Cutch Answers!

Cutch answered the doubters yesterday with a thoroughly professional display and Spike has to be delighted with the wee striker's attitude. Spike gave supporters an indication of his intentions on how to replace Cutch, by throwing on youngsters, Jamie Davidson and Neil Lowry in the last quarter of the match. United took the field in front of the sparse crowd of travelling fans, with the same eleven that started the Carrick match. Speculation had been rife that Elvis would be dropped on account of his two glaring 'misses' at Seaview. But he stayed in and I think justified his inclusion, giving Glenavon defender Convery a torrid time. He's not a target man, but he tries and he is a nuisance, although his touch invariably lets him down. Yesterday was no exception for him, with misplaced passes and hopeless crosses and when he did get a shot at goal, 'fat' Davey O'Hare was equal to it. United's first chance fell to Cutch, but his free kick from 30 yards cleared the crossbar without troubling the keeper.

United's twin centre-halves, Cookie and Taylor were more than a match for the Glenavon forwards and Cookie's complete domination over the ageing Tony Grant (who admits to being 99 years-old), was lovely to see. Sure Grant was able to 'con' referee Hetherton on a couple of occasions, claiming he was fouled, but even the referee began to ignore his histrionics. The referee, on the other hand completely ignored Cutch being fouled on 7 out of 10 occasions. I know he doesn't challenge for high balls, but that doesn't mean he can fouled 'willy nilly'. Despite some robust tackles from the home team the referee seemed reluctant to flourish his yellow cards, while booking five United men for what can only be described as innocuous tackles. He even booked Gavin for changing his boots without asking permission, surely he should have used some common sense here.

United took a deserved lead in the 29th minute, when a Cutch shot from 25 yards took a slight deflection off defender Magee beating the despairing dive from fat Davey. United were rampant after this goal and it was no surprise when they increased their lead. From a corner from the left, Jenks completely miskicked and Taylor who picked up the loose ball was tripped by defender Magee. Ally set the ball on the spot as Cutch was limping but the wee man would have none of it and stepped up to slot the ball in the corner of the net. United were two up and they should've been more considering their near total dominance of a lack lustre home side. Not having a fourth official I think, or just him not having a board, we were indebted to the announcer telling us there would one minute of additional time.

2nd half
Home player-manager Gary Hamilton came on as a sub in the 2nd half and tried to gee his team up. But the first chance fell to United as Ally 'missed' from 8 yards out with the goal at his mercy. That shot epitomised many chances United frittered away in the 2nd period which kept the match alive when it should've have dead and buried. Jenks who timed his runs to perfection could have had a hat-trick, although he was denied by fat Davey with a brilliant save at point blank range on one occasion. Glenavon despite subjected us to pressure from free kicks, never looked like scoring and Cookie and Taylor were our tower of strengths. Rodgers and Black were playing their part to and Dwayne despite messing up with one corner wasn't going to be beaten. Elvis was giving Convery a torrid time and how the home player did not go in the referee's book I'm sure I don't know.

Midway through the half Elvis made way for Jamie Davidson and I was disappointed for Elvis for I thought he had played well, but we need to blood the youngsters. The home team almost got a foothold in the match but Dwayne pulled off a great save from a point blank shot. At the other end Davidson cut inside and curled a shot on fat Davey's goal, but the keeper catapulted across goal to parry the ball, a tremendous save. The ball fell to Cutch who picked out Rory lurking in the six-yard box and he bleanged the ball over the bar, a glaring miss. Spike made his last sub, Lowry for Gavin and he looked lively when he come on. The referee booked Dwayne for time wasting and finally booked Convery of the home team. Despite the four added minutes, the home team could get a foothold in the match and I was amazed when they announced their 'man of the match' was Tony Grant, surely it was fat Davey, he had after all kept them in the match single-handedly!

Nelson (8), Rodgers (7), Black (7), Cookie (8), Taylor (8), Rory (6), Gavin (7)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Jenks (7), Ally (6), Elvis (7)(Sub: Davidson 7,), Cutch (8)

Man of the match: Cookie Munster

Missing Strikers!

United done what was necessary last night at Seaview against Carrick Rangers, but oh they made heavy weather of it. We could and should have been six up at halftime and had Dwayne Nelson our keeper not ruined a near faultless performance with his needless throw to a man that couldn't seem to keep his feet on the night (Jenks)and he lost possession, Carrick might never have scored. Carrick came out for the 2nd half a new team and subjected us to a fair degree of pressure but our defence held firm while our forwards contrived to miss easy chances. I was surprised to see Tony Kane not stripped but was informed he was injured and that meant a recall for Chris Rodgers at rightback. Gavin Taggart replaced Conor Downey, Rory for the injured Sparky and Ally Teggert replaced the unfortunate Jordan Baker, subject of a vicious attack which left him with a broken jaw.

United lost the toss and were left to play into the strong wind which was blowing down the pitch from the Shore Road end. The Sky Blues got off to a dream start in the 3rd minute when the two Scotsmen combined to open the scoring with Jenks sweeping the ball into the net after a Cutch back-heel. I immediately thought that's good, Cutch is back on form and it augurs well for United for the rest of the season. The 'home' team struggled to get used to the conditions which was just as well as our defenders didn't look too comfortable, Cookie and Chris seemed to be at loggerheads but Taylor steadied the ship. Rory Carson sprinted up the right, got to the byline and pulled the ball to the unmarked Cutch lurking on the six-yard line. Unfortunately the wee man scuffed his shot into the arms of former United keeper Paul Murphy, what a miss. United were struggling to elude the well organised Carrick offside trap, but they got chances and never took them.

Then in a delightful move in the 22nd minute, Cutch fed Elvis and he in turn released Rory and he drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to give United a 2-0 lead. Then United spurned two gilt edged chances when first Cutch fluffed another chance when hitting the ball too firm when clean through and Murphy dived on it and then in 29 minutes Gavin found Ally with a delightful pass. Surely I thought Ally would be equal to the task, but he drove his shot straight at Murphy. These two misses proved quite costly when Wayne foolishly threw the ball out Jenks who couldn't keep his feet all night, he lost the ball, Heatley and Dolan combined with the latter giving Carrick a lifeline with a low shot, that they scarcely deserved to make the score 2-1.

Then we were subjected to the two sides of referee Merven Smyth when he penalised Taylor for handball when the ball was driven at him and then he only issued a yellow card for a two-footed tackle on Ross Black by Carrick defender West. Fortunately Ross was able to continue after treatment, although the ref kept him waiting for two minutes on the touch line. Then we had the 'miss' of the match, when Elvis found himself in on goal, he twisted this way and that way, Murphy committed himself and with the goal at his mercy Elvis drove the ball at the keeper's body. I couldn't believe it and to make matters worse Rory was unmarked if he hadn't the confidence to do it himself, despite 2 minutes of added time there was no further scoring.

2nd half
Carrick came out of the blocks the 2nd half, taking the game to us and if truth be told we were hanging on for ten minutes or so. Then we got a breakaway and won a corner and Taylor 'missed' the target with a free header from Rory's corner. As in the first half the United forwards were struggling to beat the Carrick offside trap, aided and abetted by a linesman who was flag happy. I think he got it wrong more times than he got it right, in one incident a Jenks header found Cutch being flagged, but he was clearly on-side when Jenks made contact with the ball. Nelson came to United's rescue with a good stop from Heatley and from another Rory corner Taylor failed to find the target again. Then in the 60th minute Elvis found himself 'clean through' again but this time he fired wildly over the bar when surely he should've tested the keeper at least.

This miss proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back and Spike could be seen getting a sub ready. Now I was critical in the past of United taking an age to get a sub on and I blamed Roy Walker, but it took our sub a full 2 minutes to get ready and Carrick forced a corner and it was 65 minutes before the sub came on, surely an inordinate length of time. I had supposed it would be Neil Lowry, but no it was Jamie Davidson that replaced Elvis. After good work by Rory, Davidson found Cutch in the right channel and he drove the ball high and wide, another chance missed. Rory was finding room down the right and United began to exploit this new freedom that Rory had found.

United finally made the game safe when Rory and Cutch combined down the right, before Rory found Davidson, he in turn fed Ross Black, who crossed for Cutch to head the ball home to give United a 3-1 lead. I tell you I breathed a sigh of relief for I was anxious for we missed so many chances to have the points safely tucked away. United were calm and collected from then on to the end of the match and it was maybe as well that we didn't amass a good score, for we need to keep our feet firmly on the ground, for there's another 3 banana skins waiting for us. That was a real six pointer last night, we're now 9 points ahead of Carrick, if they had won it would only have been three, bring on the Lurgan men!

Nelson (8), Rodgers (6), Black (6), Cookie (6), Taylor (7), Rory (8), Jenks (7), Gavin (7), Ally (7), Cutch (6), Elvis (5)(Sub: Davidson 7,)

Man of the match: Rory Carson

Tactical Nightmare!

Spike and his backroom staff got their tactics horribly wrong yesterday, playing a 4,3,3 system that never worked in a first half littered with mistakes. Luckily he had the good sense to change it at halftime, bringing Baker off and Ally on and this proved to be the difference. I must pay tribute to our visitors yesterday, Derriaghy Cricket club, for a 'professional' approach which belies their Amateur league status, if they go on progressing we may meet them on a regular basis in years to come. I knew they'd be organised, but despite getting a load of possession in the first half United couldn't take advantage of the openings. Curtis Woods who came in for the suspended Kane had a nightmare first half, his timing and decision making was poor to say the least, no doubt sitting on the bench as he does, he was a little rusty.

But referee Ross Dunlop took a hand in United's early problems, he was especially lenient with the tough tackling of the visitors and surely a yellow card would have settled the match down, but he thought he knew better. It was obvious to me someone was going to get hurt, unfortunately it was Sparky who had got the nod in place of the suspended Gavin. Sparky was the victim of a 'over the top' tackle which should've resulted in a sending off, but Dunlop didn't even give a foul, never minding sending off the culprit. Instead he had the cheek to urge the United physio to take Sparky to the sideline to continue treatment. Sparky came back on, but broke down almost immediately and was replaced by Rory Carson. I was hoping that this was going to make a difference, but Rory was handcuffed to two 'out of form' men in Downey and Jenks in midfield.

How Conor Downey keeps his place at the expense of Carson is difficult to understand, but he seems to be curry favour among the Spike crew. The number of times he got caught in possession yesterday against a team four rungs below us is hard to fathom. His first move is back and that is a recipe for disaster giving our benevolent defending. He was aided and abetted by team Captain Jenks, I know he has no pace, but the visitors were far faster than him and he obviously left his shooting boots behind. Only Jordan Baker knows how he failed to find the target heading over the bar from an Elvis cross, it looked easier to score. Another man who was a virtual passenger yesterday was top scorer Cutch, he's not even taking up attacking positions anymore.

On-loan Johnny Taylor reported a tight hamstring and Archie was drafted in and I was on tenterhooks every time the ball came to him, remembering his disasters at Dergview and Seaview. I was already dreading the visitors getting a goal, because we were devoid of ideas going forward. Despite loads of possession we were creating little but Jenks had our best chance shooting over from 20 yards, a bad miss. The visitors came close from a Rosbotham free kick but Nelson was equal to it. With halftime approaching United spurned a glorious chance to take the lead when Cutch challenged the keeper for a loose ball and it somehow eluded them both and ended up in space. The first man on to it was Elvis but he shot hurriedly straight at the keeper instead of passing to the unmarked Cutch.

That was to prove a costly mistake when right away the visitors mounted an attack and Woods was drawn in to a tackle, no-one backed him up and the visiting winger hit over a hard and low cross which Archie unfortunately turned into his own net. I tell you I was beside myself in anger and frustration at our hapless defending and our all round incompetence. The visitors had hardly had a sniff at goal, but it was they and their supporters, a big number of them in our 'home' stand, obviously free-loaders, that were the happier. I must give credit to our manager here, he never lost his cool, although I suspect he was seething inside, former manager Roy Walker, often lost his cool and blamed everybody but himself, even the supporters, Spike kept his own counsel and he's to be admired for that.

2nd Half
I have no idea what was said at halftime, not much it seems, for United took the field 10 minutes later, a full five minutes before the opposition. Spike made one change with Ally Teggert coming on in place of Baker and immediately we looked like a different outfit. The visitors were still in the ascendency and took a piece of good old fashioned football to wrest this tie in United's favour. There seemed little danger when Woods slung over a cross from the right, but Ally stole in on the far post to plant a header into the net in the hour mark. Eight minutes later Cookie Munster delivered with a free header from a Rory corner to put United 2-1 up. I must confess here I missed this goal, I had to take a quick piss, but 3 minutes later he put a carbon copy over the bar, from another Rory corner, a bad miss. Finally Downey made way for Neil Lowry, which let Rory inside and we began to really tick.

In a move started by Rory, Jenks got a nose to the ball which clattered off the bar and referee Dunlop blew for some infringement or other. Elvis missed another free header from a Rory corner from the left this time and I wasn't starting get a sneaky feeling we had blown it and they would get an equaliser. They must have had that idea too and they started to probe our defensive frailties and we were only too happy to scramble the ball away. Curtis Woods came to our rescue with a last ditch tackle and we survived a late surge when the visitors got two corners. Cutch had a chance to relieve some pressure but he only gave the ball away with Elvis unmarked. In time added on Jenks saved our blushes when he blasted home from close range to make up for his earlier misses and give us a flattering 3-1 scoreline, but it was much closer than that.

Nelson (7), Woods (6), Black (7), Cookie (7), Archie (5), Sparky (6)(Sub: Rory 8,), Downey (5)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Jenks (6), Baker (5)(Sub: Ally 7,), Cutch (5), Elvis (6)

Man of the match: Rory

Ham Shank!

United were hit by a 'ham shank' with 8 minutes to go in a match where they deserved at least a share of the points. Reds substitute Joe Gormely hit a sweet left-foot shot from 20 yards leaving Dwayne Nelson in the Ballymena goal no chance and secured 3 points for his team. Spike sprung a surprise with his selection, dropping Carson and Ally for Jenks and Baker, in an attack minded 4,3,3 formation. Referee, Mark Courtney, the 'ham shank' referee, obviously brought no cards with him, for despite several cynical fouls, from the visitors no action was taken by the referee and in fact he blatantly ignored one foul which should have resulted in a sending off.

United's first chance came from a free kick from 30 yards, Tony Kane beat the red 'wall' but not the keeper John Connelly, who tipped it over for a corner. Nelson saved easily from Boyce and then tipped a shot from Caldwell round the post. The linesman at the Fisherwick end was giving cause for concern, not raising his flag for obvious offsides and missing one or two in the process. Jordan Baker missed a glorious chance when he intercepted a short back-pass, but shot wide of the target without testing the keeper, a bad miss. Conor Downey was getting caught in possession and United fans were imploring him to pass, instead of holding on and losing possession.

In an ironic twist of fate, a Downey challenge in midfield, when got his head to the ball in a tussle with Barry Johnston, saw Elvis clean through and when he was pulled down on the edge of the box, I was amazed that Courtney didn't even give the foul, but that would meant sending off the offending player and the referee was determined in not using his cards. That later spread to the 4th official when his electronic board stopped working, he was obviously not going to outdone, by the ham shank. United came within a whisker of taking the lead at the break when Taylor glancing header from a Cutch corner hit the inside of the post and although Jenks rebound seemed to cross the line referee Courtney said no goal and the chance was lost.

2nd half
In the first half it had been United in the ascendency, in the 2nd the Reds stepped up a gear and I hoped Spike would take action to change things sooner rather than later. Nelson saved well from an O'Carroll shot and Reds Tommy Breslin withdrew O'Carroll almost immediately and brought on leading scorer Chris Scannell, what an ace to have up your sleeve. Gavin Taggart, not renowned for his attacking ability, got to the byline and his cross was headed for a corner by a visiting defender with United's attackers standing idly by. I couldn't help thinking that if Spike was still playing he would have been on the end of the cross. United top scorer and the leagues top scorer, Cutch was having a disappointing match, giving the ball away and not taking up his usual good positions. With United being over-run in midfield it was obvious changes would have to be made, but I was surprised to see Baker making way for Sparky when it was obvious that Downey was struggling. Kane made a magnificent tackle to rob Caldwell in the box, although the Reds cheat dived beautifully.

In the best United move in the 2nd half Gavin fed Elvis and he pulled a tremendous save from Connelly who parried it to Cutch, who faced with an open goal tried to hit a spectacular volley, when surely he had time to pick his spot, in any event he hit the shot high and wide. In another incident, Cutch received the ball and instead of trying to angle for a shot, he passed, I couldn't believe it, maybe I thought he's keeping his options open for next season. The linesman at the Fisherwick end gave a goal-kick when it was obvious to everyone in the home stand that it was a corner and the normally impassive Spike was livid, remonstrating with the linesman, the referee and the 4th official, to no avail.

After Downey lost the ball twice in succession, Spike finally substituted him, bringing on Ally and I don't remember him getting a touch. The visitors had made another telling sub just before, with Gormely coming on for Boyce and he broke United hearts when he found a bit of space when the United defence lost their composure and drilled a shot beyond the reach of Nelson. Try as they might United could not get back on terms and Spike gave a run-out to young Davidson in place of Elvis, who stole the 'man of the match' plaudits for me. Gormely nearly doubled his teams tally in time added on but the crossbar came to United's rescue, after he had slipped Taylor. After the Irish cup next week, United will be on the road for two games away to Carrick and Distillery, as they say the 'nitty gritty' will start then!

Nelson (7), Kane (7), Black (7), Cookie (7), Taylor (7), Downey (5)(Sub: Ally 5,), Gavin (7), Jenks (6), Baker (6)(Sub: Sparky 6,), Elvis (8)(Sub: Davidson 6,), Cutch (5)

Man of the match: Elvis

Miz Kelly!

The difference between United and Ports last night at the Showgrounds was that Ports keeper Miskelly made two brilliant stops to deny Elvis and Cookie headers. I'm not criticising Dwayne Nelson in the United nets, for I don't think he had any chance with the two shots that beat him, he was let down by the men in front of him and with a strange substitution by manager Spike. The new manager sprang a surprise by selecting Conor Downey in place of the banned Jenks instead of the more reliable Sparky and he compounded this error when he substituted Elvis and Rory, both playing out of their skin and continuing with Downey and the out of form Cutch. Because of this substitution Downey was switched to right-midfield and Ports fullback Redman who Rory had kept in check, began to get a foothold in the game.

The Sky Blues started brightly and Elvis had a chance, but he shot weakly into the arms Miskelly. The visitors nearly got their noses in front when they got a free header at a corner but Nelson made the stop. Tony Kane and Rory were linking well down the right and from a Kane cross Elvis directed a powerful header at goal but Miskelly managed to divert for a corner. With halftime approaching United got their noses in front, when Elvis won a tussle with former Sky Blue man Chris Ramsay and swivelled to bury the ball in corner of the net with Miskelly stranded. United almost capitulated immediately and the visitors Sean Mackle missed a good opportunity to tie the game. But United went in at halftime with their noses in front thanks Elvis first goal for the club.

2nd half
United missed a glorious chance to stretch their lead, when Downey took the ball of Cutch's toe and with the goal at his mercy blasted wildly over the bar, a bad miss. That chance came in the 54th minute and 11 minutes later, Mackle fed Paget who shrugged aside a challenge from Cookie to shoot under Nelson's body. United stepped up the pace to try and get in front again and when Cutch went on a run into the penalty area, I thought he would attempt a shot on goal, but he tried to find Elvis and the chance went abegging. Spike made his two subs, taking off Rory and Elvis in bringing on Baker and Sparky, not even like for like. Elvis and Rory had been tormenting the Ports defence, but now they were getting a bit of breathing space.

Johnny Taylor just missed with a header at a corner and then from another corner Cookie thought he had given his team the lead only for Miskelly to somehow punch it over. Three minutes from time Redman was allowed too much space on the wing and when his cross was partially cleared it fell to Paget who drilled his shot into the corner of net leaving Nelson with no chance to save. United almost got a point when Baker cut in but his cross was somehow diverted over the bar by Ramsay's outstretched knee. Try as they might United couldn't get back on terms and they were left to reflect on a match they had dominated for long periods, without getting the vital goal, because as Spike the boys know very well, it's goals that count!

Nelson (7), Kane (7), Black (7), Cookie (6), Taylor (7), Carson (8)(Sparky 6,),Downey (6), Taggart (7), Ally (6), Cutch (6), Elvis (8)(Sub: Baker 6)

Man of the Match: Elvis