Gary's Blushes!

The hero against Chickenville in midweek, Gary Thompson, became the villain at Warden Street, when he missed two sitters, one in each half, though he did win us a penalty which started our fightback. But the real villain in the piece was referee Davey, he had a horrendous match, epitomised in not showing at least a yellow card for DC keeper John Connolly, who brought down Thompson. Spike made 2 changes from his starting line-up in midweek, Archie moved to leftback in place of the injured Ruddy, Gavin came in to Archie's place and Neil Lowry came in for Ally. The Sky Blue Sports crew were imploring Spike to start young Neil in place of Ally, but on this showing he's not quite ready and was substituted at halftime. The United defence had a nightmare first half and it was all down to mistakes. The only player in the back four who looked like a player, was Johnny Taylor, he continues to show leadership, more than be said about anyone of his fellow defenders.

With barely 8 minutes on the clock (referee Davey's first gaffe was to start the match 5 minutes early), so at 3 mins past 3, United found themselves a goal down, a goal that should've been avoided. Gargan of DC chased a long ball on the left wing but Cookie got between him and goal and then Gargan appeared to foul the United man, who had ample time to put the ball out of play, but referee Davey saw nothing and Gargan found the unmarked Miskimmon, who gave Nelson no chance. It was so like a gaffe Cookie made last season at Portadown, where he had ample time to put the ball out of play, but instead chose to be crafty, lost possession and we conceded a goal, all so simple. Worse was to follow when Archie got caught out of position (Archie's best position is sweeper, he'll never make a leftback), challenging for a high ball he had no mission of making and leaving his man free to find ex-United player Ryan Dean and he rifled the ball past Nelson to make the score 2-0.

I looked at my watch and it was 5 past 3, exactly 10 mins on the match clock and we were 2-0 down and we were all running about like headless chickens. When we did manage to string some passes together we couldn't find the target, despite loads of opportunities. Neil Lowry, who was struggling to say the least, did produce a bit of magic to set up Thompson, but with an open goal Gary dragged his shot wide. We must have forced ten corners but only two were telling corners, The first one of these was from the boot of Jamie D, Johnny Taylor with a free header couldn't find the target and the next one from boot of Tony Kane found Cookie's head but Connolly produced a brilliant save. Despite loads of possession United were guilty of over-elaboration (that's a mouthful), we fans were urging them to shoot instead of passing.

Chief villain in these events was none other than Cush, I sincerely hope he wasn't following orders, Cush needs to be unpredictable, it's his strength. Keeper Connolly was blatantly time-wasting but the referee took no action and striker Miskimmon was fouling at every opportunity and finally got booked. United suffered another killer blow when they failed to clear their lines and Cleary stuck out a leg to divert a cross beyond the reach of Nelson to make the score 3-0. That goal came 3 minutes before halftime and United, to their credit, continued to press forward and were rewarded when Connolly brought down Thompson as he knocked the ball past him. The referee's decision was a penalty but as it was goalscoring opportunity, surely a red card should've been flourished or failing this a yellow. But referee Davey had other ideas and took no action against the perpetrator. Captain Jenks duly stroked the penalty away and we had been given a lifeline we barely deserved.


2nd half
United had a dressing down at halftime I assumed, they were out early, that's usually a good sign that the manager has been quick in his team talk and to the point. Neil Lowry had made way for James McCabe and United set about the task of reducing the leeway. The DC defensive tactics were brutal to say the least and the number of times Jamie D and Jimmy Mac had their jerseys pulled is a testament to the kit makers Kukri for their durability, they didn't tear once. We pounded the DC defence, forced corners and when we were getting frustrated we finally scored. 60 mins was on the clock when Johnny Taylor's powerful header from a Kane corner, found the back of the net despite Connolly getting a hand to it.

A short time later from a Cush free-kick, which Connolly could only parry, Gary Thompson unbelievably headed over the bar from 3 yards. I turned to a fellow supporter in disbelief and we both agreed that a defender, presented with this opportunity to prevent a goal, would find it hard to head the ball over the bar for a corner, but Gary managed it. United weren't to be denied for long and just after referee Davey 'had grown a set' and booked one of the DC players for delay of game, Jamie D found the target with a neat turn and left-foot shot, to tie the scores at 3-3. That goal came in the 79 minute and United had ample time to go for the winner, but we're not there yet. Good teams go and clinch the points from a position like that, I think we were content to get a draw. I feel I must mention Gavin Taggart's contribution here, he was driving his team forward and was involved in everything good going forward, not sitting back, it's good to see. Miskimmon should've been sent off for kicking Taylor in the head in full view of the linesman, but he got away with it, blind or what.

There's one small point I feel I have to make now and it concerns a returning player, namely Ryan Deans. Whether Ryan feels aggrieved he didn't make as a United player, or not, I was disappointed by his unsportsmanlike behaviour, when after the referee had blown his whistle when a DC player was supposedly injured in their box, Ryan played the 'bounce-ball' into touch, instead of giving it back to the opposition as usually happens, except when your playing Limavady United. Admittedly there's no rule in the rule book which says you must give it back to the opposition, but as the referee appeared to give that instruction he has in his powers to administer a caution for ungentlemanly conduct, which I believe would been correct in this instance. It didn't make any difference to the result, but fairs, fair and we do like to see sportsmanship, it's what separates 'us' from the savages!


Nelson (7), Kane (6), Archie (6), Cookie (5), Taylor (8) Gavin (7), Jenks (6), Thompson (6), Cush (7), Lowry (5)(Sub: McCabe 7,), Jamie D (7)

Man of the match: Johnny Taylor