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