Cutch Clincher!

United manager Roy Walker intimated last week that his players might need some shooting practice after missing a hatful of chances against the D.C. at Suffolk Road. Gary McCutcheon, based in Stranraer, obviously didn't benefit from it in his training at Stranraer and he had to practice it during today's game. His luck was out during the first-half, when his 3 shots all failed to find the target. In the 2nd half he got his sights in, off target with his first effort, his 2nd skimmed the crossbar and his third, but wait I'm getting ahead of myself here, let's talk about the quick-fire start that produced a goal for both teams after only 12 mins. Manager Walker made only one change to his starting line-up, Archie returning at leftback and Colligan dropping down to the bench and what a selection that turned out to be.

United Captain Gazza, also sprung a surprise, with United electing to attack their favourite goals at the Fisherwick end in the 1st half. United took the lead after only 5 minutes, when Archie took a throw-in to Cutch near the by-line and when he fed it back to Archie, the defender's cross found the head of Gibbo and he headed past Armstrong in the Portadown net, his 4th goal in a United jersey. United spurned a glorious chance to double their lead, but Cutch failed to find the target after a Mike Smith cross. This miss proved rather costly as the Ports broke down the right after 12 mins and Denver allowed Braniff to get his cross in and he found the head of Boyle, who beat Nelson all ends up.

This was our usual failing of letting crosses come in, instead of closing players down, a recipe for disaster. Cutch missed a glorious chance to restore the lead, but again failed to find the target, when sent clear by Hanly. With 20 mins on the clock we got a lucky break, when in a carbon copy of their equaliser, Boyle somehow headed over after United had given a Ports player a free run from his own half. Some of the visitors tackling was 'hard' to put it mildly and referee Burns finally cautioned McCabe for a late challenge. A rare slip by Albert allowed Boyle to wriggle past, but the United stalwart somehow got back to make a saving tackle, while visiting fans and management, cried foul, referee Burns however waved play on. United players somehow failed to get on the end of a Hanly free kick, which just needed a touch.

Sparky and Mikey Smith were linking well up the right and after one especially good run out of defence, I thought surely someone should have got on the end of Mikey's cross. Cutch missed the target yet again, but his shots were getting closer, while Denver failed with a close range header from a Hanly corner. Murray was having, for him a quiet game, but in one rare foray down the right, he passed to Mikey, who in turn passed to Gibbo, when a return to Murray would have been a better option.United assistant manager Wesley Gregg was in the dug-out as manager Walker serves a 3 match touch-line ban for asking to have a word with referee Davey Malcolm during United's game at the Oval. One wonders what would have happened if he had told Davey the truth, but then Davey would never admit to owing a guide dog, halftime was reached with the sides level at 1-1.

2nd Half
United continued to probe the visitors defence but Cutch failed to find the target after yet another Hanly pass. Assistant manager Gregg sent his subs out to warm up as Albert went down clutching his chest. Albert had been on top form and it was a worrying time as the physio came on, but the Sandy Row man was able to continue after a drink from the 'magic' bottle. With Albert back to full fitness United continued to dominate proceedings and in fact it was a glorious 40 yard pass from Albert to Murray, which broke the deadlock. Murray trapped the ball perfectly, jinked past his marker and delivered a slide-rule pass to Hanley who beat Armstrong with a right-foot shot in the 68th minute, his 4th goal in a United jersey also.

As if this goal wasn't bad enough for the visitors, McCabe drew another yellow card for a bad tackle on Gazza and as it was his 2nd, he was dismissed. Two minutes later substitute Lecky should've joined him when he clearly elbowed Denver, but just got a yellow. United seemed to lose their way a wee bit after this sending off but Gibbo found Cutch with a through ball and the wee man drove a left-foot shot which just skimmed the crossbar. The visitors were devoid of ideas in this half, relying on high balls into the box, which were 'bread and butter' for Albert and Denver. United finally put the match to bed in the 89th minute, when Gibbo found Cutch once more and the flying Scotsman left his marker for dead, before slamming the ball past Armstrong, to make the points safe, his fifth goal in a United jersey.

With the game into injury time United made a late substitution, with Colligan replacing Archie, a move which Archie didn't look too happy about. Referee Burns didn't prolong the agony for the visitors and blew the final whistle. The United fans were on their feet, applauding the team with relief as much as anything. It was after all only our 2nd home win and with 3 more home fixtures in a row we needed to find some sort of form and it was also our first fixture with our 'new' stand open for the first time, no doubt the Linfield fans will road test it it in a couple of weeks time, I for one can hardly wait!

Nelson (7), Sparky (7), Archie (7)(Sub: Colligan 7,), Albert (8), Denver (7), Mikey (7), Hanly (8), Gazza (7), Murray (8), Gibbo (8), Cutch (7)

Man of the match: Albert Watson