

2nd Half!

United, as at Portadown, made one change at half-time, with Gibbo coming on for the injured Carson, still feeling we had a real chance. Gibbo gives us a more balanced side and is a real target man, which in turn allows the midfielders to get up in support of the front two. United looked good on the break, while the home team stepped up the pace and Nelson had to be alert to thwart renewed pressure on his goal. His two lieutenants, Albert and Denver, were in tip top form, ably backed up by Archie and Sparky. Still the home team were finding a lotta space down that right hand side and Nelson came to our rescue several more times with some nice saves and a telling block by Albert when the keeper was stranded.

Captain Gazza came on for Mo and soon after Cutch almost doubled our lead when his cheeky back-heel from a Taggart free-kick, appeared to go over the line but was not given. Next to go was a strangely quiet Nathan Hanley, with Lee Colligan taking his place. United were firmly on the back foot now and the home team threw everything including the kitchen sink at us, but through good fortune and good defensive work, we managed to survive, but only just! Nelson was subjected to some late challenges, ignored for the most part by referee Malcolm, but even he had to acknowledge a trip on the impressive Mike Smith as he cut inside late-on.

United were looking for the insurance goal and it finally arrived three minutes before the final whistle. There had been a few false dawns, but this one was worth waiting on as Taggart fed Mike Smith and he cut inside before giving a slide-rule pass to the inrushing Gibbo, who duly crashed the ball into the net and opened his United scoring account in the process. The fans, myself included were in raptures and it was as if we had actually won something, not just added another three points. despite referee Malcolm's added 3 minutes, the Sky Blues held out although Nelson had to be alert to turn a McDonagh shot round the post. A minute later the final whistle sounded and United had won yet another game away from home, roll on our match away to the Crues next Tuesday night, I can hardly wait!

Nelson (8), Sparky (8), Archie (8), Albert (8), Gage (9), M.Smith (8),Carson (7)(Sub: Gibbo 8), Taggart (8), Hanley (8)(Sub: Colligan 7), Mo (7)Sub: Gazza 7), Cutch (8)

Man of the match: Denver Gage

Long View!

United manager Roy Walker believes we should take the 'long view' when charting United's progress and after our display at home to D.C. last week, it looked like a very 'long view' was going to be necessary. United fans also had to take the 'long view' at Shamrock Park, as they were herded into the stand behind the goals at one end of the ground. When i saw the United team sheet I was a little dismayed by the formation, at 4,5,1, leaving the Cutch to fight a lone battle upfront, but by and large it worked. The team showed six changes from last week and one positional change as Sparky returned at right-back, releasing Mike Smith into a wide right role. Dwayne Nelson was in goal in place of the injured Ryan Brown, while Denver Gage cane into the back four to partner Albert, with Archie slotting in at left-back, as Colligan was rested.

Out went Berry, Murray and Captain Gazza from midfield, with George Young, Mo McDowell and new signing Nathan Hanley, slotting in alongside Taggart and Mike Smith. Andy Smith was out with an injury, surprise, surprise and that left Cutch to plough a lone furrow up front. United took a little time to settle into their new system which entailed Mike and Mo getting up to support the Cutch, who from the start looked a lot sharper. The first real chances came to the home team and the United fans behind Dwayne Nelson's goal were happy to see first Braniff and then Leckey blast over from similar positions inside the box. Referee Turkington drew the wrath of United fans and their manager when he cautioned Taggart for merely kicking the ball back to the correct spot, when Portadown tried to take a free kick from the wrong spot.

Five minutes later he also yellow carded Albert for a trip and stopped play when the home team had a good advantage to administer the caution. Hanley was showing some good touches for the Sky Blues and when they won a a corner on the right he took it with his left foot, but the delivery was too long and it eluded everybody in Sky Blue. Mike and George (Young), were combining well down the right and won a free kick near the corner flag and Hanley went across to take it, while Mo took up a wide left position. As the ball came in it flicked off a defender's head and Mo headed it back in where Sparky towered above the Port's defence to head United into the lead. The fans were ecstatic but it would've been better if we could've seen the goal or who scored it as it was 150 yards away from our position, obviously the home announcer doesn't mention who scores opposition goals.

Taggart, who last week had been abysmal, was taking control in midfield and Cutch was starting to look dangerous up front. Five minutes after taking the lead, United deservedly doubled their advantage, when after some nice interplay between, Taggart, Mo and Hanley, the latter had his left-foot shot blocked by a Port's defender. He reacted quickly and drove a right-foot shot into the net from 15 yards. Some of the United fans actually saw this score, which in itself was a minor miracle. Turkington then cautioned United's Denver Gage for dangerous play and two mins later allowed a home player to get away with an arm on Cutch.The home team stepped up the pace a bit after this and we had a couple of lucky escapes, when Braniff headed wide when it looked easier to score and then from a corner the United defence left three men unmarked but Mouncey headed wide. Nelson was in more assured form when he came for a through ball with Leckey raising his foot, unpunished by the referee. Despite these couple of scares the Sky Blues were applauded off at halftime leading by two goals to nil.

2nd half
United made one change at for the 2nd period with Dick Gibson coming on in place of George and we reverted to a more attacking 4,4,2 system. As we had chatted at halftime we thought if we could hold them for the first 15 mins of the 2nd half we would be okay, but our defences were breached after only 6 minutes of the restart. The United defence allowed a cross to come in from the right and the unmarked Tim Mouncey made no mistake this time with a powerful header. This goal was simplicity itself and it made us a wee bit nervous I can tell you. But it was United with sub Gibson proving a handful who looked the more dangerous from there on and Albert missed with a free header from a Hanley free kick and then Mo forced a finger tip save from the home keeper with a rasping shot which we all thought was in.

On the hour mark Sparky made way for Gazza, with Mike dropping back to right-back and soon afterwards Archie should've made the points safe when he sprinted into the box after a lay-off from Gibson, but he somehow screwed his shot wide with Port's keeper Miskelly scrambling. Archie, who's not known for his overlapping skills then sprinted onto another through ball and his pass this time just eluded Cutch. We knew the third goal was coming and when it came it was a gem. United won a corner and when the ball ballooned up in the air off a Port's defender's head, Gibson cleverly headed the ball to Cutch and he gleefully headed home against his former club from six yards. We fans were of course ecstatic as we had a bird's eye view of this goal.

Mo then made way for Murray and United continued to put the home defence under pressure with some glorious flowing moves. Referee Turkington merely booked a Port's forward when he scythed down our keeper as he punched a cross away, surely a clear case for a red card. United easily held the home team at bay for the rest of the game and during the 3 added minutes were still trying to play constructive football. As the game drew to a close we were trying to remember the last time we had so convincing a victory at Shamrock Park, but decided it had been a long time, but we agreed it was almost worth waiting on!

Nelson (8), Sparky (8) (Sub: Gazza 7), Archie (7), Albert (7), Gage (8), M. Smith (7), Young (7)(Sub: Gibson 8), Taggart (8), Hanley (8), Mo (7)(Sub: Murray 7), Cutch (8)

Man of the match: Gavin Taggart

Dee Ceased!

United's season is almost dead and buried before it has really begun, maybe I'm being a bit over-dramatic here, but the ease with which newly promoted Donegal Celtic (D.C.), ripped through our defence was terrifying to put it mildly. Nobody in our back four emerged with any credit from Saturday's game and goalkeeper Ryan Brown must've been longing to be back in the first division. As a former defender myself I had always tried to keep tight on my opponent and try to direct him toward the by-line, obviously our defenders are quite happy to shepherd them towards the centre, if Saturday's game was anything to judge them by.

The defence was bad and the midfield was non-existent, Ryan Berry, showed exactly why he's been spending his time in the lower division recently, while Gavin Taggart proved it was possible to be worse than at Windsor, with a display which was at best mediocre. Eamon Murray did show a few flashes of class and how referee Halliday failed to caution the D.C. player who scythed him down in the first minute is beyond me. Gazza tried his eye-strings out, but he was fighting a lone battle while upfront Andy Smith was running about like a headless chicken and Cutch was having a stroll in the sun.

It was obvious that changes would have to be made, but Roy fiddled while D.C. suddenly realised we were there for the taking. Their first goal after 26 minutes was simplicity itself, although referee Halliday played a major part in it. Mike Smith, whose head is somewhere else at the moment, was penalised at a throw-in and the throw went to the visitors, for whatever reason. Maybe our defence was unsettled by this and that would explain why they allowed Mark Dickson, to dribble unchallenged into the penalty box before setting up Mark Cleary for an easy finish. Two minutes later they doubled their score as winger McVeigh skipped up the left wing unchallenged by Berry or Mike Smith and his pull-back was driven home by Stephen McAlorum, while Watson and keeper Brown got entangled, not a pretty sight.

United were struggling to clear their lines and it was obvious that a change need to be made upfront as the forwards were unable or unwilling to hold the ball for any length of time. D.C. had obviously done their homework on us and were not giving our back four the chance to play out of defence and showed up the shortcomings in manager Walker's tactics, in short we're a one-dimensional team. With halftime approaching it seemed obvious that at least a double substitution would have to be made, a midfielder and a forward. The midfielder had to be the inadequate Taggart, while the striker should've been Smith, who looked like a man wanting to be sent off, probably anxious to miss the game at Portadown next week.

2nd half
United made one change at halftime with Berry making way for Mo McDowell, obviously Roy being a brilliant tactician could see that was the weak link in our team. Andy Smith almost got his day-off next Saturday when he was cautioned for an elbow on D.C. defender Watson, but this seemed to calm him down a bit. United, even with Mo on the left wing and Murray on the right, still failed to trouble the visiting defence and in fact fell further behind, when the linesman at the far end of the ground went asleep and allowed that McVeigh was onside despite being 2 yards beyond the last defender (maybe the linesman thought he was playing him on) and he was allowed to run through on goal before shooting through Archie's legs and past the hapless Brown in the United goal.

United's afternoon was summed up 7 minutes later when Taggart gave away possession for the umpteenth time, Gazza, in attempting to clear his lines, scythed down a D.C. forward instead and D.C. top player, McVeigh, sent Brown the wrong way from the resultant penalty. Manger Walker (or Rip Van Winkle to give him his proper title), finally took Taggart off with George Young taking his place and he at least injected some forward movement into our play. Walker finally played his last card, bringing on Mackers for Mike Smith, which meant Andy Smith dropping into a 5 man midfield and us going to 3 at the back, not what I call a positive move by any means. Although I was glad to see Mackers get his chance, I keep wondering what Walker's saving his first signing of the close season, Richard Gibson for? We'll probably never know, but surely a run out on Saturday in place of either our two inept strikers would have shown if there was anything but a bleak future ahead of us.

United's ineptitude in front of goal was demonstrated perfectly when Young sprinted into the box and delivered a gem of a cross, while his fellow players stood and watched, none willing to make an effort to get a touch on the ball. The D.C. keeper, who had hardly broken a sweat, must've breathed a sigh of relief and knew that he was going to have a clean sheet, with this punch-less home attack, a quiet day at the office for him. Thankfully the visitors were content with their easy victory and as for United they are in the league position they have finished in for the last two seasons, 10th and it's hard to see how they can improve on this showing, in fact if something isn't done and done pretty quickly, it'll be a bleak outlook for the Sky Blues this season!

Brown (6), M. Smith (4)(Sub: Mackers 6), Colligan (4), Watson (4), Archie (5), Berry (4)(Sub: McDowell 6), Taggart (3)(Sub: Young 6), Gazza (6), Murray (5), A. Smith (4), Cutch (4)

Man of the match: Gazza

Daggers Drawn!

United came into this game on a hiding to nothing, they were to be the proverbial lambs to the slaughter, but they left it with a fully deserved point. Scoreless draws can be boring and dull, but this game was anything but. United as expected gave a debut to goalkeeper Ryan (not Robert as erroneously stated in Sky Blue Sport's news), Brown, midfielders Eamon Murray and Ryan Berry, while upfront Gary McCutcheon also made his first competitive start. The other new arrivals, Ricky Gibson, Denver Gage and Mo McDowell had to settle for a place on the bench. United began in a determined fashion, attacking the goals where their supporters were marooned in the Spion Kop stand, while the North stand is being repaired

Eamon Murray showed a good turn of speed when he chased an Andy Smith pass, but was unable to make a telling cross. At the other end keeper Brown calmed his defenders when he came out to clutch a dangerous cross. Andy Smith, who had been rated doubtful with an injury, was in the thick of things early on and Linfield's Garret dumped him with a scything tackle, the first of many 'glossed over' by referee Crangle. This got the Linfield fans on Andy's back, no doubt a throw-back to his Glentoran days. Andy should have silenced them when he burst onto a Ryan Berry pass, but his attempted chip just cleared the crossbar, with Linfield keeper Blaney scrambling.

The United goal had a let-off when keeper Brown got suckered into chasing a wide cross and when the ball came back, Mulgrew somehow headed over with the goal at his mercy. Gary McCutcheon showed a nice turn in the Linfield box but his cross found two home defenders as neither Murray nor Haveron had ventured into the area. Blaney kept the scores level when after some neat play between Murray and McCutcheon (hereafter known as Cutch), he saved a fierce shot from Cutch. United had another let-off when Thompson headed wide after slipping his marker. As the home team stepped up the pressure, Archie made a timely interception and as the ball came back in Albert was on hand to clear.

Linfield's Garret escaped another booking when after he was robbed by Murray he scythed the United man down. Linfield had a player carried off when he fouled Andy Smith, but came off second best. In first half injury time United should've had a penalty when Andy Smith was blatantly pushed in the penalty box but they had to settle for a free kick outside as Berry was fouled in a follow up attack. Unfortunately Gazza's free kick cannoned off the Linfield wall to safety. Referee Crangle allowed the game to continue for 3 minutes instead of the stipulated two, but still the deadlock was unbroken.

2nd Half
The home team made a double substitution at the start of the 2nd period and immediately stepped up the pressure. United were indebted at this stage to their defence, in which Albert and Ryan Brown were the rocks. Little was seen of the United attack in the second half and as a result they were constantly under pressure. Referee Crangle showed his benevolence wasn't going to stretch to United players when he cautioned Taggart for a late tackle. Admittedly it was a late tackle, but it wasn't vicious, not in the mould of any tackles by the home team in the first half, but we know all the shortcomings of referee Crangle.

United did attempt to change things when Berry was replaced by McDowell and even though he didn't see a lot of the ball, the local lad showed some clever touches. From virtually his first touch United could and should've taken the lead, but the chance was spurned. Andy Smith, a thorn in the home's sides flesh throughout the game, won a corner out on the right and from McDowell's dead ball kick Gazza rose unchallenged, but with the goal at his mercy headed over the bar, a bad miss. Gazza also spurned a half chance later on, when after a clever one-two with Andy, he looked to pass instead of going for goal himself and the ball rolled harmlessly over the goal-line.

These were rare attacks as the home team appeared to have the linesman at their end of the pitch well educated as he flagged United players in general and Cutch in particular offside constantly. He even ignored two blatant fouls committed under his nose by home players, but it was Windsor Park after all. United were forced to make a substitution with 10 minutes left when after yet another blatant foul ignored by the referee this time, Murray was forced to retire, with another local man Denver Gage taking his place. Denny was straight into the action with a headed clearance from a corner by the home team and two minutes later was I thought harshly adjudged to have fouled Thompson when it looked as if the Linfield man was 'backing' in.

Referee Crangle, unlike the infidel McCourt on United's last visit to Windsor, rightly disallowed a goal for the home team when keeper Brown was fouled as he came for the ball. Andy Smith, forever the diplomat, demonstrated to Brown how he should come for crosses in future and then he wouldn't have to rely on the fickleness of referees. Brown came to United's rescue twice more first with a good smothering save and then a punch as two men closed in. During this spell of heavy pressure, Gavin Taggart put us under more pressure with a few loose passes and Mike Smith after a brilliant interception and dribble away from trouble needlessly gave the ball away.

Referee Crangle found four minutes of stoppage time from somewhere and actually managed to stretch it to five. United were not to be undone at this stage however and manager Walker didn't even use the ploy of bringing on his last sub, content to allow the players on the pitch to hold their end up to the finish. When the final whistle came the United fans were on their feet cheering wildly and it was after all only a draw, but what a draw. We went to the league champions, took everything they could throw at us and probably with a little bit more composure, ah well as they say, that's life!

Brown (8), M. Smith (7), Colligan (7), Albert (8), Archie (7), Berry (7)Sub: (McDowell, 7), Taggart (6), Gazza (7), Murray (7)Sub: (Denny, 7), Andy (8), Cutch (7),
Man of the match: Albert Watson