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