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