Our Nero!

Historians tell us that Roman Emperor Nero sat and fiddled while Rome burned, no he didn't play the violin, he just sat in his throne and did nothing. When Ballymena were losing to Carrick Rangers last night, Roy Walker sat in his box and did nothing, the 'body language' said it all (or lack of it), Roy and his back-room staff were devoid of ideas and resigned themselves to yet another home defeat. Sky Blue Sport urged him to try the two new defenders, Watson and Vauls at some stage during the proceedings. But Roy completely ignored our suggestion, picking the same side that so unconvincingly won at Donegal Celtic and when we were chasing the game couldn't bring on either of them and move another defender forward. On this showing, he obviously doesn't care about the 'long-suffering' Sky Blue supporters and I think his time is up.

We lost two nil and that was hard to take, but even harder to take was the way we played. We kept knocking the long ball up even though the Carrick defence won everything in the air, no idea on how to break the stalemate. Jenks, who has relinquished the Captaincy, isn't the player he was purported to be and it is hard to justify his boat fare over on his displays so far. United are certainly living to the Ballymena 'High' nickname, with the third highest goals for total, but on the reverse we also have third highest goals against column, for the record 10 for and 11 against. This makes for disgraceful reading and we are where we belong in the league table, in the bottom six and I think on this showing we have further to fall.
Our joint leading goalscorers missed two sitters in the first half with free headers, the Cutch one was bad enough, straight at the keeper, but Baker done everything right, stealing a march on his marker to get a free header on Ally Teggart's free-kick, but headed over with the goal at his mercy.

That was as good as it got, Jenks forced Keenan, the Carrick, into a save and despite forcing several corners, they were 'bread and butter' for the Carrick defence. United paid dearly for this benevolence in front of goal when Carrick were awarded a free-kick about 30 yards from goal. The United defensive wall let the kick by former United defender Davey McAlinden through their legs and Nelson in the Ballymena goal could do nothing about it. Carrick had purpose about them and they had subjected our defence to what they don't like with long throw-ins and we were panicky. Luckily we survived to halftime without conceding any more goals, foolishly thinking Roy would do something about in his halftime team-talk.

2nd half
We took the field with the same players and tried to play the same dross, which had little or no effect and it was obvious a change would have to be made. Chris Rodgers filling at rightback as Tony Kane serves the last of two match ban and Eamon Murray, not back his best yet, made way for Costello and the fit again Sparky. It really was like for like, Costello is useless in the air and he has singularly failed to fulfil the promise of his first match in United jersey. I was personally worried about Archie and his failure to cope with the Carrick number 9, but Roy couldn't obviously substitute his 'golden boy'. He had no qualms about sacking Gazza in the close season, but couldn't see that Archie was struggling as he has done all season. The crowd were getting restless, the Ballymena bench just sat in their box and you could see the defence panicking every time Carrick attacked.

Then it happened, a Carrick forward broke away down the right, Archie completely missed his tackle, the forward cut-in, his cross deflected into the the path of Heatly who had the easiest task of making the score 2-0. We were a beaten team but credit to the lads they kept on trying, unlike their management team who sat and fiddled. We had only used two subs, but the bench were devoid of ideas. I must mention an unsavoury incident which no way was a reflection on the match as a whole, when the whole-hearted Gavin Taggart, tackled a Carrick player in a midfield collision and the player started yelling like his leg was broke and then immediately got up when he saw Gavin got booked, this has got no place in football and the referee should have surely taken his name for play-acting, but referee Courtenay (Ham-Shank), took no action.

Nelson (6), Rodgers (5)( Sub: Sparky 6,), Cookie (6), Archie (5), R. Black (6), Murray (5)(Sub: Elvis 5,), Jenks (5), G. Taggart (5), Ally (6), Cutch (5), Baker (5)

Man of the match: Alan Teggart

Late Show!

United left it late to snatch victory in the last minute of normal time by the 3-2, at Suffolk Road, the home of the D.C. Manager Walker, who signed two more defenders this week, restored number 2 keeper Dwayne Nelson, but on this showing we still need a reliable keeper. Ross Black came back into the leftback role and Cookie Munster was left to form a partnership with Archie, with Rodgers switching to rightback in place of the suspended Tony Kane. Gavin Teggart got the nod to partner Jenks in midfield, with Ally and Eamon on the wings. As expected Elvis, was relegated to subs bench and Cutch and Baker were the strikers. I was wondering how the new defence would cope with pressure but got my answer in just 8 minutes. The linesman flagged for a D.C. player in an offside position, but referee Ross Dunlop completely ignored him and instead gave foul against United at the halfway line. When the free kick was taken, the United defence allowed D.C. forward McAllister, time to turn and beat Dwayne from the edge of the box, with the ball just going in under the bar.

United began to exert some pressure of their own after this set-back, but weren't helped by referee Dunlop, ignoring a blatant push on Cutch. Despite forcing a couple of corners United weren't able to make former keeper 'Goosey' Robinson into a worthwhile save. Eamon Murray was showing some nice touches, but United seemed unable to find the telling pass that would unlock the home defence. Ross Black thought he had, but Goosey earned his wages tipping the ball over the bar, but the referee and linesman give a goal-kick. This seemed to upset the United midfield and the defence was lucky to scramble the ball for a corner. The corner eluded the attackers and fell nicely to Ally, who in turn delivered a long pass to Cutch on the left wing. The wee Scotsman beat his marker with consummate ease and then crossed for his strike partner Baker to score with a bullet of a header, leaving Goosey no chance. Both teams tried to get gain the advantage after this but they had to settle for a share of spoils at halftime.

2nd Half
This was better half from United and the home team were pinned in their half for most it but were always dangerous on breakaways. Eamon Murray, back to his best, had one scintillating run when he beat five men, but Baker couldn't supply the finishing touch. As so often happens in matches it was the home team who scored in the 57 minute and the United defence were at sixes and sevens and McAllister the eventual scorer was allowed run 10 yards before curing right-foot shot past Nelson, a great goal, but the marking was non-existent. Back came United and when Cutch won a foul on the edge of the box, about 10 yards from the right touchline, Ross Black curled a majestic free-kick into the top corner to tie the scores with 23 minutes to play. United then had a couple of lucky let-offs, one when Dwayne dropped the ball and a home player hurriedly screwed his shot wide and another when McAllister was bearing down on goal and Dwayne drove him wide and we managed to clear the danger.

It was obvious a change would have to be made and Eamon was substituted by Elvis, although the D.C. announcer got it wrong and told us that in fact Eamon Murray had come on and Jordan Baker had went off, lucky for us, he was wrong. With Elvis coming on, Baker moved to the right and Elvis up front so releasing Cutch to do his roaming role. United kept pressing and a Cutch header was clutched by Goosey and when 2 minutes later Elvis found himself through on goal he scuffed his shot straight at Goosey. United were justly rewarded for their endeavours on the stroke of the 90 minute, when Cutch beat his man on the right and his cross was headed clear and fell nicely for Baker and he struck the half volley from 25 yards into the top corner of the net. The United players and the bench were ecstatic and they all piled on the prostrate Jordan on the D.C. pitch, I only wish I could have joined in.

We all had to endure the 3 minutes of added time the referee saw fit to add on, but think they were only 3 substitutions made so surely it should been only 2. Dwayne tried to make it as interesting as possible with a couple of kicks out of his hands that were nothing short of pathetic. Despite these mishaps the final whistle sounded and United's away record is 100%, played two, won two, that's all well, but our next 3 matches are at home and that's a different kettle of fish!

Nelson (5), Rodgers (6), R. Black (7), Cookie (7), Archie (6), Eamon (6)(Sub: Elvis 6,), Jenks (6), G. Taggart (5), Ally (7), Cutch (8), Baker (8)

Man of the match: Gary McCutcheon

Schoolboy Errors!

We are sorry to say 'we told you so', Crusaders just took 9 minutes to expose us defensive frailties at set-pieces, it was embarrassing to watch. The manager was true to his word, he dropped Ross Black and Cookie Munster and brought in Tony Kane and Denver Gage. But he was let down by the players he didn't drop, Archie, Rodgers and keeper Kerr, on this showing they're not worthy of their place. We already had a scare when the linesman at the Fisherwick end missed an offside, one of many and a Crues player missed a sitter in the first 5 minutes. Worse was to follow in the ninth minute, as McKeown of Crusaders hung a long throw-in to our six-yard box and you could see the tension on our defenders faces. Not only did nobody challenge, when the ball dropped they stood and watched as Timmy Adamson stroked the ball home. I was left to wonder why the keeper didn't come and punch the ball, but I got my answer later in the match as came out to corner-kick and landed a 'powder puff' punch to the ball which only cleared the 18 yard box.

We are regretfully sorry to say you 'we' told you so again about this teams 'benevolent' attitude of letting teams cross the ball. Why oh why would you do that, it beggars belief. On the one hand you got a keeper who won't leave his line and the other hand you got defenders who give the opposing forwards acres of space. There seemed little danger when McBride of Crusaders overlapped in the left flank, but Jordan Baker didn't stop him and he cut-in picked out Jordan Owens, who was completely unmarked about 12 yards from goal and he drove a bullet header to the corner of the net. Kerr, who stayed on his line and rightly so in this instance, should surely done better I thought, but maybe I'm being harsh. That goal come in the 31st minute and I'll admit I was fearful then we were going to get a hiding and the linesman at the Fisherwick end was making me nervous with not 'flagging' for offsides. Looking at our bench for encouragement was fruitless, Roy Walker contribution was to berate big Denver for backing off Adamson, never a confidence booster in my eyes.

Little was seen of our attack, Ally Teggart had a couple of runs but instead going on and shooting himself, he chose to pass. The best chance came not from open play, but from a free-kick taken by Tony Kane, which former United keeper Sean O'Neill diverted for a corner. With halftime approaching the linesman at the Fisherwick end 'boobed' again and this time we paid the ultimate penalty as Crues Morrow at least 10 yards offside, was allowed to run into our box and beat Kerr easily. I was left to wonder whether the linesman was confused by the fact that a Crues player was 40 yards offside, not taking part in the play and he thought he was 'playing' Morrow 'on', or was he just plain incompetent. Needless to say the Crues defence took no chances with him in the 2nd half and there was only one offside and he got that wrong.

2 Half

There were two incidents of note in the second half, one when we were about to take Elvis off to be replaced by Boyd and Rodgers went down with a head injury and to be replaced with Cookie Munster. Boyd, for all his trying, wasn't able to make an impression and I feel he needs not to be a target man, but feed off a target man, but what do I know. Looking at our bench there was no inspiration to be had there as Roy and his staff just kept their bums firmly on their seats. Ally Teggart was cautioned for a foul, his first, but the referee just wanted to book somebody but chickened 'out' soon after when he failed to observe the full letter of the law. United's best move of the entire match saw Jenks chase through ball into the box and when he was about to pull the 'trigger' Crues keeper O'Neill took his legs from under him. United fans and their players looked on in disbelief as nothing was given, surely it was a penalty and the keeper should been sent-off, but referee Carvill just ignored the incident.

The match was over as a contest after that and truth to say it was over as a contest when the second goal went in. There's no spirit in this team, no heart, no pride, the list is endless. We are in mid-table at present and we'll have a hell of job just staying there on the showing of our first three games, but one swallow doesn't make a summer, but I'm really worried about the attitude of our management. If things are going badly, they must remain positive at all times and offer encouragement. I wonder if Roy actually has the 'stomach' for the job, it's not going to be easy, but when it's tough, the 'tough' get going and we need to really 'tough' now!

Kerr (5), Kane (6), Archie (4), Rodgers (4) (Sub: Cookie 6,), Denver (5), Baker (5), Rory (5)(Sub: Woods 6,), Jenks (5), Teggart (6), Cutch (5), Elvis (5), (Sub: Boyd 5,)

Man of match: Ally Teggart

Black Saturday!

No I haven't got my dates mixed up, I do realise that the real 'black' Saturday is two weeks away, but today we had our very own 'Black' Saturday. I refer course to United players Aaron & Ross Black, Aaron got himself sent off and Ross back-heeled ball which he should've booted away and presented Glenavon with a lifeline, which they surely took. It was also a 'Black day' for returning hero Kevin 'killer' Kelbie, when he 'late tackled' Mark 'Sparky' Surgenor, in full view of the main stand and referee Smith and his assistant. It should've been an automatic red card, but referee Smith added insult to injury by letting Kelbie off with a caution. Sparky meanwhile wasn't so lucky, he was stretchered off, with a suspected broken leg or at best a ligament injury, which will keep out the game for months and cause considerable pain, Kelbie on the other hand seemed to think it was a laugh.

United manager Roy Walker had brought in two defenders to his starting line-up and made three positional changes. He brought in Davey 'cookie' Munster to partner Archie, who had started at leftback last Saturday, moved Rodgers to rightback to cover for the suspended Kane and moved Sparky into centre midfield for the injured Conor Downey. We got off to a dream start, taking the lead in two minutes from a free-kick. Archie delivered it, Jordan Baker headed to Cutch and the wee man slammed it into the net. Three minutes later we were ecstatic, when Cutch fed Teggart and from his pin point cross Baker doubled our lead. Suddenly we were leading 2-0 and we'd hardly strung two passes together. In the first Glenavon attack the eagle eyed linesman held his flag up for offside and I thought to myself we had got an official who up 'to the mark', I couldn't have been more wrong.

That linesman never got a decision right after that, in their next attack there was two Glenavon men 5 yards offside, but he kept his flag down. The visitors got three corners that should have been by balls and if there was a doubt about a decision they got it. I have to say at this point that the visitors may have been two goals down, but they were the better team by far. United struggled in defence and especially at set-pieces and I thought it's only matter of time before our goal was breeched. Elvis Costello, who had the man of match last Saturday, was having a 'stinker' and how he wasn't substituted is beyond my comprehension, as the Glenavon defenders had him in their pockets. After we had been pinned in our half for 25 minutes we finally broke and Jenks was tripped in the box and a penalty was awarded.

Nobody seemed willing to take on the job of taking the kick, which makes me think it wasn't decided before hand, but Cutch had the 'guts' to take on the responsibility. Visiting keeper Coleman, dived the wrong way and we were 3-0 ahead. But to their credit the visitors kept plugging away and after 37 minutes all my fears were realised when from a corner kick, visiting central defender Haughey rose unchallenged to head the ball into the net, despite us having every man back. Two minutes later the linesman awarded the visitors a corner when it was an obvious by ball and when the defence only partly cleared the ball, we had nobody up front to receive it and the linesman missed another offside and it fell nicely to Kelbie and he rattled the ball into the net to make 3-2.

But Kevin wasn't finished, no not by a long chalk, when Sparky picked up the ball near the halfway line and played a pass, Killer Kelbie came in with a scything tackle which left poor Sparky writhing in agony and Kelbie added insult to injury by sneering. The man with the big reputation, Aaron Black, came on to replace Sparky and he was only on the pitch two minutes when he attempted almost a carbon copy of the Kelbie foul and promptly got himself booked, although the visiting player certainly made a meal of it. The referee added 3 minutes of injury to the proceedings and though we had lost impetus, we still clung on to our lead 3-2 lead when the halftime whistle sounded.

2nd Half
Three minutes into the half Aaron Black came in with a two-footed tackle and that was end of the match for him, a second yellow leading to red. The match was really turned on it's head now and it was a matter of United trying to hold out and the visitors trying everything to break us down. Midway through the half we had a huge slice of luck when a shot from a Glenavon player come back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten all ends up. On the odd occasions when we did start to mount an attack, the ball would eventually find it's way to Elvis and then the move would peter out. Surely Roy would see that and take him off and bring on fresh legs in the shape off Aaron Boyd. With 20 minutes left we were ready to make a substitution but it wasn't to be Boyd, no in fact it was Rory Carson getting ready.

I reasoned that we were going push Baker up front and move Carson on to the wing, imagine my dismay when we came to make the substitution and Ally Teggart's number was held up. Carson took up a central midfield role and Elvis went to the wing where he was even more crap. I knew we would get one chance at goal and if we take it the points were ours and lo and behold we did get that chance. Well it really was only a half chance, but it was a chance. The ball was played up to Cutch and he got the better of his marker but elected to try to chip the keeper and he missed. Surely it would it have been better to try a shot, at least that way the keeper has to earn his keep (pardon the pun).

But it was mostly backs to the wall for we had decided to let them have space in their own half and despite a few scares, it was working very well. Now call me old-fashioned, but I think when your reduced to ten men, you have go to three at the back, four in midfield and two strikers that are prepared to run their socks off, that way you give the opposition something to think about. But I say it was working well but then disaster struck 2 minutes from normal time. We seemed to have dealt with the initial attack on our left flank and Ross Black whether wanting to impress tried a back-heel, instead slogging the ball out and Glenavon seized on the opportunity and Henderson tied the scores up at 3-3. To say I was gutted was to make an understatement, I felt sick to the pit of stomach. I endured the two minutes of normal time and 3 minutes of stoppage and went down to 'boo' Killer Kelbie off, but it left a sour taste in my mouth, for it my 'hearts of hearts' I know we were damn lucky to get any points, in short we were never at the races!

Kerr (6), Rodgers (8), R. Black (5), Cookie (7), Archie (6), Baker (8) Sparky (6)(Sub: A. Black, 4,), Jenks (6). Teggart (7)(Sub: Carson 6,), Cutch (8), Elvis (5)

Man of Match: Jordan Baker

Bloody Marvellous!

United started their pursuit of the Gibson cup today, with a resounding 4-1 victory over the team managed by former United custodian Tommy Wright, Lisburn Distillery. We were charged the full admission price of £10 for a ground that's definitely sub-standard in regard to the comfort of spectators, but we didn't mind. If this was an example of how this United team are going to play this season, they'll be a delight to watch. Manager Roy Walker definitely sprung a surprise in team selection, picking Chris Rodgers to partner Sparky and leaving Ross Black on the bench with Archie filling the leftback role. Aaron Kerr got the nod for the keepers jersey and the rest of the team was that, that started in our last friendly match against Ballymoney United. United nearly got off to the worst possible start as the home team opening the scoring in a blistering start, only for the goal to ruled out for an offside infringement.

New signing Ally Teggart first touch, saw him give the ball away, but in a piece of irony his next involvement brought a roar from United fans, heralding the first goal of this season in the 10th minute. There didn't seem little danger when Cutch lost possession about 30 yards from goal, but when the Whites Aaron Callaghan failed to clear his lines, the alert Teggart intercepted the ball, strode for goal and neatly tucked away his first goal in a United shirt, despite a despairing dive from home keeper Brennan. United weren't going to sit back and continued to take the game to the home team, with 'Elvis' Costello and Jordan Baker combining well down the right. New team Captain Alan Jenkins just flashed a shot wide and then got on the end of Cutch header, but could only force the ball past the post.

United looked well in control but there had a been few scares at the back, with Tony Kane giving former United winger David Cushley too much room. Eventually we were made to pay for this benevolence, for when Cushley was found by a free-kick, his goal bound header was brilliantly tipped away by keeper Kerr, but Whites player Ligget was on hand to force home the equalising goal, despite the attention of Chris Rodgers. That goal came in the 34th minute but United replied almost instantly, in the 38th minute to be precise, when Elvis forced his way past his marker on the left and laid on a perfect pass for Cutch to slide the ball home to give the Sky Blues the lead once more. As United threatened to take control, Baker was unlucky to see his header clip the bar after a nod on from Jenks. Despite referee Hunter adding on 2 minutes of stoppage time there was no further scoring and United were warmly applauded off at the half.

2nd Half

Ally Teggart should made it three, after two minutes had elapsed in the 2nd period, but he decided to try a chip instead of blasting the ball for the target and cleared the crossbar. But United weren't be denied long and got a penalty in the 52nd minute and sad to say, Elvis missed the target completely, so our penalty woes continue, so unprofessional. Cutch then messed up after exchanging passes with Jenks, instead of just blasting ball at the target, he chose to try an audacious chip which cleared the crossbar, yet another chance went abegging. The home team was trying to get a foothold in this match but they were rocked back on their heels by the goal which secured the points for United. This was the goal of the game for me and my 'man of the match', Elvis, had a huge hand in and it came with 64 minutes on the clock. Not for the first time he found himself out on the right wing and after a bit of wing wizardry he put over a gem of a cross and Jordan Baker threw himself at the ball and headed it into the net.

It was all over bar the shouting and there was plenty of that, with the United fans bursting into song. When Cutch lost possession in the 77 minute there seemed little danger but Elvis chased the ball to to right corner flag and his cross found the wee man lurking at the far post and his looping header found the target to make the score 4-1. Manager Walker decided to change things here and took off Conor Downey and brought Davey Munster which necessitated Sparky slotting into into midfield. With 3 minutes left on the clock, Tony Kane, was adjudged by referee Hunter to commit a serious foul and he administered a straight red card. This was in contrast to the incident in the first half when Elvis was floored by a deliberate elbow, the referee on that occasion merely told the culprit off.

This sending off meant United had to see out 3 minutes of normal time and the obligatory 3 mins of stoppage time with 10 men. To help with this Jordan Baker was substituted, with Ross Black taking his place. United easily seen out the last 6 minutes and when the referee blew the final whistle I could hardly contain myself with excitement. We had won the first match of the season for the first time in 14 years and not only win it, we won it with style. Roll on the next match I say, but definitely do a bit of working on your penalty kickers, this benevolence has to stop!

Kerr (6), Kane (6), Archie (7), Rodgers (8), Sparky (7), Baker (8), (Sub: R. Black,6), Downey (7)(Sub: Munster, 7), Jenks (8), Teggart (8), Cutch (8),
Elvis (9)

Man of match: Elvis Costello