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