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