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