Turned Over!

Whoever said 'lightening doesn't strike twice' obviously wasn't a football fan. D.C. languishing at the bottom of the Irish Premier league came to the Showgrounds today with memories of their last visit, when they deservedly trounced the home team 4-0. They came within a whisker of repeating that scoreline today, being thwarted by United's 'man of the match', Ryan Brown, who made two truly wonderful saves. Of course there was a bit of controversy when D.C. took the lead as there was a blatant offside ignored by the linesman, but the goal was allowed to stand, mush to the chagrin of the United defence. That goal came in the 30th minute, but by then this benevolent United team had missed three easy chances. One of the culprits was out of form striker Cutch, while only Mikey knows how he screwed a shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

D.C. obviously couldn't believe their luck when United failed to take their chances and Ryan Brown pulled off a wondrous save to deny Mark Dickson after the United defence went asleep at a throw-in. I have always complained bitterly about this United teams inability to defend set-pieces (e.g. corners, free kicks and throw-ins) and this chance epitomises exactly what our problem is. A throw-in to D.C. played back to the thrower, who in our kindness we have failed to mark, he has ample time to thread a perfect cross for Dickson whose header was miraculously pushed over the bar by keeper Brown. Then from the resultant corner we went asleep once more allowing them to get a free header which fortunately missed the target. We were then caught out by a linesman whose interpretation of the offside rule obviously is at variance with the norm.

Manager Walker, went into this game with Andy Smith partnering Cutch, but with no back-up strikers on the bench, a sad case of affairs. Andy, was his usual inept self, running about, feigning to jump for headers and fooling nobody but himself. He did however win a free kick, which Caff rolled to Mikey, who failed to find the target with a left-foot shot. We did mange 3 shots on target in the first half but they were all straight at the keeper and we were missing the guile of winger Murray. A look at the United bench didn't augur well for any positive changes, with Mo possibly the only real attacking player there. Rory Carson was there also, but he is well short of full fitness, while Gavin Taggart, Paul McAreavey and the untried Lee McCaughern, were unlikely to spice up our attack.

2nd half
Ten minutes into the second half and Walker decided to 'change for change' sakes and the man he chose to substitute was Sparky. Why Sparky I wonder, he could have taken any body off as they were all way below par, but he chose Sparky, bringing on Mo, surely a more positive move would have been to take off the 'headless chicken' and push Sparky up front. Cutch missed yet another chance when with the goal at his mercy he shot against the post and the ball rebounded to safety. Roy then perpetrated another gaffe, taking off Captain Gazza, the man who wears his heart on his sleeve, bringing on Rory in his place. Rory's first two touches showed how badly off form he is and he needs a few games under his belt to regain his full fitness and zest for the game.

The United defence went asleep at another corner when they allowed the visitors a free header at the far post, while Andy Smith on the goal-line could only help it into the net. Five minutes later Big Denver allowed Dickson to get goal-side of him, then fouled him and was rightly sent off as he was the last defender, crowning a miserable week for the Clough man. The resultant penalty was coolly dispatched past the diving Brown to make the score 3-0 to the bottom team in the league. Ryan Brown came to United's rescue on two more occasions when D.C. scythed through a couple of lack lustre tackles, while at the other end United were devoid of ideas and a place in the top six now looks beyond them. In fact if things don't improve and quickly, they could find themselves in danger of dropping even further down the table. The time has come to get the 'fingers out' and show a wee bit of pride, otherwise things can only get worse!

Brown (7), Sparky (5)(Sub: Mo 5,), Archie (5), Denver (5), Albert (5), Mikey (5) Caff (6), Gazza (6)(Sub: Carson 5,), Colligan (5), Andy (4), Cutch (5)

Man of the match: Ryan Brown

By Example!

All one can ask of a leader is to lead by example and at the Showgrounds today our leader, Captain Gazza, did just that. With just 4 mins on the 2nd half clock up stepped Gazza to blast the ball into the net and show the 'shot shy United forwards how. United should've went on and won the game after that but a combination of poor finishing and last ditch 'scum' defending meant they had to settle for a point, which in turn dropped them out of the top six. United manager Roy Walker made one change to his starting line-up with on-loan Aaron Boyd replacing Andy Smith, while Sparky dropped back to rightback allowing Mikey to be switched to right midfield. United started slowly and only an interception saved them from going a goal down early on. They also had a let-off when the whole defence went asleep and allowed the visitors two free headers which luckily came to nothing.

Big Denver, the subject of an I.F.A. inquiry into the singing of sectarian songs at the recent Scotland /Norn Iron game, also rescued the home team with a clearing header, when keeper Ryan Brown stood rooted on his goal-line. United weathered the Coleraine storm and began to put together a couple of attacks of their own. Lee Colligan jinked his way into the visitors box after good work by Murray and Cutch, but his driven cross was cleared for a corner. Then Cutch got on the end of a Caff cross but was unable to force the ball home, a strikers dream chance, while a Mikey shot just shaved the post. The Coleraine scum-bags then took the lead, when Mukendi clearly fouled Albert at a corner, before heading into the net, but referee Turkington allowed the score to stand. United tried to force their way back into the game, but couldn't find the vital pass although Murray came close with a rasping shot but it was straight at Davey 'fat' O'Hare.

2nd half
Albert almost levelled the scores 2 mins into the half when he headed a Mikey corner just over, but 2 mins later we were level. A Lee Colligan throw-in was partially cleared but United Captain Gazza caught it on the half-volley and blasted a left-foot shot into the net with 'fat' Davey rooted to his goal-line. This was the fillip the game needed and we all waited in anticipation for United to pound the gas men into the ground. Although Aaron Boyd was proving a handful for the visitors defence, he was for the most part fighting a losing battle as Cutch was a virtual passenger for most of the 2nd half. Caff, who had been disappointing in the first period was beginning to look like a player and was probably the most surprised man in the stadium when he was substituted, with Andy Smith replacing him.

This meant a whole shake-up in the United midfield and I thought contributed little to the cause. Next, to my utter amazement, he took Boyd off, bringing on Taggart of all people, was he happy with the point I wondered and with 10 mins remaining he took off Murray and brought on Mo. Mo almost became the hero when his shot from the edge of the box actually squirmed under 'fat' Davey's body (an impossibility given how much lard is on his frame I would have thought), but he just managed to stop it on the line. Lee Colligan was cautioned for an alleged dive, which I'd like to see on video', while at the other end Knight was ruled offside after being put through by Carson. Andy Smith burst through after a mistake by defender Ogilby, but was surprisingly caught up by the slow Mukendi who made a saving tackle. Big Denver saw a header from the resultant corner, cleared off the line and I knew then it wasn't going to be. Despite the 2 mins of added time United were unable to push home their advantage and had to settle for an unsatisfactory draw.

Brown (6), Sparky (6), Colligan (6), Denver (7), Albert (7), Mikey (7), Gazza (8), Caff (7)(Sub: Andy 6,), Murray (6)(Sub: Mo 6,), Cutch (5), A. Boyd (7)(Sub: Taggart 6),

Man of the match: Gazza

Slow Learners!

There's an old saying that says you 'learn by your mistakes', unfortunately for United they didn't 'learn' last night and it cost them dearly. Glentoran had put us under pressure throughout the game forcing at least a dozen corners, which we had dealt with okay, there was a couple of close shaves but generally we had defended them well. One hour into the game the Belfast side won another corner and this time it was delivered to the far post where, Sparky of all people was found wanting giving Glens player Leeman a free header and we were lucky to merely concede another corner. Sparky acknowledged his mistake, but was beaten once more at the far post and when the ball was partially cleared, Glens midfielder Clark rifled the ball into the net. That was the end of the game really as United were almost completely devoid of ideas on how to break the Glens down.

As intimated on Sky Blue Sport, Archie was unfit and Denver replaced him, while Sparky replaced Aaron Boyd, who dropped to the bench. Captain Gazza came in for Berry partnering Caff in centre midfield, while Andy Smith played on the left wing where he had a better game, but still not anywhere near his best. United, as is there wont took a while to get going and it was the visitors who looked the most likely to score early on. The United defence weren't helped by keeper Brown's reluctance to leave his line and as a result a few attacks resulted in corners which could and should have been tidied by the keeper. In one attack the ball actually flashed past the keeper when it looked easier to intercept it. Then during another onslaught he punched the ball when he surely could've caught it.

We somehow got through this period and began to subject the visitors to a bit of pressure ourselves. Referee Burns, who earlier had failed to at least caution Glens forward Fordyce for a deliberate elbow on Denver, denied United a penalty when Cutch was fouled in the box, somehow he gave a free kick to the visitors. Cutch then forced a good save from Morris and from the follow-up, Caff's shot just skimmed the crossbar. Eamon Murray was again not at his best, but he did feed Sparky on the right but his effort was blocked for a corner. After seemingly having an abundance of left-footed players, we now have no-one capable of taking an in-swinging corner from the right and in fact Mikey, our fullback, takes all corners. This situation needs to be rectified as we have no variety in our corners and they're all too predictable. Also with Glens keeper Morris unable to take goal-kicks surely we should have been pushing up and pressuring them. Halftime was reached with the match scoreless and it was hard to see how we were going to change that.

2nd half
Ten minutes into the 2nd period Walker took off Andy and brought on Aaron Boyd, which meant Murray switching to the left. This actually had a negative effect rather than the positive one and we were unable to exert any pressure on Glens keeper Morris, who by this time was clearly in extreme pain and should've been at our mercy. Surely the better option would have been to switch Sparky to rightback, move Mikey up to right-midfield and push Andy into an attacking role. If that didn't work there was still an option to change things round,but now it was too late, although Sparky could still have switched.

Maybe though in hindsight that would have been a bad idea as Sparky, who up to then had been one of our better players, messed up badly in the 63rd minute, which lead to the Glens taking the lead. Manager Walker's response to this setback was to first almost immediately, take off Captain Gazza with Young replacing him and then bring on Gavin 'westy' Taggart with 10 minutes remaining. These two substitution were basically 'like for like', and were surly just done to do something. What we needed was someone with the ability to get behind the Glens defence as our attempts to bulldoze our way through were ineffective.

United did create one good chance when Murray burst into the box, dribbled past a defender and his fierce shot was parried by Morris, but no United player could get on the end of it. The visitors missed a few chances to make the game safe and a Waterworth shot clipped the crossbar with Brown stranded. But the Glens weren't to be denied and they duly wrapped up the points a minute from time with a second goal. For the second game running the United fans who outnumbered their opposing fans again by at least 5-1,saw their side cave-in, this is just not good enough and something needs to be done sooner, rather than later.

Brown (5), Mikey (6), Colligan (5), Albert (5), Denver (6), Murray (5), Caff (6)(Sub: Taggart 6,), Gazza (6)(Sub: Young 6,), Andy (6),Sub: Boyd (5), Sparky (6), Cutch (5)

Man of the match: Caff

Clueless United!

After three hard fought draws on the road, I suppose United had to come down to earth with a bump, but why had it to be tonight of all nights. This is the one game United fans expect their players to give their all in, but it's not happening, in fact they seem to reserve their most insipid performances for when they have a decent home crowd. The Coleraine scum took all three points, courtesy of a Kyle McVeigh penalty, after Leon Knight had his legs whipped from under him in the box. The foul was attributed to Lee Colligan, one of Saturday's heroes, but tonight one of many zeroes. Few of tonight's team wrapped themselves in glory and manager Roy Walker must shoulder the blame for the weird formation he settled upon.

The United manager made one change to his starting line-up of last Saturday, with on-loan striker Aaron Boyd starting in place of the suspended Sparky. This necessitated Andy dropping into centre-midfield and team Captain Gazza (a no nonsense centre-midfielder, being on the bench), where the logic is to this I'm sure I don't know. The story of the first half was mainly about an inept linesman who only flagged once for an offside when there were about 10 incidents and three 'sitters' missed, two for United and one for the scum. Cutch was heavily involved in both chances for the home team.

Firstly he burst through on goal and then shot tamely at Davey 'fat' O'Hare, a great chance missed. Then in almost a carbon copy, after taking the ball round the stranded fat man, he elected to pass where Eamon Murray fluffed his shot with the goal at his mercy. At the other end scum forward Mukendi messed up after slipping past his marker but with only the keeper to beat couldn't find the target. The visitors had already missed another chance when United keeper Brown failed to cut out a cross but luckily for him nobody could make him pay dearly for his indiscretion.

Young striker Aaron Boyd was getting no change out of the scum defence, while the midfield of Andy, Caff, Eamon and Ryan Berry were not at the races. It was obvious to everyone in the ground that changes would have to be made at halftime if United were to turn this game on it's head. Too many players were performing way below the standard required and where oh where was the passion, this was after all allegedly our biggest game of the season. Something was missing from the equation, there was no 'heart' in the team, that never say die attitude and it was desperately needed.

2nd half
Unfortunately our manager seemed to be trying to prove a point as he continued with the same players, but at least he tried to 'spice' things up when he changed to a 4,3,3 formation, but to no avail. Bad enough as this was our defenders then became extremely benevolent, passing back to keeper Brown, when it wasn't entirely necessary and when he 'messed' up, they still continued to involve him. Chief culprit here was Caff, whose first move seems to be back and invariably involves the keeper. I'm a firm believer in the old adage, the best means of defence is attack, while you're pussyfooting around in your own half you're asking for trouble and it invariably finds you.

With 20 minutes remaining Roy finally acted taking off Aaron Boyd and Berry and bringing on Matthew Boyd and Paul McAreavey. By then I think it was too late but United did manage to create one piece of magic. Albert (who collected a commemorative cup before the game for reaching the 300 game mark in a United shirt), came bounding forward, played a one two with McAreavey before releasing Murray down the right. Eamon cut into the box and drove a cross into the box, but neither Cutch or Matthew Boyd were willing to throw themselves at the ball and the chance was lost.

Almost immediately the game was taken away from United when Knight was upended in the box by Lee and Kyle McVeigh gave the scum a somewhat undeserved 1-0 lead from the penalty spot. You could almost see the United heads drop, surely now was the time for a final sub, bringing on Gazza or Denver, pushing them up to try and get something, but Roy like his biblical nemesis Nero, fiddled and took no action. United have just managed to hang onto 5th place but it's a lot tighter at the top now than it needed to be. With 8 games left it looks like it could go to the last game before it's decided, I hope my heart can stand the strain!

Brown (6), Mikey (6), Lee (5), Albert (7), Archie (6), Berry (5)(Sub: McAreavey (5), Andy (5), Caff (5), Murray (5), Cutch (5), Aaron Boyd (5)(Sub: M. Boyd 5,)

Man of the match: Albert Watson

Drawn Blinds!

United manager Roy Walker made one change to his starting line-up from last Saturday, with as expected big Denver omitted, Archie moved inside, Lee back to leftback and Ryan Berry got a rare start in right midfield. Mikey, who has been the subject of transfer talk was both a villain and a hero today, one he'll want to forget and the other he'll want to cherish. The home team looked a little sluggish today and it was United who dominated the early exchanges and Murray was hacked down as he cut inside. He came closer shortly after with a right-foot shot as he cut inside, after Berry set him up. United's central defender, Albert looked as if he had no energy today, repeatedly gasping for breath, but he should've given his team the lead when he sent a free header wide from a Mikey corner when it looked easier to score.

The home team stepped up the pace a wee bit after this, aided and abetted by some weird decisions by referee Davey Malcolm. On one occasion after an attempted clearance by Archie had ricocheted off a Cliftonville player and went for a goalkick, the linesman couldn't decide what it was, so Davey gave a corner, obviously the team in possession draws no favours from Davey. Cutch and Andy Smith up front were not cutting the mustard, while Albert was struggling at the back. From a corner by the home team their central defender headed over with no United defenders in attention, poor defending. As the United keeper prepared to take the goalkick, Albert went down injured, but it was obvious he was suffering not from injury but exhaustion.

Unfortunately the United physio decided he should carry on instead of being substituted immediately, which looked like the more obvious solution. Admittedly it was close to halftime and Albert seemed okay as he tidied up after a Cliftonville raid. The fourth official had just indicated that there would be one minute of added time when disaster struck. A through ball down the left flank allowed Chris Scannell to get behind the United defence and as Archie closed him down he rolled the ball back to Caldwell whom Mikey had left unattended. The former D.C. player ghosted past the struggling Albert and shrugged off the attentions of Mikey before rifling the ball into the net as Brown attempted to close him down. United barely had time to take the centre before the referee called the first half to an end.

2nd half
As expected Albert didn't appear for the second half, so Captain Gazza came on and Sparky moved into the back four. Disaster struck after just a minute though when United failed to clear their lines keeper Brown was caught off his line and an overhead kick from Reds player Holland, bounced over the line via the crossbar. With United 2-0 down obviously a change had to be made and it looked as if Andy or the out of touch Cutch would make way for one of the Boyds or maybe both. Roy of course had other ideas and he took off Berry and brought on on-loan Aaron Boyd, with Smith dropping back to midfield and United going for a 3,5,2 formation. The introduction of young Aaron changed the whole complexity of the match and it was fitting that he played a big part in the goal which brought them back into the match.

His 'never-say-die' attitude created a chance out of nothing when he blocked an attempted clearance and the ball fell nicely for him and his pass was met by the inrushing Murray who blasted his seventh goal of the season to bring United back into the match. That goal came in the 59th minute and Boyd missed a glorious chance moments later when he failed to get his head to a Colligan cross with the goal gaping. But United weren't to be denied for long and they carved out a delightful equaliser. Cutch, who wasn't on his best game played a major role as he held off two defenders, before releasing Colligan down the left wing. Colligan sent in a dangerous cross and Mikey became the hero when he won the ball before pushing it into the net.

United were denied two good penalty claims when first Boyd and then Cutch were fouled as they burst into the box. Home keeper Connelly went down injured and the game was held up for a good four minutes while he received treatment. The home team made two substitutions and one of the players was Ronan Scannell, who later had to be carried off. Andy Smith, playing a wee bit better, attempted to block a clearance by scorer Caldwell and the player needless kicked the United man which drew an automatic red card. United fans were amazed to see the fourth official intimate that there would only be four minutes of stoppage time, when the keeper had been down for four minutes and we'd had four subs, surely a minimum of six minutes should've been allowed.

Of course it was Davey Malcolm who only earns £80 an hour and doesn't believe in unpaid overtime, obviously. During stoppage time Ronan Scannell went down injured and had to be stretchered off with what looked like ligament damage, hopefully he'll make a quick recovery. United had a chance to take all three points when they won a free kick on the edge of the box, but Caff's shot sailed over the bar and the chance was lost. Cliftonville to their credit didn't sit back on their haunches and pushed us all the way, but our defence in which Archie was outstanding held out against the home teams endeavours. I thought Walker might bring on a fresh pair of legs for the closing minutes, but obviously he was happy to draw the blinds. When the final whistle sounded the United fans applauded for a good five minutes, it was a good result, but it could've and should've been even better!

Brown (6), Mikey (8), Lee (8), Albert (6)(Sub: Gazza 7,), Archie (8), Berry (7)(Sub: A. Boyd (8), Sparky (7), Caff (7), Murray (8), Andy (6), Cutch (7)

Man of the match: Eamon Murray