Swifts Biffed!

Rusty Ray writes.. From being knocked out of the Irish cup as holders to effectively losing the first divison title at Stangmore Park, Dungannon Swifts have always given us trouble and most certainly are United's bogey team. These games rarely pass without incident and Saturday's game was no different. Roy Walker dropped Ryan Brown after some clangers in previous matches and his replacement Dwyane Nelson certainly repaid the manager with a near 'man of the match' performance.

Dungannon took the kick off and kicked the ball straight to Dwyane and he promptly kicked the ball down the left wing. Murray out paced his man took the ball to the by line and crossed left footed for the onrushing Cutch to score with a diving header, 1 nil United. After this we hardly got a touch of the ball and Dungannon dominance paid of when Henderson was allowed to carry the ball up the field unchallenged and hit a unstoppable shot into the top right corner.

They continued to press us and from a cross from their left a Dungannon man header the ball off the cross bar. As United cleared the ball former player Craig Mcclean came in with a rash two footed challenger on Mikey and was rightly sent off. A melee then ensued with every player on the pitch involved yet United Captain Gazza was the only man booked. After Lee Colligan had fooled one of their players a Dungannon man pushed Lee to the ground yet the referee didnt book him but spoke to Lee. The match continued to half time with United continuing to squander possesion thumping the ball long up field rather than trying to find their men.

2nd Half

Andy Smith was taken off at half time replaced by Richrad Gibson and our tatic was obviously to hit it to the big man and react to his flick on's. The second goal came from a free kick taken on the right hand side in our half. Albert played the ball to Murray who chested it down to Lee, Lee then played a one two with Murray and crossed the ball which deflected off a Dungannon player and dropped to the feet of Cutch. Cutch tricked his man took the ball to his left and then hit an unstoppable left foot shot into the far corner of the net. 2-1 United.

United continued to pile the pressure on and a Mikey cross had Sean O'Neill flapping and he dropped the ball at Gazza's feet. Our Captain cut inside O'Neill and chipped the ball right footed into the far corner but unfortunately this was headed off the line. From antoher Smith cross Gibson flicked the ball onto Cutch, who cut inside and hit a great shot which hit the cross bar.

Then from a Dungannon attack the ball was half cleared and their player picked up the ball on the left hand side of the box and as he was going away from the goal Gavin Taggart, who had replaced the ineffective Ryan Berry, stupdidly pushed him off the ball, penalty to Dungganon. The penalty was struck low to Nelson's left but he got down well and saved it. Then after Lee had fouled one of the their players Mullan kicked the ball against Taggart and was rightly sent off.

Shortly after this Roy Walker was sent to the stand for who know's what and then after a long punt up the field was headed across goal and Dungannon scored but thankfully this was ruled out for offside. Surgy was then injured after being fouled when heading the ball and had to be replaced with Mo coming on and Smith moving to right back. Later Mo went down the right took the ball to the by line and crossed the ball to Taggart who was ruled offside even though he appeared to be level with Mo.

Dungannon continued to hit the ball long and put us under pressure and rather than use our two man advantage and try and stretch them we continued to thump the ball long which eventually paid of with their defender missing the ball which dropped to Cutch on the edge of the box clean through. Rather than trap the ball and run in on O'Neill's goal he hit a tame shot first time which trickled into the keepers arms.

Luckily we held firm despite their pressure and without playing well, after four long years finally beat those boys.

Nelson 8
Surgenor 7
Watson 8
Stewart 6
Colligan 7
M Smith 7
Haveron 8
Berry 6
Murray 7
Cutch 8
A Smith 5

Subs
Gibson 7 for A Smith
Taggart 6 for Berry
Mo 6 for Surgeonor

Man of the Match Cutch