Another Bungle!

United's trip and subsequent victory over Newry looks to be in vain, recent signing Alan Davidson, who scored the winner, is thought to be ineligible. Rule 4 of the Irish cup rules clearly state that a player has to registered before 31 January, to be eligible. Alan Davidson only signed late February and therefore that makes him ineligible. There's a dispute as to whether the blame lies with us or the I.F.A. (or the Bunglers as I call them), anyway head or heads should surely roll. But wait, if it the I.F.A. or the 'sugar daddies' as Linfield call them, who have made a bad call, it will just be glossed over like all the rest of the bungles they have made over the years.

I can't still get my head round all the latest news that the I.F.A. have told Linfield (their team I know), that they're going to get £200,000 a year and they can use that as part of their budget, the mind boggles. Not only that, they have loaned the Crues nearly £60,000 to pay the tax man, or face winding up and the Glens nearly £80,000 to avoid the same. I know where we are going wrong now, we should run mammoth debts and let the I.F.A. pay for them, it seems it the only way, our dear friends the Coleraine scum did it successfully and got away with it, they can't pay, they won't pay.

Now to the match as I'm starting to sound like Omar, United took the field with one change from their starting line-up, Alan Davidson in for Gavin Taggart. This change gave the United midfield a disjointed look and meant team Captain Jenks lying a bit deeper than usual. It only took six minutes for Alan to forget his deep role and he sprinted down the left flank and his excellent cross was swept home by Cutch. After this dream start United seemed to lose their way somewhat. They allowed Newry to dictate things in midfield and referee Andy Hunter did us no favours by punishing us at every opportunity. The referee booked the United Captain when he, Jenks, was fouled right in front of where I was standing, a miscarriage of justice if I ever saw one.

The United defence dealt capably with the Newry attack and Chris Rodgers in particular was revelling in his role. Not so the other fullback Ross Black who seemed to be giving his player too much space. Not much was seen of the United attack in this phase, we seemed be trying to do it with one pass instead building up some pressure. Elvis missed a great opportunity when Cutch delivered a cross but enigmatic Elvis couldn't get a touch. Davidson came within an ace of breaking his 'duck' when his shot from 25 yards came back off the post with the keeper stranded. Three minutes before the break disaster struck for United when Jenks was brutally fouled on the halfway-line and in a carbon copy the referee decided he was the culprit and his second yellow led to his sending off.

The United team and fans were shell-shocked at this turn of events and before we had a chance to get organised Newry got a foothold in the match. From a short corner Rodgers and Cookie seemed to get in each others way and Newry forward Haveron was left the simple task of finding the net. A bad defensive goal and TV pictures later show the Newry player taking a 'dive' resulting in Jenks getting sent off. Jenks on the other hand should have been exercising caution, but is hard for him to change his combative style, but he must lead by example. It was obvious that United needed to change their formation and with the halftime whistle approaching they would get time to do that.

2nd half
Elvis made way for Tony Kane who slotted into midfield and United began to dictate the pace of the match. Not much was seen of the home team in the second half, they seemed to lose their way, sure they forced several corners, but the United defence dealt capably with them. United striker Cutch has but one failing, he is unwilling to challenge for high balls usually. But not in this match, he was challenging like an old-fashioned centre-forward, not only challenging but winning and it was delightful to see. Try as they might United couldn't get the breakthrough and Kane shot wide from 30 yards. Cutch found space on the right and hit a crisp shot but the keeper was equal to it.

Alan Davidson broke clear and his shot was handled on the line but referee Hunter gave a corner, there's obvious no end to his incompetence. It was plain to see it was going to take something special to break the deadlock and with fifteen minutes remaining United won a free kick about 35 yards from goal. Up stepped Tony Kane and his pile-driver was only parried by the Newry keeper and the alert Davidson clipped the rebound into the net to give United a 2-1 lead. Moments later Dwayne popped a header from a corner up in the air and caught again, a sigh of relief from the United fans. Alan Davidson made way for Archie with the match in its closing stages and United held out for a victory and a semi-final meeting with Linfield, maybe!

Nelson (7), Rodgers (7), Black (6), Cookie (7), Taylor (7), Carson (6), Jenks (6), A.Davidson (7)(Sub: Archie 6,), Ally (7), Elvis (6)(Sub: Kane 8,), Cutch (8)

Man of the match: Cutch