Not Missed!

To all the players who had to sit out United's encounter with champions Linfield, for one reason or another, I have to say you weren't really missed. Because of injury,suspension and something better to do on a Saturday afternoon, United were missing 9 players and they had three teenagers on their bench. In the absence of Kane and Rodgers Spike switched the versatile Vaulsey to rightback and he hardly put a foot wrong, including two timely clearances. Spike then brought in former Crues player Michael Ruddy at leftback and after a somewhat shaky start he was incredible and looks pacey. Reliable Archie slotted in, in front of the defence in our 4,1,3,2 formation and he had his best game for sometime.

The midfield trio of Captain Jenks, Cush and Ally never gave their opposite numbers in the Blues midfield any respite and Cush in particular was a constant threat. Elvis looked slow and missing the most of pre-season with a thigh injury has taken it's toll, but he showed a few nice touches. Jamie D on the other hand was a revelation and gave Stephen 'U couldn't score in Ahoghill' Douglas a torrid time in the first half. Cookie Munster partnered Johnny Taylor at the back and it's safe to say they were the rock that the Linfield forwards found impregnable. Dwayne in goal did everything that was asked of him and rode his luck when he feebly punched a cross. At the other end Elvis should have done better with Cush free-kick sending his free header wide.

United had started brightly and nearly took the lead in the 5th minute when Ally nipped between Murphy and Blaney only to see his lob clear the crossbar. The linesman at the Fisherwick end 'missed' a blatant offside and Cookie, who had made up ground, earned himself a booking with a professional foul on McAllister. Elvis was cleaned in the box but referee Courtenay waved play on and all in fairness he denied the visitors two for diving, I think Garret's one was a twist in the piked position, or was that Tom Daley. United took the lead in the 43rd minute after Cush found Jamie D with deft back-heel (which Paul Hardy would have been proud of) and the youngster left Douglas for dead and calmly slotted the ball past Blaney to rapturous applause.

The board was held up for two minutes of added time and after Cookie cleared the ball after some pressure by the visitors, McAllister 'went through' him, missed by both linesman and referee. Elvis should have punished them when he found himself in the clear but he delayed too long and the chance was lost. Despite Cookie lying injured in our penalty box, the Linfield players showing their unsportmanship, were no hurry to kick the ball into touch and the referee had to call play to a halt and no action was taken against the perpetrator, McAllister. When the halftime whistle sounded United came off to rapturous applause from the sparse crowd. I couldn't help wondering if in later years people would be asking 'where were you when Jamie D scored his first home goal', I was there.

2nd half
Elvis who had been limping didn't come out for the 2nd half, with Baker taking his place, but the pattern remained the same, Linfield pressure and United hitting on the break. Cush, looking fitter, sped up the right wing and surprised Blaney (but not me), by going for goal and the keeper made a good save. Baker was leading the line well and the blues had no answer to the surging runs of Jenks and Cush. Cush set up Jamie D with another back-heel and he was unlucky to see his shot clear the crossbar with Blaney well beaten. Then it was Cush bursting down the left wing cutting inside and blasting a shot past Blaney only to see it striking the bar, it would made a great goal.

Ally who had been rather quiet, suddenly sprung to life, winning the ball in the centre circle and releasing Jamie D with a delightful pass and the ace marksman out-sprinted the creaking Blues defence before slotting the ball past Blaney to make the score 2-0 and his personally tally to two as well. Matthew Tipton, who United tried to sign in the close season, before he opted for Linfield, had come on in the 2nd half and on this showing we had a lucky escape, he had a touch like an elephant. Jordan Baker had to be replaced when he wilted under a foul tackle, missed by the officials. He had tried to carry on and was eventually replaced by youngster Corey Price. Jamie D crowned a great display by out-foxing two Linfield players on the touchline at the corner flag, was there a Susan there I wondered and sprinting into the box only to be tripped, but the referee waved play on.

Despite United only making one substitution in playing time, Baker was substituted at halftime so the ref didn't have to stop his watch, he saw fit to add on 4 minutes. But if this was a ploy to get the blues a goal, it foundered on a great United display and a great home win. I have to say the referee was consistent, he booked two Linfield players for dissent, ignored them fouling at every opportunity, he denied both teams 'penalty' shouts and booked United players with wild abandon, five yellow cards seems a bit extreme to me, but we know from the past the 'ham shank' Courtenay is consistently bad. But lets not take anything away from this great victory crafted by Spike and his ex-Linfield team-mates, it was almost perfection. I don't want to sound too hopeful, the pessimist in me is saying 'remember last year', but it was great, same line-up again for me, barring injuries of course!


Dwayne (7), Vaulsey (8), Ruddy (8), Cookie (7), Taylor (8), Archie (8), Cush (8), Jenks (8), Ally (7), Elvis (7)(Sub: Baker 7,Sub Price 7,), Jamie D (8)

Man of the match: Jamie D