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