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