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