Corner Boys!

United made only one change to their starting eleven of Tuesday night, with Eamon Murray replacing the injured Rory Carson. This move meant that Hanley moved to centre-midfield and Murray slotting into a wide left position. Gibbo and Hanley were making their home debuts and it was fitting that they were both involved when United opened the scoring after only 8 minutes. Handley swung over a corner from the right and Gibbo found his strike partner Cutch who in turn found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season with a firm header. What a change from United's last home game which ended in an inglorious defeat at the hands of Donegal Celtic as during the first half today they were a completely different prospect. Soon after Mike smith saw his left-foot shot just clear the crossbar after a one two with Gibbo.

United were in the ascendency in the first half and looked likely to add to their score, when the 'blight' of football reared it's ugly head. This was the disgraceful scene of a player feigning a serious injury in order to get another player cautioned. This is a deplorable action at the best of times but when it is practised by a former player it is even more galling. Gibbo and former United defender Kieran Donaghy met in a challenge for a fifty/fifty ball, only for the reds defender to roll about writhing in agony in order to get the Ballymena player booked. Referee Colin Burns, not the smartest joker in the pack, fell for it 'hook line and sinker' cautioning the United striker, while Donaghy didn't even have the decency to limp off, what a con artist.

United almost doubled their lead midway through the half when Archie was involved in a double one/two. First he exchanged passes with Murray and then raced onto a lay-off from Gibbo, before shooting with his right-foot and visiting keeper Connelly could only parry the defenders shot, before it was hooked to safety. I must confess I didn't know Archie even had a right-foot, never mind having the ability to shoot with it. The visitors came into the game a bit more as the half went on, aided and abetted by a linesman at the Fisherwick end who continually missed blatant offsides. The United defence was clinging on and keeper Dwayne Nelson kept them in the game with a finger tip save. Referee Burns drew the wrath of United fans when Murray was scythed down when clean through by the last man, surely a red card, but the inept official took no action, merely awarding the free kick. Hanley's effort ballooned miles over the bar, a terrible waste.


The visitors were revitalised after this lifeline and attacked the home defence with renewed vigour. A goal looked imminent but when it came, a minute before halftime, it wasn't without controversy. The linesman at the Fisherwick end, although for the umpteenth time not up with play, agreed with visiting forward Chris Scannell that home keeper Nelson had carried the ball over the goal-line and a corner was given. When the corner came in Arch villain, Kieran Donaghy, headed the ball across goal and his defensive partner Peter Hutton rose unchallenged to head the equaliser. Referee Burns found 2 minutes of added time and during this extra period the United defence were clinging on for dear life and we all breathed a sigh of relief at the halftime whistle.

2nd Half

United didn't come out for the 2nd period and should've been blown away during a ten minute spell when the visitors appeared to break the offside trap at will (was the linesman at the Farm Lodge end having a sleep now I wondered) and luckily for the United defence after Scannell had rounded keeper Nelson, he somehow missed the target. Nelson then made a good save at the feet of Reds forward, Garret but United were still under the cosh. United fans were calling for a change to be made, but manager Walker was oblivious to their pleas and stuck manfully to his guns. United had another let-off when a shot from new Reds boy, Barry Johnstone, beat Nelson but smacked the crossbar (I say new boy, but Johnstone is in his third spell at Solitude, so hardly qualifies as a new boy, now does he?).

United gradually began to get a foothold in the 2nd half and Cutch saw an effort blocked by the visiting defence after a nice pass from Murray. Gavin Taggart, who has come on leaps and bounds since his low against the D.C. was directing matters from midfield and Murray began to make even more probing runs at the visitor's defence. Finally Rip Van Walker awoke from his slumbers and took off Sparky and brought on Mo, with Mike Smith moving back to right-back. The Reds also rang the changes and I for one was glad to see the back of Stephen Garret, who in his Newry days was a constant 'thorn in the flesh' for the Sky Blues. A nice move up the left flank saw Murray chopped down inside the box, but referee Burns decided he had 'dived', but why would he as he was 'clean through' on goal, yet another diabolical decision.

With time running out it was obvious that whoever scored the next goal would take the points and United began to step up the pace with Mo and Murray both showing some wing wizardry. Mo was unceremoniously chopped down as he sped down the right flank, which brought the United fans to their feet in condemnation. United had one final chance to wrap up the points when Gage got his head to a Hanley corner but the ball flew past Connelly's right post, when surely hitting the target was of prime importance. Despite referee Burns finding three minutes of stoppage time, when only four substitutions were made, there was no further scoring and the spoils were shared. In the end probably a fair result, but with a little bit of luck and a strong referee (is there such a thing I ask you?), United could've taken all three!

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

Man of the match: Nathan Handley