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