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