Captain Marvel!

Captain Alan Jenkins pushed into a role of emergency central defender, stamped his authority on this match with a polished performance and without doubt his best performance in a Sky Blue jersey. United were forced into four changes due to injury, suspension and unavailability, which meant a recall for Archie to form a new central defensive pairing with Jenks and meant young Jamie Davidson starting in place of the injured Ally Teggert. Gavin Taggart started in centre midfield along with Alan D and the enigma, Elvis started up front with top scorer Cutch.

United weren't overawed by the opposition and Elvis tested Morris in the Glens goal with a crisp shot and shortly after this, nearly chipped the keeper despite having his shirt tugged, the ball going the wrong side of the post. In a rare Glens attack referee Crangle harshly booked Archie for a clumsy tackle on the edge of the box. From the resultant free-kick the United wall done its job. United's and the leagues leading scorer, Cutch, nearly added to his tally with a free-kick, Morris making a superb save at the expense of a corner. From the resultant corner Chris Rodgers should done better when Morris dropped the ball at his feet.

At the other end Glens won a corner and United old boy Eamon Murray shot hit the post and Rory Carson headed off the line as Leon Knight headed goalwards in the follow-up. Jamie D, who had started nervously, was beginning to find his feet and referee Crangle failed to book a Glens defender after a heavy tackle on the youngster, Cutch, not to be outdone was the subject of a late tackle in midfield and the referee flourished the card this time. Despite the one minute of added time, there was no more scoring and the teams went in at halftime with the score locked at 0-0.

2nd half
United should've have taken the lead in the 46th minute, when Cutch set up Elvis, but the 'enigma' dragged his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Alan D, who had a quiet first half, came more into the picture and in one scintillating run, brought the best from Morris. Elvis 'missed' anther chance when he dwelt too long on the ball and the ball was cleared. On the hour mark Alan D was replaced by Dickie Vauls, with Jenks moving to midfield and Vauls moving to central defence. Five minutes later, Jenks got on the end of an Elvis cross and nodded the Sky Blues into a deserved lead. Three minutes later he repeated the dose from a Rory Carson corner to notch the Sky Blues two ahead. He could have and should have completed a hat-trick when Cutch unselfishly set him up, but he dragged his shot wide, with the goal at his mercy.

Elvis made way for Neil Lowry and the home team started to gain a foothold in the match. Nelson came to his side's rescue with a smart save and it was plain to see we were losing our grip in midfield. To this end Spike withdrew young Jamie D, with Corey Price taking his place. The substitution didn't have the desired effect, we had no outlet and former United striker Gibbo, who had come on as sub was getting way too much freedom for my liking. United failed to clear their lines properly with about a minute to go and former Sky Blue, Eamon Murray drilled a right-foot shot from 25 yards, which hit the post and Gibbo reduced the arrears to leave United hanging on by 2-1, when they had missed at least three gilt edged chances.

During the 3 minutes added time, Leon Knight tried to con the referee to try to win a penalty, but Crangle waved away the appeal. Despite this scare, United held out for a memorable victory which takes their unbeaten run to 7 games. Their next league game is away to D.C. who are four points ahead of us in the race for seventh place. A victory there would make us virtually safe but it would take a major collapse for us to be dragged into the relegation play-off, so we are relatively safe, I think. Spike no doubt got a look at a few fringe players today and I was impressed by Dickie Vauls who came on and played as if central defender was his true position. But the man who really impressed today in defence was Chris Rodgers, who kept Stephen Carson quiet and that says it all!

Nelson (8), Rodgers (8), Black (7), Archie (7), Jenks (8) Rory (7), Alan D (7)(Sub: Vauls 7,), Gavin (7), Jamie D (7)(Sub: Price 6,), Elvis (7)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Cutch (7)

Man of the match: Jenks