Just Enough!

United done just enough to come away with three points from their home fixture with a disappointing Donegal Celtic. I would safely say that we witnessed the most disappointing crowd of D.C. supporters in the history of this fixture, I doubt there was thirty travelling, fayre paying, fans, I'm not counting the 'freebies' that get in claiming some link with the team, aka Institute. I wouldn't fault their fans for not travelling to the Showgrounds, for despite some pressure with the winds at their back in the first half, the closest they come was United keeper Wayne Drummond tipped a header over the bar and towards the end of the half the young keeper made a hash of a routine catch from a corner and was indebted to Curtis Woods for a saving header.

United manager Roy Walker, who has given himself to 31 December, to turn the Sky Blues season round, rang the changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday, with five changes. Cookie Munster replaced Watson, Chris Rodgers replaced Archie and Curtis Woods replaced the misfiring Tony Kane in the back four. The only defender to keep his place was Dicky Vauls, but he had a stinker to-day and it would be hard to see him not getting dropped for next week. The other two changes were Downey for Sparky and Aaron Boyd for Eamon Murray, who didn't even make the bench. United I assumed lost the toss (I was in just before the kick-off), why else would you face the prospect willingly of playing against a gale force wind.

United goalkeeper Wayne Drummond was struggling to clear his lines and the visitors kept United penned in their half of the field for the majority of the first period, without causing too many problems. United top scorer Cutch, should have done better when he got on the end of a Curtis Woods cross after 12 mins, but his fierce shot didn't trouble ex-United keeper Goosey Robinson. At the other end D.C. forced some corners but never looked like scoring and the United defence dealt capably with them for the most part. Cookie Munster got away with a risky move, when he tried to be too clever and he 'fluked' a pass to Vauls which was a risky move. United broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Downey's through ball caught the D.C. defenders napping and Cutch sped goalwards.

A D.C. defender caught up with the 'ace marksman' (21 goals in 21 games before to-day), but the 'wee' man turned his man before beating Goosey with a crisp shot at his left post, for his 22nd goal in his 22nd match and nudge United in front and receive the adulations of his team-mates and fans alike. United should have increased their lead two mins later when Jenks fed Ally, but despite having the goal at his mercy Ally pulled his effort wide. United almost paid the ultimate penalty for that glaring miss, when their keeper just managed to get his fingertips to a header from Ryan Henderson. In the 43rd minute Ally made up for his earlier miss when he wriggled his way to the by-line before crossing for Aaron Boyd to tap in to make it 2-0. United had a scare when Drummond made a 'hash' of a routine catch or at least a punch and then in the dying minutes of the half, Vauls with all the time in world, set up D.C. striker Henderson, but luckily he shot wide.

2nd half
United didn't come out the second half and they chose to soak up the pressure from the visitors, who got caught continually offside. In a rare move out of defence Baker tried his luck with a near-post shot but Goosey was equal to it at the expense of a corner. Vauls was really struggling this half and it was obvious something would have to to done before he committed a real clanger. The United manager sent on Archie and that seemed to stop that although United continued to struggle with the wind at their back. Ally saw a shot brilliantly tipped over by Goosey, the admission fee was worth that just to see a competent keeper going about his work, Tommy Wright take note. For readers of this column who didn't know, the first act of Tommy Wright when he took over the United manager's job, was to release Goosey and we have been paying for that ever since.

Aaron Boyd was the next to be substituted with Sparky taking his place and United seemed content to play out the remainder of the match soaking up the pressure. For the most part the visitors seemed to be content also, although their manager was 'livid' when one of his player was cautioned for a clumsy foul on Jordan Baker. Referee, Ross Dunlop, who had a good game told the manager in no uncertain terms just to keep his comments to himself. Despite the now familiar three minutes of added time, D.C. posed no threat to the United rearguard and the Sky Blues ran out deserved, but unconvincing winners with a score 2-0. This was a victory, but an away match at Windsor next week, followed by a trip to Mourneview Park, where Marty Quinn has just resigned, will no doubt pose sterner tests and we'll not mention the Irn Bru semi-final on 13 December, a really vast improvement will be needed!

Drummond (6), Woods (6), Vauls (5)(Sub: Archie 6,), Cookie (6), Rodgers (6), Baker (6), Downey (6), Jenks (6), Ally (7), Boyd (7)(Sub: Sparky (6), Cutch (7)

Man of the match: Cutch

Football Lesson!

The United board persuaded Roy Walker to come out of retirement and take up football management again and I think it's time they retired him for good, for he doesn't have a clue. He never thought of playing somebody to mark young Cliftonville starlet Rory Donnelly and how he made him pay. Maybe it would have made no difference anyway, our back four was way below par and the midfield wasn't getting involved either. Keeper Wayne Drummond didn't distinguish himself either, his foolhardy throw-out set up the first goal for Donnelly, although there was a suspicion of offside, but the flag stayed down. That goal came in the 8th minute and a second followed in the thirteenth as United's defence looked on, as Ryan Catney started and finishing the move with a low shot.

Four mins later Chris Scannell won a dubious free kick on the edge of box and Eamon Murray ducked his head as the ball flew past and into the net past the outstretched arms of Drummond. Three minutes later United were given a lifeline, when Baker tumbled in the box and despite long protests from the Cliftonville defence, Cutch tucked away the penalty for his 21st goal of the season. Straight from the kick-off the Reds won a throw-in and as the ball was driven across, Donnelly got his head to ball, despite the attention of Kane and Watson and Scannell stooped to head the ball into net and leave Archie flat-footed. Twenty-one minutes on the clock and already the tie was looking beyond United and as luck would have it 5 minutes later Baker found space in the box, but his volley found the outside of the post, with the keeper beaten.

Just as it looked like United would survive until halftime, up stepped Barry Johnston to deflect a Donnelly shot past the luckless Drummond. With the score now 5-1 in favour of the visitors, the home crowd (who Roy Walker says are responsible for all Sky Blues woes), was starting to boo the team and manager and who could blame them. Drummond long punt up the field was chased by Jenks and when the Cliftonville defence hesitated he drove the ball home to make the score 5-2. We had seen seven goals in the first half and I dreaded to think what was in store for us in the second half.

2nd Half
United made two substitutions at the start of this half, Archie and Watson went off to be replaced by Downey and Rodgers. For a time this seemed to be working but we were undone in the 52nd minute when Donnelly timed his run to perfection to nod the ball over the stranded Drummond and into the net, to make the score 6-2. Then in the 70th minute he completed his hat-trick when he sprinted clear of his marker to rifle the ball home. Despite the linesman missing a blatant offside young Rory was unable to add to his score and the last goal was scored for the home team when Jenks forced it home. As if United hadn't suffered enough they lost Vauls with a nasty head injury, when Donnelly appeared to head butt him, referee Brian 'Ham Shank' Courtenay took no action. United came off to a chorus of boos and Roy Walker was told in no uncertain terms where to go, I for one hope he takes that advice!

Drummond (5), Kane (4), Vauls (5)(Sub: Woods 5,), Archie (4)(Sub: Downey 5,), Watson (4)(Sub: Rodgers (5) Eamon (6), Sparky (5), Ally (5), Jenks (6), Baker (6), Cutch (6)

Man of the match: Cutch

Cutch Clutch!

United prolific marksman Cutch was on form in the second half at Darragh Park, Castlederg . He had earlier dropped a 'bombshell', well two bombshells actually. Firstly he has been approached by Linfield who want him to sign on pre-contract for next season, we think this illegal tapping, but Linfield as we very well know, are in reality the I.F.A., so it's okay. The other 'bombshell' was the fact he told the I.F.A. (Linfield), he intends retiring at the end of this season. The 33 year-old will be badly missed at the Showgrounds and virtually irreplaceable, as his twenty goals this season, indicate and although not playing to his high standards last night, he still weighed in with a hat-trick, and helped get United out of jail.

United manager, Roy Walker, had more or less picked the team we had indicated in our preview or at least picked the team from the panel of players we suggested. Tony Kane started at rightback replacing Curtis Woods, Sparky was on in place of Gavin Taggart and Eamon got a rare start, allowing Archie to partner Watson in place of the suspended Cookie Munster. United are notoriously slow starters and it was obvious from the start that Archie and Liam hadn't played together in a central defensive pairing for they started poorly. With 3 mins on the clock Archie went for a header that he should've left, but nobody told him, so he went for it. But his weak header fell nicely to the feet of McManus and he drilled the ball past the exposed Drummond in the United goal, not the start we wanted.

Eight minutes later it was two when Archie lost out again, Watson missed a tackle and despite getting a hand to Campbell's shot, Drummond could only help into the net. I don't mind telling you I was worried, I could already see the headlines but United did what they do best and why I love them, attack. Jordan Baker scored with a header from Ally's corner to reduce the leeway in 11 mins and was unlucky to see another header kicked off the line. Twelve minutes later we were on level terms with a sweet passing move, Tony Kane and Eamon exchanged passes and Kane found Baker and his shot was pushed onto the post by the keeper and Jenks tapped in the equaliser. Dergview were rightly reduced to ten men when McCaskie scythed down Baker as the United man went to sprint by, the referee, Tim Marshall had only one recourse, a red card, that sort of tackle has no place on the football field.

From the resultant free kick, Cutch's shot was deflected for a corner, Ally took the corner and Jenks missed an open goal. For the rest of the half United seemed to lose their way a bit and they were indebted to Kane for stepping up to the mark when Dergview upped the pace, for timely interceptions and reading of the game. The referee, at this stage seemed to give the benefit of the doubt to the home team, but the Sky Blues kept their discipline and soaked up the pressure to halftime. The talk at halftime was whether or not Roy would change things at the back, bringing on Chris Rodgers, or whether he would leave things as they were. Then we heard about the episode of one the buses bringing Sky Blue fans to the match, I'm so glad I was driving my own car, nothings worse than inhaling diesel fumes.

2nd half
We took the field with the same eleven players, obviously Roy gave them an ear wigging, for they came out quick and lively. Just three minutes into the half, Kane and Eamon combined down the right and Eamon found Cutch with a cross. The wee man teed the ball up for Ally, to curl a delightful shot with the outside of his boot and into the net, far and away the best goal I've seen for many year. Seven minutes later the tie was over as a contest when ace Cutch got on the end of two crosses to score easily. On 54 mins Archie picked Eamon with a fifty-yard pass and Cutch got on the end of his cross to score the easiest goal in this his prolific season. In the next minute Archie burst through the static Dergview defence to find Cutch unmarked at the far post and he picked his spot to make the score 5-2 for the Sky Blues.

Job done, Eamon was withdrawn in the 60 mins with Aaron Boyd taking his place, which meant Baker dropping back to midfield, which I personally thought was a negative move, but I'm not the manager. We turned on the exhibition stuff, which is never a good idea, beat the team, but don't humiliate them. Cutch completed his hat-trick when McMenamin couldn't cut out Wayne Drummond's long punt and Gary steadied himself before chipping the keeper to complete yet another hat-trick and complete the rout. In the last 20 minutes, Elvis came on for Baker and near the end Rodgers for Kane with Watson moving to right back. Despite relentless pressure United failed to add to their tally and though the home team never rarely threatened the United goal they did salvage some pride. But that was all they got last night and United can look forward to a semi-final meeting with Crusaders on Tuesday 13 December at the Showgrounds, bring on the 'hatchet men', only believe!

Drummond (7), Kane (8)(Rodgers 6,), Vauls (6), Watson (6), Archie (7), Eamon (7)(Boyd 5,), Sparky (7), Jenks (7), Ally (8), Baker (8)(Elvis 5,), Cutch (8)

Man of match: Tony Kane

Lucky Dip!

I wondered what method United manager Roy Walker used for his team selection today and I came to the conclusion that he stuck all the players names in a hat and picked them one by one. He picked Cookie Munster, so it was obvious somebody would have to make way for him and he also selected Dicky Vauls and obviously somebody had to make way for him. Now the team last Saturday certainly under-performed and you could took almost any of the defenders out, but Roy in his wisdom took out two midfielders One them was Conor Downey an ever present non-performer, but the other one, Sparky was playing out of position last week and was dropped while Gavin Taggart and Archie stayed in. In order to accommodate Archie, Ally moved to the right wing and Archie to the left, both had a poor game.

As luck would have it we missed an absolute sitter in the first two minutes, Baker went to challenge Ports keeper Miskelly and the keeper made a hash of his clearance and it fell to leading scorer Cutch and with the goal at his mercy he shot hurriedly and feebly but he had time. Soon our powder puff midfield was being overrun by the home players and it looked only matter of time before our goal would be breeched. Curtis Woods was having a half he'll want to forget and he could do nothing right, in one moment of madness a mishit back pass caused a collision between United goalkeeper Drummond and Ports striker Tipton and Tipton came out worst in that encounter and he had to go to the touchline for treatment. The home team played a ball down the left wing, when down to ten men and Cookie made a hash of his tackle and Braniff waltzed into our penalty and Drummond could only watch as the ball rolled into the net, a soft goal.

Straight from from the centre United should've been back on level terms as Baker and Ally combined but Ally's shot missed the target. Ports player Tipton had to go off with a broken collarbone to be replaced with Boyle but despite some pressure the Sky Blues held out to halftime. In fact they came within an ace of getting back on terms when Baker's thunderous shot was blocked at the foot of the post by a Ports defender. The referee Burns added on two minutes but United were looking for their half time cuppa and were not trying to get on terms. As the teams left the field I was hoping Roy was going to change things, but knowing in my heart there was very little chance.

2 Half
The teams took the field after halftime with the same personnel and United were denied a cast iron penalty when as Cutch chased a through ball, Chris Ramsay was seen to handle it but referee and linesman saw nothing. Fifteen mins into the 2nd half Roy acted by taking off Vauls and bring on Eamon Murray, but instead Murray going to the right-wing and letting Ally back to the left, Eamon was moved to the left and Ally was inside of him. Archie had moved back to leftback and whether this shake-up led to confusion in the United defence, as Ports player McCabe was allowed to dribble into our box before planting a shot in the corner of the net to put his side two up.

That goal come in the 67 minutes and Roy Walker took off Ally and brought on Aaron Boyd, one ineffective player for another as it turned out. But United did get a goal back, when Baker back-headed a throw in the box and it eventually fell to Cutch who made no mistake with a shot from 15 yards. This ensured a grandstand finish when Jenks should done better with a header putting it wide of the goal and Archie had a run up the left and despite having his shirt pulled did manage to get his cross in. Walker had at last took off Gavin Taggart with Sparky taking his place and we went into all out attack, but it was too little too late and the Ports seen out the added time to keep up the pressure on Linfield at the top of table. United meanwhile face a tricky tie away to Dergview on Wednesday in the Irn Bru league cup, they'll need more of this never-say-die attitude on Wednesday I dare say!

Drummond (6), Woods (5), Vauls (5)(Sub: Eamon 6,), Watson (6), Cookie (5), Ally (5)(Sub: Boyd 5,), G. Taggart (5)(Sub: Sparky 6,), Jenks (5), Archie (5), Baker (5), Cutch (7)

Man of the match: Cutch

Last Gasp!

When I heard the team Roy Walker had selected to do the job I knew there be shortcomings, but wasn't prepared for this inept performance I witnessed today. The Coleraine scum beat us 1-0 and it will be a goal that'll haunt our keeper Wayne Drummond, for he made a mess of a fairly routine catch, but truth be told we should've been beat by far more. With Cookie Munster, serving a ban, Roy decided to change his two central defenders, playing Sparky and Watson and leaving Chris Rodgers on the bench. Gavin Taggart got a rare start in midfield but the scum dominated this area of the field so much no United man emerged with credit.

Ally Teggart, so long a star performer in this United side, had a stinker today and we had no Eamon Murray to gee him up a bit. Jordan Baker who was supposed to be good in the air, won only three of the thirty or so balls that ended up in his direction, while ace marksman Cutch was a virtual passenger. As early as the 5th minute we could have been a goal down, as the scum took a corner from the left, Oglivy had a free header, not a United man within 10 yards of him, but luckily it cleared the crossbar. United just couldn't clear their lines and it seemed only a matter of time when the scum would take the lead. After one goalmouth scramble Drummond pulled off a save, but there was no outlet and The ball came back again. We did have one chance when a through ball glanced off a Coleraine head, but referee Dunlop gave a goal-kick, instead of a corner. Despite a few more scares and a disallowed goal, we got to halftime still on level terms and I hoped Roy would change things around.

2nd Half
We took the field with the same personnel on board, though we made a match of it for the first ten minutes of the half and Ally missed a sitter when played in by Cutch, hitting his shot straight at the keeper. After a fruitless run up the field and a feeble shot by Downey, Roy took him off and brought Aaron Boyd on. Baker then missed a chance with a free header, putting it over the bar, but thereafter it was the home team who dominated proceedings. The scum brought on Leon Knight, but the United defence held firm, although there was a few scares and keeper Drummond did well to thwart Knight diving at the strikers feet.United had a shout for a penalty when Baker appeared to have his legs whipped from under him, but referee Dunlop was unimpressed.

With five minutes to go Knight appeared to head-butt Watson and although the referee gave the foul, he didn't take any action against the scum player. With three minutes to go we had a catalogue of errors, first Archie was beat out on the right, then when the ball was crossed from the left, Watson failed to make contact and it looked like a keepers ball, but whether he was hampered his own defender, he fumbled it and Knight rammed it into the net. Maybe on reflection the keeper should've punched the ball, but there was no coming back from a killer blow like that. We had one feeble attempt to mount an attack, but Cutch couldn't find the unmarked Baker. The scum killed the match during the three minutes of added time and we had no answer, we were a beaten team!

Drummond (6), Woods (6), Archie (6), Sparky (5), Watson (5), Gavin (5)(Sub: Rory 5,), Jenks (6), Downey (5)(Sub: Boyd 5,), Ally (5), Baker (5), Cutch (5)

Man of the match: Curtis Woods