Carbon Copy!

United 'gifted' the hatchet men a goal after the thirty seconds after a defensive mistake involving Gavin Taggart, Archie and keeper Dwayne Nelson. As if that's not bad enough, the defensive frailties highlighting in Sky Blue Sport's preview of this game, were evident in 28th minute again, when in a 'carbon' copy of a Colin Nixon goal for Glens on Tues night, Morrow from Crues was giving a 'free header' from a corner on right, with the inevitable conclusion. But a minute previous referee Burns had denied United a 'stonewall' penalty when Elvis had his legs clipped as he cut into the box and if to add insult to injury Crues broke away and Ross Black just managed to divert a cross for the corner under pressure.

Spike had made two changes, out went Baker and Ally and in came Rory Carson and on-loan Johnny Taylor, I think I'll call him J.T. It's was not hard to see what our tactics were going to be, starting 5 defenders and Gavin, whose first movement is usually back. United lost the toss (or did we elect to kick-off, I worry about some of Captain Jenks decisions, playing against the stiff breeze in the first half on Tues night was at best foolhardy). But anyway we kicked off, the ball came back to Gavin, he found Archie, he dithered and Crues David Rainey, belying his 45 years, put him under pressure, Archie who had other options available, the tenth row of the stand comes to mind, decided to try and find his keeper Dwayne. The back-pass was not good and with Rainey bearing down on him, Dwayne hit the ball against the Crues player(he could have played to touch I think) and it broke kindly for him and he gave his team the lead, although there was a suspicion of handball, the goal stood.

We were shell shocked, to concede so early and from such a mix-up left a bad taste in the mouth of the normal complacent United fans and we were on the teams back right away. Spike and the two baldies had decided on a 3,5,2 formation and it was not working but they had no control over referee Colin Burns interpretation of the rules, as he let his namesake 'Colin' Coates and Leeman get away with coming 'over the top'. Now I know this is not the easiest decision to make (I'm joking here), the culprit is one out ten times the opposing player making a 'back' for the defender, but referee Burns seemed to be of the opinion that our players were making making a 'back' for them every time. It was obvious a change would have to made, we were defending too deep and Crues almost increased their lead when Cookie was beat with a clever back-heel, but Gavin got back to tackle Dallas and the ball rebounded for a goal-kick.

Spike took off Archie and brought on Neil Lowry and we tried to get back into the match, but referee Burns was having none of it. I used to rate referees but I stopped that practice for it was a waste of time, no-one ever got above 5 out of 10 and there were quite a few twos and threes. I think if I was to start it again, there would be a quite a lot of minuses and referee Burns would be a prime candidate. How he missed the blatant trip on Elvis, he had the same view as me but he never questioned it. The Crues broke down the field and with us feeling badly done to, we didn't do our defensive job and let Morrow get a free header and suddenly we were two down. Two minutes later referee Burns turned his 'blind eye' when Cutch was floored in box, but even he couldn't 'miss' a deliberate handball from Leeman, although no card was flourished.

Despite the protests from the Crusaders players who were rightly incensed at this turn of events (I'm joking again), they had gotten away with two blatant 'penalties' before, so why not a third time. The penalty stood and the Irish league leading goalscorer Cutch was given the task of reducing the leeway. Cutch placed the ball on the spot and fans were remembering the last time he faced SO'N the former United goalkeeper and his feeble attempt was saved. But there was no worries this time, despite 'guessing' the right way SO'N was beaten all ends up. That goal came in the 39th minute and United were dominant for the rest of the half and the 3 minutes of added time which took them up to the whistle.

2nd half
United bossed the second half and in Elvis they had the best player on the field. Crues boss, Steven Mr. Ugly Baxter rung the changes taking off McKeown,Dallas and Aiden Watson, obviously with a view on next weeks Irn Bru final against the Coleraine scum. Elvis showed his box of tricks to Coates and arguably the best defender in the Irish league, Coates, couldn't deal with him. The United equaliser ten minutes into the half came about when Elvis won a corner on the left. Rory, who seemed to be our designated corner kick taker last night, took the kick and it went for another corner on the right. Rory trotted across and his corner was played back to him and he cut inside and found Cookie with a pass and his shot found the net. Cookie obviously likes to play in the Shore Road venue, two of his 3 goals this season have come against the Crues on their own pitch. The rest of the match was a catalogue of United pressure and last 'ditch' defending by the Crues.

The United attack was in the ascendency but they couldn't get the killer pass that would tell the tale. Elvis, who has yet to open his Ballymena scoring account tested SO'N when he somehow got the better of Coates and Leeman to get a shot in, but SO'N was equal to it pushing the shot over the bar. Neil Lowry, was finding a bit of space down the right and Crues fullback McBride was finding him a hot handful. Crues were not without there moments and as Gavin tidied up he was caught with an 'over the top' challenge from Crues sub Gargan and referee Burns administered the red card. I think it was a harsh decision, after all the referee ignored blatant fouls in the first half and Gargan was obviously trying to impress his manager that he was a regular 'hatchet man'. But he had to go but the Crues held out for a draw and United were obviously feeling the effects from the match on Tues night and it was taking a toll on their energy levels, bad planning to get 2 matches within three days and then no match for 11 days, how will we cope.

I must stress a point about United corners, no reflection on Rory Carson as such. The number of times I have noticed this season when we take a corner to the far post, we never position a man wide and I believe it's an opportunity missed. When many years ago and we had two wingers, when a corner was taken from one wing (inevitably an in swinger),that winger would take up a position wide on the other wing. If the ball was long he got it and if was falling short he could come in, I would like to see us use this ploy, but maybe it's too obvious, my tactical days are long past, if they ever were. The defending at throw-ins need to be worked on as well, the number of times Crues were allowed a 'free' throw last night was criminal. We managed to avoid defeat and that's no bad thing, we let in two goals which could've been avoided, but that's par for the course this season!

Nelson (6), Kane (6), Black (6), Cookie (7), J.T. (7), Archie (5)(Sub: Lowry (7), Gavin (7), Jenks (6), Rory (7), Cutch (7), Elvis (8)

Man of the match: Elvis

Home Truths!

New United manager Spike and his team had a dose of 'home' truths last night, when Glens triumphed by 3-0 at the windy Showgrounds. The simple matter is we can't defend, not from set-pieces and not from men running at us. Sean Ward scored Glens third last night, but why was he allowed a free passage into our box, when Ross Black and Archie both had a chance to block his progress, but their 'powder-puff' tackles were totally ineffective. But the worst mistake was in letting Glens Colin Nixon have a 'free' header to Carson's corner in the 37th minute, you don't allow the deadliest man in the Irish league at set-pieces to have a 'free' header and not expect to get punished from it and we duly were.

The United defence complained bitterly that Archie had received a deliberate elbow in the events leading up to this score, but referee and linesman ignored their protests. Spike went with the same team as took the field last Saturday, but they singularly to a man didn't perform. Captain Jenks decided we would face the stiff breeze in the first half and we were decidedly lucky just to turn around one goal behind. We could hardly get the ball out of defence and when we did manage to get it going we were uncompromisingly stopped by the Glens midfield aided and abetted by referee Hetherton, who allowed them to get away with blatant body checks, while pulling our boys for misdemeanour's. When we did manage string some passes together, Jenks twice got caught in possession when he had ample time to find a man. Glens had a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions which didn't trouble our keeper and then they won another dubious one about 30 yards from our goal plumb in centre field. Stephen Carson drove the ball which was always going over the bar and Dwayne stretched to cover the angles.

Unfortunately referee Hetherton thought he got a touch and promptly gave a corner on the left. When this was taken Archie received a deliberate elbow, ignored by referee and linesman and Cookie headed it for another corner on the right. Carson took it himself and found the unmarked Nixon and he headed the Glens into the lead. Archie had to come off for treatment as the 'elbow' had dislodged one of his contact lenses, surely it's time for laser surgery. Cutch, who had been getting the rough treatment all night was fouled in the box and referee Hetherton ignored that and didn't even stop play to let the wee man get treatment. Cutch had to go off and looked like his contribution would be over, but we decided to hold out to halftime in the hope he could come back.

2nd half
Cutch was able to continue but he wasn't up his usual sharpness and despite relentless pressure from wee Sky Blues we couldn't make the vital breakthrough. Jenks had a run in to box and I thought he should have taken a pop at goal, but he passed to the normally reliable Cutch. The ball seemed to get trapped under the wee man's feet and the chance was lost. In a rare breakaway Stephen Carson deliberately elbowed Tony Kane and though referee Hetherton gave the foul, he didn't take any action. Two minutes later Carson nearly added insult to injury, when Nelson and Kane got in a tangle but he cut inside only to find the side netting. The Glens sealed the match against the run of play in 75 minutes, when Waterworth got on the end Ward's cross to put the tie beyond reach.

Former United winger Eamon Murray, who former United manager Roy Walker paid his return fare from Australia last summer, came on to put a nail in the United coffin when he fed Ward, who in turn bamboozled the United defence, before beating Nelson at a tight angle. Spike rang the changes taking off Baker and Gavin and bringing on Lowry and Rory, but United couldn't find a way back into the game. Elvis, who had led the line so well, had a stinker and with all his tricks he was largely ineffective. Ally just ghosted in and out of the game and Gavin Taggart was at best only mediocre and Kane, despite seeing a lot of the ball up the right flank, couldn't get one telling cross in and fact nearly always gave possession away to Glens. There's a lot work to be done and not much time to do in, Friday's match away to the Crues is looming, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going, at least I fervently hope so!

Nelson (6), Kane (5), Black (5), Cookie (6), Archie (5), Baker (6)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Jenks (5), Gavin (5)(Sub: Rory 6,), Ally (5), Cutch (6), Elvis (5)

Man of the match: Baker

Elvis Again!

I can't make up my mind whether it's Ballyskeagh Elvis has a liking for, or playing Lisburn Distillery, but he's reserved his only two 'match winning' performances for this venue. The first was the opening day of the season when he tormented the Whites rearguard and United ran out 4-1 winners. Today he led the line superbly and set up United's winning goal for Ally, although I don't know whether it was a cross or a shot, that's immaterial, the point is, he delivered. Manager Spike made few changes to his starting line-up, but there were one or two surprises nonetheless. Dwayne Nelson was picked in goals, I don't know if that was a choice or Drummond was injured, but it worked.

Rory Carson, who had been turning in some good performances lately, was dropped in favour of Gavin Taggart, slated by the Sky Blue Sport's team, but he acquitted himself well today and Spike went for Elvis, in place of the suspended Sparky and changed to a 4,3,3 formation. United took the lead in the 10th minute, although there was a hint of controversy about the move, when United Captain Jenks became entangled with a Whites player (I think it was a fair shoulder charge), who was left lying on the ground and Jenks found his fellow Scotsman, Cutch. The Irish league leading scorer, Cutch, wriggled his way through the Whites defence before clipping a crisp left-foot shot which cannoned off the inside of the post on his way into the net for his 24th goal of this season. United were dominant at this stage, forcing a plethora of corners, but just couldn't get the vital touch when it mattered.

Little was seen of the home team as an attacking force and Archie kept the shackles on their prolific marksman, Gary Ligget, snuffing out any danger from that source. Elvis was like a man possessed, chasing down lost causes and I thought he had broken his scoring duck, when he fired goalwards but a defender got back to clear the ball with 'sniffer' Cutch in attendance. On yet another occasion, he crossed for Ally at the near post, but a defender got the vital touch to divert the ball for a corner. Spike and the two baldies influence are being felt already, under Roy Walker, Ally took all the corners, but yesterday when they were from the left, Cutch took them and although we didn't manage a score, they were hard to defend. Amazingly United failed to add to their tally and the home team started to come into the game near halftime and Dwayne had to be alert from a shot from distance, saving at the expense of a corner.

2nd half
United were sluggish when they came out for the second half and the home team were in the ascendency, I wonder if there's something they're putting in the tea at halftime. We couldn't clear our lines and we were subjected to a couple long throws by Hunter of the home team. The hosts got a free kick about level with our box and despite several chances to clear, the ball finally fell to the unmarked Ligget and he buried it in the net to tie the scores at 1-1. That goal came in the 53rd minute, we had let our guards down, but to our credit we came back immediately. Elvis went on a run down the right (previous manager Roy Walker tried to change Elvis's style of play, maybe Spike will give him his head), cut inside and his blocked shot fell kindly for inrushing Ally and he drove the ball into the net, reminiscent of his first goal for the Sky Blues at this venue, he obviously likes it as well.

United couldn't get the insurance goal, Cutch missed a real chance to put the game beyond doubt and there were a few anxious moments at the other end. But the defence held out and I must mention Dwayne's part in this, he was calm and he calmed his fellow defenders. The home team rang the changes and former United player David Cushley came on and he tested Dwayne with a fierce free kick, but Dwayne was equal to it, parrying the ball. Then David showed his other side needlessly fouling Jordan Baker, when the United man was going away from him and brought a yellow card. In the absence of the fourth official we were dependant on the whims of referee Turkington who found five minutes of added time from somewhere. United had only made one sub, Lowry for Elvis and the hosts had made three, which is usually 2 minutes and the two trainers (physios) had only been on the field for one minute in total, but we were subjected to at least five minutes, but United deservedly held out to the final whistle.

Nelson (8), Kane (7), Black (7), Cookie (7), Archie (8), Baker (7), Gavin (7), Jenks (7), Ally (7), Cutch (8), Elvis (8)(Sub: Lowry 7,)

Man of the match: Elvis

Cold Comfort!

United's new manager, Spike Ferguson, was understandably down, but he nevertheless praised his team for doing the things that he had advocated in training. But the match turned on a 'home town' decision by the linesman at the Fisherwick end, when he allowed I.F A. defender Aaron Burns, not only to block the progress of United's Jordan Baker, he was to add insult to injury and penalise the United man for trying to play on and ignoring the retaliatory kick from Burns, which should have resulted in at least a caution. But the linesman was hardly likely to penalise his employers team, we just have to learn to live with that(for anyone new to the site, Linfield and the I.F.A. are the same).

From the resultant free-kick Sparky's header was driven back by Burns (who should've been enjoying an early bath by this time), took a deflection of McAllister and hit Cookie Munster's foot, before finding the net just inside of Drummond's left post and eluding the keeper's fingertips. The number of times I have heard the cry of 'lucky Linfield' over the years are too numerous to mention, but sure it's no luck when the officials ignore basic rules and worse still make them up when it suits. Spike made three changes from our starting line-up of last week, out went Dicky Vauls injured to be replaced by Ross Black. Sparky returned in place of Downey, who seemingly didn't turn up for training on Thursday night and Jenks replaced Gavin Taggart.

In our Sky Blue Sport preview we were hoping we could keep a clean sheet for at least 20 minutes but alas we were undone by the linesman and bad defending. The linesman kept his flag down when McAllister was clearly offside (but level with the linesman and that's all that matters), Ross Black failed to get a tackle on McAllister, mainly because he had a head start. Keeper Drummond had a chance to close McAllister down, but he stopped in 'no man's land' and when the ball come across Cookie allowed Thompson to get the better of him and found the empty net. The United fans were livid with the linesman and I think his parentage was called in to doubt and that was among the nicer things, but he hadn't really started to display his box of tricks.

The I.F.A. should've increased their lead when Billy Joe Burns was allowed a free poke at goal and Drummond saved well. From the keeper's resultant drop kick, Baker's back header was nodded into Jenks path by the 'goal machine', Cutch and the United Captain took on his chest before firing a left-foot shot past Addis in the Linfield goal, despite having four Linfield men in attendance, to tie the scores at 1-1. To my surprise the goal stood, I fully expected referee Hetherington to rule it out for some indiscretion but he looked at the 'fat controller' and he must have given his assent for the goal stood. From the remainder of the half United played all the football and the I.F.A. tended to to try long ball tactics which was greeting with derision by the disappointing number of Linfield fans in the Warden Street stand.

I am going stick my neck out now and say I think Irish league fans are voting with their feet and stating that they don't like this league format we have now. Given the news that Cliftonville have banned six fans (and more to follow), I fervently hope these are not the travelling fans who attend matches, otherwise their away crowd will suffer by about 15%. That's how many real fans attended a recent match at the Showgrounds (I'm not talking about the free-loaders, who get in for nothing here, but real fans). We had a big crowd of home support yesterday,I suppose it was the new management team who brought them in, but the Linfield support was paltry compared to previous years. Linfield fans used to outnumber us by 3 to 1, not anymore, more like even Steven.

I know the 'official' figures from the clubs say different, but you got to remember they're 'massaging' the figures to swell gates receipts and therefore to get round this even more ridiculous legislation we have now that says you can't pay out more than you get in, where there's a will, there's a way. I will hazard a guess and say there was 2,100 at the match yesterday, 'official' figures will probably be 10% or 15% more than that, but even so we can't pretend that this is a good format, we are just digging a hole for ourselves and the future of football in this wee country of ours.

2nd Half
The second half is really about the ridiculous decisions made by the linesman at the Fisherwick end, who when the referee blew for fulltime, wisely disappeared into the tunnel like a 'bat out of hell', rumours that he was going to prepare the Linfield team bath are as yet unsubstantiated (that's a big,big word). Then referee Hetherington revealed he was 'in on the act', when I.F.A. defender Murphy blatantly grabbed the ball as Jenks burst through, he administered a yellow card, instead of a red, although this happened near the halfway line, it was a clear goalscoring opportunity and the letter of law should have stood. Obviously the £180 he gets for officiating (£2 a minute), isn't enough, he has to cheat as well.

United were largely devoid of ideas, epitomised by Tony Kane's shot when well placed, high, wide and not so very handsome and a Ross Black free-kick against the Linfield 'wall'. When the linesman surprisingly gave United a free-kick, Murphy then had an altercation with Cookie and the Linfield man could be seen clearly lifting his hand, but the referee took no action, but called the two players over and Murphy 'playfully' slapped his face, he knew it was only idle talk. Spike rang the changes, taking off the disappointing Ally and bringing on Jamie Davidson and later bringing off Carson for Elvis. I thought we were about to see Neil Lowry, but Sparky fell awkwardly and had to come off with what appears to be an arm injury, with Gavin Taggart coming on. Cookie Munster almost 'sold the ranch' on a couple occasions, trying to be smart, instead of clearing his lines.

Ross Black delivered two in-swingers, first from a free-kick and then from a corner, which Addis in the Linfield goal plucked easily from the air, not a United man in attendance. Spike's frustration showed when he had a go at the linesman, when earlier keeping his cool despite provocation, as the linesman denied United a corner, pulling Baker for a foul which only he saw.. The highlight the half for me was the way Black dispossessed Linfield's sub Stephen Lowry in the box, when a score looked imminent, small comfort. Archie, tried a surging run, but the visitors were having none of that and closed him down. Archie, it has to be said defended stoutly and was equal to anything Rory Patterson did and it was no surprise when Patterson was subbed in the 2nd half. United had a chance to draw level when Jenks found space about 20 yards from goal but he hit his shot over the bar and the chance was lost.

Drummond (6), Kane (6), Black (7), Cookie (6), Archie (7), Carson (7)(Sub:Elvis 6,), Sparky (7)(Sub: Gavin 6,), Jenks (7), Ally (5)(Davidson 5,), Baker (6), Cutch (6)

Man of match: Archie

Point Taken!

In Joe McCall's last game in charge United had to be content with a point, they could have taken all three, but our stand-in manager seemed to be content with the point. D.C. no doubt think they should've taken all three, they were the better team and it took some brilliant saves from United keeper Drummond to secure the point. United, not for the first time this season, were outdone by two headers from set-pieces and new manager Glenn Ferguson and his background team, of Lee Docherty and Norman Kelly, need to address this situation promptly. Joe made two changes to his starting line-up from the ill-fated Boxing day debacle, Ally for the suspended Sparky and Baker for the injured Jenks.

The linesman at the Fisherwick end was hopeless and he missed at least five blatant off-sides, including United's equalising goal, but maybe that evened the score somewhat. United were punished for slack marking at a free kick when McAlorum headed in, with fullback Tony Kane playing him on-side although that's not any excuse for the lack of marking from our other defenders. Ally Teggert, must been feeling the after effects from his knee injury,for he wasn't as effective as he has been. The linesman at the Fisherwick end kept his flag down on a couple of occasions, when the visitors had two men miles offside,I was starting to think they had changed the rule again, in that you couldn't be offside if you were level with the 'linesman'. Contrast this with the other linesman at the Farm Lodge end, he was constantly flagged for offsides. Referee Carville cautioned Gavin Taggart and proceeded to let the visitor players away with murder. In fact he warned leftback Harkness on several occasions before booking him late in the second-half and he allowed D.C. to get away with at least three deliberate handballs, without cautions.


Conor Downey was brutally tackled by McAlorum, a sending-off offence, but Carville took no action and the United player had to go off injured to be replaced with Lowry. This necessitated a change to the United formation, to a more attacking 4,3,3 reminiscent of 'manager in waiting' Spike's, Linfield days. Cutch wasn't getting any chance to unlock the visitors defence but he had a hand in United's equaliser deep into injury time. It seemed like a lost cause when he tussled with Harkness for a through ball, but the D.C. defender had to concede a corner. From Ally's pinpoint kick, Cookie got a head to the ball and it slipped through Goosie's fingers and though a defender clearly handled it on the line he couldn't prevent the goal that ensured United went in at halftime level pegging. A good referee would of booked the 'culprit' anyway for attempting to prevent a goal, but Carville is only an average referee and in this league, it's a low 'average'.

2nd half
The highlight of the halftime interval was local personality Jackie Fullerton introducing Glenn 'Spike' Ferguson and his back ground team (Sammy Patterson christened them the 'two baldies'), to the fans, the Sky Blue Sport's team wishes them well. D.C. started the second half as if they meant business and Drummond pulled of a couple of great saves to keep United in the match. When United tried break, the attack broke down at Lowry, who seemed to be trying to do the complicated thing rather than keep it simple. As so often happens in this game we call football, United, under the cosh, scored a breakaway goal and we have to thank the linesman at the Fisherwick end for his incompetence which knows no bounds. Archie went on a surging run, as he likes to do and fed Cutch near the halfway line and burst through the visitors defence too early and when Cutch played the ball Archie was clearly offside. But he was level with the linesman and that's seemingly alright and he bounded down on Goosie's goal before tucking a left-footed shot into the net.

The crowd, including me, were rapturous, but I couldn't help feeling that if Archie and Cookie, the scorers on the day, were to do their job at the other end we would have been better off. As it was the linesman at the Farm Lodge end missed another hand ball from McAllister and from his cross, Henderson got his head to the ball and Drummond pulled of a great save at the expense of a corner. From the resultant kick the United defence went asleep again and McVeigh headed the visitors level. I thought Joe would make a change now, take off Baker who was clearly struggling, but looking at the options I could see his point. The remaining subs were two defenders, Rodgers and Woods, an untried reserve midfielder, Owen Gillan and the enigma that is Elvis Costello, not much to set your pulses racing.

United conjured up a chance when Baker got to the byline and found Cutch unmarked, the wee striker usually hits them first time, but this time he took a touch and his shot was kicked off the line. Teggert picked up the rebound and fed Baker who wasted a good opportunity by hitting his shot wide. Joe finally had seen enough and Baker made way for Elvis and United created one more chance when Elvis headed the ball on for Cutch and Goosie quick as a flash dashed from his goals to block the United man, I thought this should have a penalty as the keeper never touched the ball and Cutch kept his feet but couldn't quite reach the ball to knock it in to the empty net. Not surprisingly referee Carville gave United a corner, in my estimation he's below average. The match ended in a draw, but on the plus side for United, Rory Carson looked back to his best in midfield and the keeper regained some needed confidence for the visit of Linfield next Saturday. I wonder who the I.F.A. have lined up for us next Saturday, well worry about that when the time comes, Happy New Year!

Drummond (7), Kane (6), Vauls (6), Cookie (6), Archie (6), Carson (8), Downey (6)(Sub: Lowry 5,), Taggart (6), Ally (6), Baker (6)(Sub: Elvis 6,), Cutch (6)

Man of the match: Rory Carson