Flat Beer!

In the build-up to this match I thought it was going to be a humdinger, but it turned to be a disappointing fixture because of the Lards cynical tactics aided and abetted by a weak referee. True to form the Lards were incisive going forward, but their constant fouling and niggling tactics when United tried to play football were plain to see. How the referee, failed to book a Lards forward when he kicked United's Johnny Taylor off the ball, beggars belief and I think he has to bear the responsibility for the melee just before halftime right in front of the United dugout. If he had taken charge earlier in the game and flourished at least a yellow card for the incident involving Taylor getting kicked, he might have nipped it in the bud. I hate to say this but I think Johnny was taking retribution when he fouled Feeney on the touchline which necessitated in them both being substituted.

United,with one change in their line-up from the previous week, Taylor replacing the suspended Cookie, actually won the toss and decided to attack their favourite Fisherwick end the first half. They started brightly and Cush found himself in space but his shot was wide and didn't trouble keeper Rouse in the Lards goal. The United defence went asleep in the 12th minute and it was the left flank that was found wanting. The Lards nippy forwards blazed a trail right through our weak tackles and when nobody went to close Curran on the right, he had ample time to cross and pick out Feeney and his free header found the back of the net. When I played football many moons ago, we were always taught to not let crosses in, but the United defence haven't learned that lesson, yet. The remainder of the half was mainly played in the Fisherwick end and the Lards were breaking up play at will and the ref took no action.

They had a well oiled offside trap, but I wasn't unduly worried about this, for in my experience this usually is a teams downfall, they get caught and somebody gets in behind them. United should have equalised from this very scenario, when Jamie timed his run to perfection but from 16 yards shot straight at Rouse who saved at the expense of a corner. It would be interesting to hear Rouse's take on this save, whether took a chance on Jamie shooting high and at the other side of the goal of his previous one last week at Ballyskeagh, or was just a reaction save. Then we had the first incident involving Taylor when he shepherded the ball out over the touchline and a Lards player took exception to this and kicked out at Taylor. Whether Johnny said something to draw this reaction I don't honestly know, but if it was without provocation and right in front the 4th official, he had to go I think.

The referee, McNabb I think is his name, didn't even book the culprit, which didn't go down well with our bench and the 4th official Crangle, called the ref over and our goalkeeping coach, big Wes, was ejected from the match, ironic or what! United redoubled their efforts and got a penalty when a Thommo shot for goal was handled. Up stepped Ally to send Rouse the wrong way to tie the scores and the referee didn't even book the culprit who had handled. In the 2 minutes of added time United launched an all out attack on the Lards goal and when an attack broke down Taylor saw his chance and took out the Lards player Feeney on the touchline, a bad foul and if the referee had been stricter earlier, a foul that could've been avoided. With both players lying on Stock car track, McCartney of Lards came over and grabbed Taylor's throat and then all hell broke loose and they were scuffles aplenty involving both sets of players and the two benches.

The outcome of this was yellow for Taylor and Gavin and a red for McCartney, but I personally I saw four punches being thrown, but seeing as how the ref didn't have control of the match, this was probably the best outcome. Chris Rodgers was called up to come on as sub for Taylor and the match was delayed for a good five minutes but he was still not ready when the play restarted and it was ten against ten. The ref blew his whistle for halftime and we still hadn't got our sub on and I wondered what was going to happen next.

2nd half
Taylor came out for the 2nd half but only lasted 5 minutes or so and was replaced by Rodgers. Chris didn't look too comfortable on the ball and United were trying to build from the back and truth be told we struggled against the ten men. We had plenty of play up to their box, but we couldn't get the vital pass and were forced to shoot from long range. The Lards were well organised, proof if proof were needed, they must be used to playing a man short and created the best three openings but missed them all. Dwayne came to United rescue when a hopeful punt looked likely to be good with a last ditch save. United did have the ball in the net when Jamie got free, but was adjudged offside. In the move of the match, Jamie got to the byline and passed to Ally's but his touch went wide, a good chance gone. Spike made two substitutions, first Gavin making way for Alan D and I was amazed at this for Thommo was struggling and Ally making way for Jimmy Mac, which left us with no width on the pitch.

Cush had a few shots from distance which didn't trouble Rouse and one which did and Alan D beat him with a low shot which hit the post, but we couldn't get the vital breakthrough. I was dreading the first United mistimed tackle, for I thought the referee would want to even the scores so to speak. He let the lards get away with some cynical fouls epitomised by one on Cush that brought a fierce reaction from the player and our bench, but no card. The Lards rightback, McConkey (Harry's son), went on a mazy run and beating three of our players only to be fouled clumsily by Sparky. It was a bad foul, admittedly, but given what the referee had permitted to go unpunished before it surely was at most a yellow card or a good talking to. But as I said earlier the ref wanted to even the score and he sent Sparky off and added insult to injury. The Lards bench had broke out of their area demanding a red card and had to be restrained by our stewards but Crangle took no action against them, no surprise there.

It was ten against ten now but we wanted the three points and we continued to probe but couldn't find the vital touch that would unlock the resolute defending by the Lards. Cush almost snatched it when he found himself in space and tried a snap shot but it just went narrowly wide with Rouse flat-footed. There was to be no fairytale ending and United had snatched another draw from the jaws of victory. I think we are missing the experience of Captain Alan Jenks, we had nobody directing us in midfield and were too obvious and easy to read. Jenks has loads of experience playing in Scotland and I'm sure he has been in that situation many times in the past. No crying over spilt milk, we have a semi-final to look forward to on Tuesday night and it wont be easy but we should prevail, anything else is unthinkable!


Nelson (7), Kane (7), Black (6), Taylor (6)(Sub: Rodgers 6,), Archie (6), Thommo (5), Gavin (7)(Sub: Alan D (6), Sparky (6), Cush (7), Ally (6)(Sub: Mac 6,), Jamie (7)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson