Double Cutch!

Gary McCutcheon finished his Ballymena career with two goals and was only denied a hat-trick, after an acrobatic save from Whites keeper Brennan, when cutting in from left. Despite the home team getting a fortunate penalty in the 90th minute this was an easier victory than the 3-2 scoreline suggests. United manager Spike made two changes to his line-up from last week's match, young keeper McCauley Cairns made his debut in goals in place of the absent Dwayne Nelson and Ross Black got a start in midfield in place of Alan D, who was one of the subs. It's safe to say Cairns started rather nervously and the Whites with the wind at their backs tried to give him a rough baptism to Premier league football. Within 2 minutes he had to take his first goal-kick and he made a hash of it, he trundled it along the ground to Whites striker Ligget. Ligget took off for goal but missed the target and the ball went behind for a goal-kick, this time Cairns made good contact.

His ordeal wasn't over yet and he made a hash of a back-pass and I think this had something to do with the Whites taking a deserved lead in the 11th minute. Johnny Taylor was competed for a through ball with Ligget but seemed reluctant to make a pass back to his keeper and Ligget dispossessed him before rifling a shot past Cairns. Six minutes later veteran striker Davy Larmour was unlucky to see his shot come back off a post after he ghosted past Dickie Vauls. In a rare United move, Elvis introduced Pat McShane to Susan but couldn't find a telling pass to a United forward. The home team have a long-throw specialist in Andy Hunter and the United defence was subjected to several in the first half. We managed to deal with them all in a mixture of skill and good fortune. Cutch, who has been taking it easy for a few weeks, trying to set his team-mates up for a goal, rather than having a go himself, found his fellow Scotsman Jenks with a lovely weighted pass. But the ball seemed to hold up and Brennan in the home goal came and collected the ball. Cutch then tried his luck from 20 yards but couldn't find the target.

Johnny Taylor was finding Ligget, who has been linked with United as a possible replacement for Cutch, a hot handful. Ligget looks like a real target man, able to shield the ball and lay it off, just what we are looking for. Previous manager Roy 'blame the fans' Walker, had told us he had got his man in Jordan Baker, before the start of season, that proved to be a fallacy, but Ligget really looks like the 'real deal', only time will tell. Gary Thompson, the other Whites player we are said to be looking at, had a quiet game, but a few nice touches. The ploy of playing Ross Black in midfield wasn't working and it was obvious that a change would have to made at halftime, if not sooner. United couldn't get a foothold in the match, the final pass often going astray and this was summed up when we took a short corner on the right and Cutch ending up giving the ball away. Keeper Cairns came to our rescue getting a fist to a corner and he seemed to be growing in confidence and we looked like we could hold out to halftime. Referee McNabb duly blew for halftime and that was the signal for Sky Blue fans to start analysing what changes Spike needed to make and to a man they agreed, that Alan D needed to come on.

2nd half

Alan D did come on at the start of the 2nd half in place of Ross Black and immediately we started to look like the team that's gone 11 games unbeaten. Two minutes into the half Alan D found Ally with a delightful pass and he gave Brennan no chance with a left-foot shot to tie the scores at 1-1. Alan D found himself an opening soon after but with time he went for the spectacular and missed the target. Elvis, who was having a quiet game, cut-in on left but couldn't find the target. Spike decided he had seen enough and replaced Elvis with Baker and he rifled a shot narrowly off target within a minute of coming on. United won a corner on the left in the 67th minute but when this was partially cleared, Ligget back defending was clearly seen to handle the ball and the linesman flagged for a penalty. Despite the protests the penalty stood and Cutch drilled the ball into the net for his 33rd goal of the season and gave United a 2-1 cushion. Alan D tried a volley from 25 yards which went miles over the bar and Cutch tried to chip the keeper from difficult angle but missed the target. But in 75th minute we saw a piece of magic that was well worth the admission charge and I was glad I was there to see it.

Cutch was found out the left from another delightful Alan D pass, he weaved his way into the area and beat Brennan with a delightful left-foot shot for his 34th goal of the season and a fitting finale to the wee Scotsman's career in a Sky Blue jersey. He wasn't finished though and he could have had a hat-trick but Brennan made a marvellous stop from point blank range, but maybe a chip would have been the better option but he decided to blast it. The Whites got a lifeline in the 90th minute when they were awarded a penalty for an infringement I couldn't see, I thought it was a good tackle, but despite converting the spot-kick to make the score 3-2, there was be no fairy-tale ending and United's Ally Teggart missed a glorious chance when he couldn't convert at the far post with the goal gaping, when Alan D found with another delightful pass. As the final whistle sounded to bring to the end, not just a match, but a season, we were left to wonder that if our board had, had the 'balls' to sack Roy Walker earlier, would we be playing in the top six now, not competing in the also-rans league, we'll never know!

Cairns (7), Rodgers (7),Vauls (6), Taylor (6), Archie (8), Gavin (7), Black (5)(Sub: Alan D 8,), Jenks (7), Ally (7), Elvis (6)(Sub: Baker 7,) Cutch (8)

Man of the match: Alan D

Susan Bap!

Johnny Taylor I have to say has had a steadying influence on the United defence since his loan move from Glentoran, yesterday I'm afraid to say was not one of those. Whether he found it difficult to mark former team-mate Gary Hamilton, on his day one of the best players in our league, or just wasn't in form, I honestly don't know. I'm tempted to quote a line from a 'Kipling' poem, which goes something like 'if you can keep your head when all around you are losing there's' etc.etc. Johnny struggled to keep his during the match, getting caught in possession, taking ill advised short free-kicks and giving the ball away needlessly. Having 'gifted' Glenavon their first goal with a disastrous weak header he done the only decent thing, scored with a powerful header in the 92 minutes to ensure United's unbeaten run goes on and score the first goal (I hope of many) in his United career.

United took to the field with a unchanged team, Chris Rodgers, who had had to come off in the last two games was fitter, although he did look unsure at times but nearly back to his best. But it's true to say that the entire back four, looked unsteady, but when your defensive leader is having a wobbly, it tends to spread. The first half wasn't much to write home about, the United defence seemed intent in shooting themselves in the foot due to slipshod defending and their failure to clear their lines. The normally reliable Dwayne Nelson in nets almost scored an own goal when he punched corner goalwards, but Gavin Taggart spared his blushes with a goal-line clearance. Elvis, the enigma, surfaced one again as he burst into the box and with everyone waiting for a cross, he hit it harmlessly by. Alan D (who rumour has it is talking to Portadown, unconfirmed), had a shot over the bar and despite forcing a few corners we only came close once, when an Elvis header was cleared off the line and nobody could get the final touch. Brian McCaul should've given the visitors the lead before halftime when clean through, but he scuffed his shot and missed the target.

2nd half
Two minutes into the second-half United took the lead when Alan D found Elvis in the box and he delivered a rasping shot that fairly rifled into the net. It's true to say we were in the ascendency then and could've and should've have made the game safe, but we tried to make it 'look good', instead of being clinical. Alan D was guilty of that when he burst through the visitors defence, rounded the keeper and then instead being clinical he tried to make it look spectacular, and Shannon was able to clear off the line. Next it was Ally getting on a through ball but his weak shot took a deflection off the keeper Coleman and resulted in a fruitless corner. My 'pet hate', short free-kicks and short corners, raised it's ugly head when Cutch and Ally combined at a corner on the right, Cutch found his route blocked to goal, he passed to Gavin, who found Archie and he had no option but play the ball back to Dwayne, what waste of an attacking position. The visitors came close to levelling the tie when Hamilton found Doherty unmarked but his header drifted wide.

The United defence didn't heed this warning and were undone after 70 minutes but referee Tim Marshall had a hand in it. The referee chose to ignore a foul on Elvis on the halfway line and allowed the visitors to mount an attack through Hamilton, he in turn fed the ball through and the normally reliable Johnny Taylor's half-hearted header fell into the path of McCaul and he duly scored. Spike then decided to make a change, replacing Elvis with Jordan Baker. Referee Marshall booked Gavin Taggart for his protests when he (the referee), missed a blatant handball. From the resultant free-kick, the visitors won a corner which Hamilton took and from Dwayne's weak punch the ball was headed goalwards again and Dwayne was impeded but the ball ending up in the net and despite the protests was allowed to stand. Spike took off Alan D and brought on Rory Carson but Glenavon were in the ascendency at this stage and it was hard to see where United could find a way back into the game.

I think at this stage Glenavon missed a trick, they were so intent in wasting time instead of going and making the match safe. The referee chose to ignore the visitors introducing a second ball to the field of play and the United defence stopped and almost conceded a third goal, Nelson only saving at the expense of a corner. Spike made his last substitution with Jamie D replacing Cutch, who came off to a standing ovation, his last match for United at home. The 90 minutes was up and we were in stoppage time and the visitors tried to run the clock down but United somehow got possession and for once the ball was punted long. Baker was on his own with three defenders round him but they were glad to concede the corner on the left. It was our last chance and even Dwayne came up for the corner, Rory's delivery was spot on, Johnny Taylor got his 'bap' firmly to the ball and United had pulled a draw for the jaws of defeat. I don't feel any sympathy for Glenavon, they were so intent in time-wasting and they got what they deserved, in fact, they, with the referee's help, nearly stole the three points, when they shouldn't have got any!


Nelson (6), Rodgers (6), Vauls (6), Taylor (6), Archie (6), Alan D (6)(Sub: Carson 7,), Jenks (6), Gavin (6), Ally (6) Cutch (6)(Sub Jamie D 6,), Elvis (7)(Sub: Baker 7,)

Man of match: Elvis

Magic Trick!

The enigma that is Elvis (Jay Costello), has definitely revealed his true potential under the Spike Ferguson management. It's true to say that he was struggling to perform consistently all season. Take the first match United played in this league campaign against Lisburn Distillery as an example. He was undoubtedly the 'man of the match' and then the very next game he was like a 'fish out of water'. Added to this indifferent form, he couldn't literally score his 'arse in barbed wire' as the saying goes, I can't remember the number of sitters he missed, all just needing a touch. But in the last three games he has scored 6 goals, including a hat-trick yesterday, all with shots and he modestly gives the credit to his manager, Spike. Not only that he's introduced a new word to the high country vocabulary, 'Susaned', I'm sure every Sky Blue fan has a theory on that one.

United for the 3rd game in a row, started with the same line-out and maybe our management team showed is still fairly 'green' by selecting Chris Rodgers, despite him being stretchered off at Dungannon. It's easy to be wise after the event, but surely the fact that the player was carried off with suspected concussion, meant that he should have a reserve match under his belt or a substitute appearance before being selected to start. Anyway he only lasted 20 minutes (in fact it was only 15 minutes, it took another 5 minutes for our sub to get ready to take the field). As at Dungannon Ross Black replaced him with Vauls moving to rightback. We had not started well and Carrick were troubling us with long throws and corner- kicks but Dwayne Nelson in goals was a steadying influence.

Alan D had a shot early on which just missed the target and Ally's tried to beat former United keeper Paul Murphy with a shot with the outside of his boot, but the keeper saved. The game was not pretty to watch as we were content to let Carrick dictate the play and then hit them on the break. This ploy finally paid off in the 29th minute when Jenks found Elvis and he beat his marker before planting his shot in the Carrick net to give United a 1-0 lead. United were forced to make another substitute, Gavin Taggart coming off and Rory Carson coming on. Not to outdone Carrick had made 2 substitutions as well, I idly wondered if it was the hard bumpy pitch that was to blame for some players injuries. Despite 3 minutes of added time Carrick couldn't reduce the leeway and United went in at halftime leading by a goal to nil.

2nd half
Elvis got his 2nd goal and United's 2nd seven minutes after the break, when Johnny Taylor was found by Alan D's pass and his header left Elvis with the simple task of sweeping the ball into the net (I say simple and he made it look simple, but I suspect United fans, me included, were holding their breath in case he messed up). Carrick renewed their efforts to get a foothold in the match and substitute Owens missed the target on a couple of occasions. In another Carrick attack, Dwayne, whom I was just praising in the first half, sprinted from his line and was caught in 'no man land' but Archie & Co managed to scramble the ball away. I honestly thought we would ship a goal, as Carrick forced umpteen corners and long throw-ins but we held firm and rode our luck.

We were still relying on breakaways and Cutch was out of luck on at least three occasions, hitting the best one straight at the keeper, when we all expected him to score. Ally, was showing a return to form and he skipped past his marker, but shot instead of playing Elvis or Cutch in. Rory, found himself in space and with Elvis and Cutch waiting for a pass he decided to shoot and found the side netting. Finally United got the clincher goal that wrapped up the points in the 81st minute. Ally left his marker for dead, got to the by-line and set up Elvis who slammed the ball into the net to make the score 3-0 to United and complete a memorable hat-trick for himself. A minute later he came off to a standing ovation and with Jamie D taking his place. There was no further scoring and United had run out winners by the score of 3-0, but I definitely think it could been closer, but maybe that's going to be the Spike tactics and we'd best get used to it, a 3-0 victory and I'm complaining, no way!

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

Man of the match: Elvis Jay Costello

Sporting Relief!

The small band of United supporters who remain ever loyal to the cause, witnessed a real act of sportsmanship which turned what threatened to be an ugly incident, that I must lay fairly and squarely at referee Andy Hunter's door,to a thing to be admired. I and my colleagues at Sky Blue Sport have been critical of Swifts player/coach Darren Murphy in the past, the former United man, who informed us he needed an operation on his knee and was released from his contract and a few weeks later he was playing again for the Dung and no operation. But now I'm full of admiration for him and sincerely hope he hasn't cause to regret his act of 'sportsmanship' as Dung fight to avoid relegation.

Spike made one change from the team that started at D.C. Ally in for Jamie D, the returning Ross Black and Cookie Munster had to settle for a place on the bench after being banned for last Saturday . Referee Andy Hunter set his stall out early, when United Captain Jenks was floored in midfield, he didn't even give a foul. Five minutes later Alan D was adjudged guilty of foot-up but as far as I could see the Swifts player arrived late on the scene and there was no way for Alan to avoid the collision. But referee Hunter 'booked' him and a few minutes later booked United rightback Chris Rodgers for a mistimed tackle catching the ball with his right hand and making sure it went in to touch. From the resultant free-kick, Rodgers was floored in a incident missed by the referee and yours truly and lay prone on the edge of United's penalty box.

It was obvious to everyone in the ground that Rodgers was unconscious, but the referee didn't stop play and Gavin Taggart took matters into his hand and caught the ball. The referee blew, the physios rushed on the field and Rodgers was duly stretchered off. The Swifts players who had been clamouring for a penalty were duly awarded one but Darren Murphy intimated that he was not going to try and score and merely rolled the ball to United keeper Dwayne Nelson and received a warm round of applause from everyone in the ground. Two minutes after the restart we finally managed to a get a sub on (I thought we'd have this sussed out by now, but the Roy Walker legacy lives on), Ross Black, which meant Dickie Vauls switching to rightback.

This incident seemed to have more of an effect on United, as result we were constantly under pressure with the Swifts slick passing on the bumpy surface and we couldn't get a foothold in the game. Cutch and Elvis seemed out of touch although Cutch was fouled persistently by Montgomery and Hunter finally booked him. When a Swifts player handled the ball when United were attacking no yellow card was flourished and the Alan D free-kick deflected of the Swifts wall for a corner. United were under the cosh for long periods and despite some near misses they held out to halftime. Just before the halftime whistle the Swifts were attacking and Cutch collected the ball on halfway, slipped his marker only be 'hauled' down by Montgomery, a sending-off offence or at least a yellow card, the referee took no action rather than to award a free-kick.

2nd half
United took the lead in the 50th minute when Jenks found Elvis on the edge of box and found Ally who had switched to the right, he skipped by the keeper and slotted the ball into the net. This goal gave our team a bit of confidence and it was no surprise when we increased our lead 10 minutes later. After another handball near the Swifts penalty box, which brought a yellow card this time, Ross Black's free kick was headed home by the league's leading scorer Cutch for his 32nd goal of the season. Four minutes later despite the hailstones which were falling, United increased their lead when Cutch found Elvis and he scored United's 3rd. That should've been it but the Swifts who took off player/coach Darren Murphy to warm applause got a lifeline in the 76 minute when Craig McClean fired in a thunderbolt which Nelson could only watch as it slammed into the net.

That set set-up a grandstand finish and the Swifts fans who had been somewhat subdued finally found their voice. There were rewarded in the 84th minute when in a goalmouth scramble Montgomery squeezed the ball into the net. That brought more Swifts pressure but in a rare breakaway Elvis was unlucky to see his shot turned for a corner when the goalie flung himself in desperation. This chance was set-up by Rory Carson who had come on to replace Captain Jenks and Jamie D who had replaced Ally. The Dung boys kept the pressure up at the other end but Dwayne and his defence were equal to it. In a last ditch attacking ploy they sent their keeper up for a corner and when the ball was cleared Alan D found Cutch and he in turn found Jamie D and he duly found the net to wrap up the points and score his first senior goal, the first of many I sincerely hope. I was glad I made the trip to the Dung heap, for I had seen at first hand a memorable United victory and Darren Murphy stirred old memories about which this games all about, sportsmanship!

Nelson (8), Rodgers (6)(Sub: Black 6,), Taylor (7), Archie (7), Vauls (7), Alan D (7), Jenks (7)(Sub: Carson 6,), Gavin (7), Ally (7)(Sub: Jamie D 7,), Cutch (8), Elvis (7)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Susan Who!

You may think that's a strange headline, but Elvis (or Jay as he likes to be called), calls his nutmegs 'Susan'. At the end of the day speculation as to why they called so is irrelevant, United supporters just want to see more of them and more of the two super goals he scored at Celtic Park in this one-sided victory. The small crowd of United fans (150 or so), were treated to three superb goals and D.C. man of the match, former Sky Blue Goosey Robinson, pulled of a string of saves to rescue his team from a trouncing. United showed two changes from the team that whipped the Glens in their last match, Johnny Taylor was restored to central defence, freeing Captain Jenks to take his accustomed role in midfield and Dickie Vauls got the leftback slot in the absence of the suspended Ross Black. Rory was dropped to the bench and I and the small number of fans were surprised and delighted, to see Jordan Baker among the subs.

The pitch at Celtic Park wasn't up to standard, but that didn't stop Elvis and with only sixty seconds on the clock he set us on our way. Cutch, playing out on the right in United's 4,3,3 formation, found his mate Jenks with a pass, he fed Elvis on the right, he in turn 'Susaned' his marker and rifled an unstoppable shot past Goosey to give United the lead. Thirteen minutes later he repeated the dose this time on the left, he once more Susaned his marker before beating Goosey to put United 2-0 ahead. D.C. at this stage seemed to be shell-shocked and they should've been 3-0 nil down when Jamie D latched onto a through ball and with the goal at his mercy decided to try and chip the keeper, but Goosey saved at the expense of a corner. Little was seen of the home side in attack, but the United defence was looking decidedly 'creaky' early on, but improved as the game wore on.

Elvis was sporting a new haircut and I wondered if it was his 'hairstyle' that had contributed to his spectacular misses in a Sky Blue shirt. Then again maybe it is 'Susan' we have to thank for this turn around in his shooting skills, or has Spike been giving him the benefit of his vast experience. Whatever it was, I and the Sky Blue faithful (the true United men), who were at this match, are just glad he is starting to find his feet. D.C. missed a glorious chance to reduce the leeway when McVeigh sneaked in, despite being blatantly offside, but he missed the goal when he perhaps should've scored. The linesman at that end was useless and he compounded this by flagging for offside at the end of the half when it seemed no-one was offside.

2nd half
United completed their scoring 3 minutes after the break when Alan D notched his 3rd goal in 5 games with a shot past a bemused Goosey. Cutch, was the provider feeding Alan D in the box and he clipped a glorious half-volley in the top corner of the net leaving Goosey grasping thin-air. With no TV cameras there from BBC or UTV, we'll have to rely on Sky Blue TV for the highlights (armchair supporters take note, you missed three cracker goals). United could and should have scored a bag-full, but like our last match at Glens we're decidedly wasteful and Goosey was in top form. Elvis, Susaned his marker again, but this time decided to cross, instead of going for goal when he had made an angle for himself.

The linesman at this end which United were attacking in the 2nd period had wakened up and I can't honestly say he got any offsides wrong, but they were all close not the bare-faced blunders he had made in the first half. Although perfectly positioned on the by-line he did deny United a corner when the ball was over the byline, maybe he needs a trip to Specsavers after all. United youngster Jamie D, made way for Jordan Baker and he nearly scored when his shot was stopped by Goosey with his feet, Alan D follow-up was blocked. The United defence was obviously missing being involved in the action and they contrived to give D.C. a lifeline, but Dwayne was having none of it.

Spike continuing to make the changes, Elvis came off to a standing ovation and Ally came on and with his second touch failed to find a United player with the D.C. defence in shreds. Neil Lowry was the next to come on and the strangely subdued Cutch made way for him. Cutch, reportedly on a £50 a goal bonus, seems to be content now to be a provider than scoring himself. Maybe he thinks with 31 goals to his credit there's not much incentive and another £200 or £300 isn't going to make a any difference to the lot of a cheese-packer. Whatever the reason he still tries his best for the team and although he was not his sharpest he didn't have a free kick which bounced of the wall for a corner. Johnny Taylor, got his head to a another free-kick which came back off the crossbar. Despite the requisite 3 minutes of added time there was no more scoring and United kept the unbeaten run going and kept a clean sheet into the bargain!

Nelson (8), Rodgers (8), Vauls (7), Taylor (7), Archie (7), Alan D (8), Jenks (7), Taggart (8), Jamie D (6)(Sub: Baker 6,), Cutch (7)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Elvis (8)(Sub: Ally 6,)

Man of the match: Elvis (and Susan)!