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