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