Heroes All!

I am 'welling up' , if you know what I mean, I just can't find the words to say what I am feeling at this moment in time and the relief when Alan D slotted home his penalty and sheer joy I felt last night will keep me going for a long time. It was a fully deserved and merited victory, sure Linfield had their chances, but they didn't take them and I don't think they would've scored if Cookie hadn't been adjudged to have fouled Carville and gave away a penalty. Luckily referee Crangle only booked United's scorer 'Cookie' Munster, but that was par for the course so to speak, for he let Gault of Linfield stay on the field after a bad foul on United's Thommo, when he had already been booked in the first half, for a foul on the same player. The Sky Blue Sport's team have a ritual when he returning from away matches, when Omar asks Sammy for the scores on the doors (players rating). Last night when were going down the Ballymacarret Road, Omar said Addis and quick as a flash Sammy said 10 and everybody's going to get ten and that sums it up for me, the elven players on the pitch and the three substitutes were 'perfect'.

When Twitter was a bit slow about given the starting line-up we couldn't help noticing that Stuart Addis was really practising hard and Dwayne was being idle and we assumed, quite rightly, that Stuarty had got the keepers jersey. I admit to being nervous about his selection, but Spike knows best and it turned out he was the unlikely 'hero' with his two penalty saves, he did us proud! Spike made only one change from his line-up of last Saturday, which saw Sparky come in for the injured Gavin. United played the same system as they did on Saturday, with Elvis ploughing a lone furrow up front and trying to hit the IFA on the break. The IFA long ball tactics were largely snuffed by the United defence, where the much maligned Ross Black had an outstanding game and some of his link-up play with Cush was a treat to watch. But I'm not singling Ross out for special praise for everybody in the United back four gave a near faultless performance and when they failed we had the calming influence of Stuarty, who took it all in his stride, just another day at the office for him, so to speak.

The United fans in the stand were magnificent and Cookie has just paid tribute to them on twitter saying, 'our supporters were unreal, the best atmosphere I have ever played in, champions', I couldn't agree more with Davy, the atmosphere was electric! The United fans didn't have long to wait for their heroes to give them something to cheer about when they won a free-kick on the right on 23 mins. Tony Kane, who had come in for his fair share of criticism in the United forum (not by me), delivered a free-kick into the box and Cush with a magnificence header beat IFA keeper Glendenning and the ball came back off the crossbar. Cush tried to get on the end of the rebound but it was Cookie with a looping header which gave United the lead and sent their fans in to raptures. I was beside myself with sheer joy and especially happy for Cookie, who has been getting 'loads of abuse' undeserved, of late and he is an honest player who gives his all. This setback spurred the IFA in to stepping up the pace and their meagre crowd was unhappy at this turn of events, slap up them is all I can say.

Michael Carville could have equalised when found by Gault, but the magnificent Addis got his angles right and the shot came back off the post. United had their chances too and their midfield three of Sparky, Alan D and Thommo were linking well and Thommo was the recipient of a disgraceful foul by Gault, who was rightfully booked for his crude tackle. Despite loads of good possession round the IFA box United couldn't get the final pass right. Cush had his marker, Ervin, in his pocket and the link-up play between him and Ross Black reminded me of years gone by when a certain Nigel Worthington was at his home-town club. United seemed to focus all their attacks on the stand side or left flank and little was seen of 'King Billy', but he played his part, giving support to Tony and providing an outlet on the right wing and keeping IFA's Johnny Black quiet. The IFA had loads of possession but I was not unduly worried for the United defence, led capably by Captain Archie was nigh impregnable. Referee Crangle blew for halftime with United leading by a goal to nil and I headed for exit to clear my head for the next 45 mins.

2nd half
Sammy and I had a talk at halftime and we both assumed we'd see Linfield's Peter Thompson come out for the 2nd half and he duly did replacing former United player Nathan Hanley, who I hadn't noticed in the first half, he was so inconsequential. I hope I've used that word in the right context, if not, he was useless is what I am trying to convey and we are well rid of him. The first move of the 2nd half involving Thompson of the IFA, resulting in him fouling Archie and that set the trend for the remainder of the game, I honestly never noticed him after that. United for their part continued with their ploy of playing down the stand side or right flank in the 2nd half and this brought King Billy into their play. In one magnificent run Billy took Black of the IFA to the cleaners and was only foiled by a last ditch save from Glendenning at the expense of a corner. From the corner taking short nobody could get on the end of Billy's cross and United had a lucky let-off at their end when a Mulgrew volley went wide and when Carville lofted over when clean through.

Then in 60 mins Linfield made their 2nd sub with Fordyce replacing the dangerous and Browne. 5 mins later Spike replaced Billy, with Jamie but I think we lost something with this substitution when Jamie didn't give enough support to Ross Black and the IFA were looking ominous with their space on the right wing. Elvis fighting lone battle up front managed to get away from his marker on the edge of the Linfield box, but collided with Thommo and moments later ref Crangle denied United a corner when Ervin directed Elvis's cross over the goal-line, Crangle gave a goal-kick, Sammy said he should've gone to Specsavers. As United were mounting an attack with Thommo he was the recipient of yet another crude tackle by Gault which should've have brought at least a yellow card if not red, referee Crangle decided to give a stern talking to, waste of time in my book. At the other end Elvis directed a free-kick for a corner which could have gone anywhere. Armstrong of the IFA saw his volley saved by Addis and Winkie Murphy saw his header from another corner go wide of the target.

Linfield made their final substitution with McCaul replacing Garret and when Carville eluded the United defence, Cookie was alleged to have brought him down and got a yellow card and got injured in the process. McCaul stepped up to send Addis the wrong way and the IFA had equalised. That goal came in the 74 mins and it's true to say we were under the cosh for a good ten minutes after that, but we weathered the storm and Cookie hobbled off on 82 mins, to be replaced with Captain Jenks coming on. Don't ask me how I knew, but I sensed we were going to win it by this substitution, which necessitated Sparky dropping in to defence. In the 2 minutes of added time Jamie broke through only to hauled down by Murphy, who got a yellow card. From the resultant free-kick, Glendenning made a save at the expense of a corner from Alan D's shot. That it was virtually the last action of the ninety mins at the ref blew for for full time and we were to have extra time of 10 mins each way.

I can't remember much incident about the extra time, we brought our final sub on with Jimmy Mac replacing Elvis and he had a couple of runs at Murphy and at the other end Sparky and Archie dealt capably with the IFA's attacks. Cush, who seemed to be dead on his legs, had the beating of Ervin but he couldn't find a telling pass to unlock the IFA's defence. Referee Crangle seemed reluctant to call the match to a halt, a match where I might add the respective physios hadn't been called upon the entire 110 mins, playing a good three minutes over the time by my watch. When he finally blew his whistle we held our breath for a moment and then we started cheering and we continued cheering to the end. I don't know whether they tossed a coin to decide what end the penalties would come from but it was to be the Linfield end or City end.

The IFA took the first penalty, with Ervin scoring, Jamie D was first up for the Sky Blues, but Glendenning pulled off a smart save and Jamie was distraught. But Stuarty then saved the next penalty from Armstrong of the IFA and Cush scored to make the scores level. The next two penalties from both sides were scored and Tony Kane taunted the IFA crowd when he scored United's 2nd. Captain Jenks scored to make the score 3-3 and by an ironic twist of fate Stuarty saved Fordyce's spot kick (United fans will maybe remember that Big Tam Wright was adamant that Fordyce would sign for United about 4 years ago but he snubbed Big Tam and signed for the Glens) and it was left for Alan D to score the decisive penalty to send the Sky Blue crew and his team-mates into raptures.

We were hugging each other and singing the old favourites, 'Blue Moon', 'she wore a Sky Blue ribbon' and 'Country Roads' and chanting 'easy.easy', but it had been far from easy but we had triumphed over adversity and come through and it was good to be a Sky Blue again. Archie was adjudged 'man of the match' and he and Jenks lifted the Shield together and we cheered with every breath in our body and I for one thought about Noel Millar, he would have enjoyed last night and him and Omar would have talked for hours about it. Thanks to Spike and the boys, you done us proud, you have taught us to believe again, you are true 'Sky Blue legends', long may you continue to be!

Addis (9), Kane (8), Black (8), Cookie (8)(Sub: Jenks 8,), Archie (8), Billy (8)(Sub: Jamie 8,), Thommo (8), Alan D (8), Sparky (8), Cush (8), Elvis (8)(Sub: Jimmy Mac 8,)

Man of the match: Stuarty Addis

King Billy!

I was going to write a damning report on the ref of yesterday's game, A. Davey, but the less said about the incompetent official the better, far better to dwell on the positives at this dress rehearsal for the County Antrim Shield final at the Oval on Tuesday night. Spike made three changes to his line-up after last Saturday's humiliation, Addis replaced Dwayne in goals, but he didn't impress and I except Dwayne to get the nod on Tuesday. Gavin returned to midfield, where he was sorely missed last Saturday and there was a surprise debut for 'Billy' Bingham, who was signed from the Coleraine scum this season. The ploy seemed to be 'pack' the midfield and let the IFA dictate the play and try to hit them on the break. During the first ten minutes we were under the cosh but gradually started to get a foothold in the match.

Elvis was left to plough a lone furrow up front and our attacks invariably broke down when he was outnumbered by the IFA defence. But when we got the ball wide to Billy (Bingham), we started to get some inroads to the IFA defence. Then Mr. Davey set out his stall, pulling United up for the merest contact on the IFA players and letting them pull and haul at us without sanction, only to be expected at Windsor I know, but it still galls. The United defence was struggling to clear it's lines but when they got the ball to Billy, he had the beating of Black of the IFA, but his crossing needs some work, but it'll come, methinks. Just when we starting to make a match of it disaster struck, when our midfield and defence was outdone by a great run by Gault of the IFA and from his cross former Sky Blue Nathan Hanley gave the IFA the lead. That goal came in the 25 mins, but three minutes later Cush had great run, only to be foiled by a Blaney save.

This set a spell of United pressure and in another Cush dribble he was fouled in the box but the ref let play go on and from Cush's cross Elvis got a slight touch but the ball went narrowly past the goal and over Billy's head at the far post. I thought sure the ref had to give the penalty for the foul on Cush in the build up, he had allowed the advantage, but since none came, he should given the penalty for the earlier infringement, but he gave a goal-kick. Addis made a hash of a straightforward shot needing two attempts to finally smother the ball. Gavin had to go off injured in 35 mins, with Rodgers taking his place which necessitated Kane switching to midfield. Cush had a free-kick straight at Blaney and at this stage we well in the game. The killer blow arrived in the 44 mins when as United were struggling clear the lines Fordyce of the IFA threw himself at Thommo attempted clearance and the ref astonishingly gave the penalty.


I and every United fans were astounded, but I was reminded of an incident at the Showgrounds against the IFA some years ago when that rare diving bird (Oran Kearney), launched himself at a United player and won a penalty, a complete miscarriage of justice, and now it has happened all over again. Gary Brown sent Addis the wrong way from the spot and we were two down. There would have to be changes I thought for the midfield was not working as a unit and Sky Blue Sport had alluded to this in its match preview, about the luxury of playing Alan D and Thommo in the same line-up. Alan D was having a stinker and was unusually shot-shy, but maybe he was following orders, Spike not wanting to reveal his hand before the 'big match on Tuesday and it is a big match, the most important match United has played over the last seven years.

2nd half
Jamie D came on for his name-sake Alan D at the start of the 2nd half, but unfortunately the ref 'was' able to continue, I thought if there was a god he would have been struck with crippling injury at halftime and was unable to continue, but no such luck. We still haven't found a reliable corner-kick taker since Rory Carson was released in the summer. Cush is usually the man but his corners are usually too long and our players haven't the brains for somebody to lie wide for this eventuality and we don't take advantage of them. In the 1st half he was undone by the infamous Windsor turf taking a sizeable divot from his first attempt and screwing his shot over the goal-line at his 2nd attempt. In the 2nd half his first corner went over everybody and out for a throw-in at the other side of the pitch.

In the 2nd half we seemed to focus all energies on the left-side and as a result Billy was starved of possession, but he tried hard. In one scintillating move he beat three men across the midfield, but his final pass was intercepted, he just needs to make sure. United were denied another penalty when Cush was cleaned in the box but referee Davey was unimpressed. After a neat bit of play Elvis found Cush with a delightful ball and with the goal at his mercy his feeble shot was stopped by Blaney, a glaring miss. A Kane free-kick was blocked by the IFA wall, we need to work the keeper in those situations I think. In a spell of IFA pressure Addis chose to punch instead of catch, the first time it was pathetic and the next it was better, but not confidence building, but we survived. Billy came off to rapturous applause from the travelling support in the 75 mins and he was replaced by Neil Lowry. four minutes later United were given a lifeline in the match, which had seemed dead and buried and playing for time.

Jamie won a corner on the left and Cush delivered a good ball which Cookie heading goalwards, when this was partially cleared it fell to Captain Archie and he delivered a right-foot shot into the net to give us hope. When we needed a full scale siege on the IFA goals but it was not forthcoming, we tried, but we're just not there yet, but maybe it will come. When the IFA was trying to waste time at the corner flag, sub McCaul took exception to two United men dispossessing him and when Kane intervened he took a dive and got the United man booked as well as himself. Despite the IFA's blatant time-wasting tactics, feigning injury to get the physio on (they obviously had watched the recent Azerbaijan/Norn Iron match closely and picked up some hints), the ref only added the the normal 3 mins and played only 2 mins. United had lost 2-1, but they had not disgraced themselves, in fact they had done themselves proud, more than can be said about the referee, roll on Tuesday!

Addis (6), Kane (7), Black (6), Cookie (6), Archie (7), Billy (7) (Sub: Lowry 6,), Alan D (5)(Sub: Jamie 7,), Thommo (6), Gavin (6)(Sub: Rodgers 7,), Cush (7), Elvis (7)

Man of the match; Archie

Shave Them!

I've been trying to find a reason for us letting in 14 goals in 2 matches and have come to the conclusion that's it to do with the facial hair (or the lack of it), that United players have decided to have on their top lip through the month of November. We were doing alright up to then, not setting the world alight, not scoring enough goals, but our striker had walked away at the end of last season and we had seemingly stopped our penchant for shipping goals. We had two blips, when we lost 4-1 to the scum and let DC score 3 in the first half in match 7 before eventually getting a deserved draw. But looking back at this match, you could say that's when the rot started, DC found scoring against our hitherto impregnable defence too easy (we had only conceded 3 goals up till then) and maybe the coaching staff missed a trick by not trying alleviate the problem. I know its easy to be wise in hindsight but we pay our management team to not leave any stone unturned in their and our quest, for glory.

Due to injuries and suspensions we were down to the bare bones as a squad and the midfield was woefully short of ball winners and we paid a heavy price for this oversight. Surely Rodgers could have been pressed into service or Owen Gillan who has been starring for the reserves, on the other hand maybe Spike's saving him for the Shield final. I'm sure I don't have to tell any reader of my column that my pet hate is United's failure to cut out crosses. With just 5 mins on the clock, they paid a heavy price for this benevolence when Martin Donnelly got his cross in and Garret eluded both his marker and Nelson to give his team the lead. Nelson appealed to the ref that he was impeded but Davy Malcolmson decided the goal was good. Two minutes later a reds player went in for a 'leg break' tackle which deserved a red card, but Davy chose to lecture the culprit and set the trend for the remainder of the match. Every time United tried to play football they were fouled and Davy refused to caution any visiting players and this gave them a licence to do it all the time.

When Alan D was trying to start a move near the halfway line he was fouled (an elbow I think) and Davy seemed about to blow and he changed his mind and let the game go on and McMullan scored with a thunderbolt shot off the underside of the crossbar. I have tried too fathom in my head why the ref ignored this clear foul on Alan D and video replays show it was a clearly a foul. Was it perpetrated by the player he had already talked to and should sent off or at least cautioned, or was that if he acknowledged it he, would have to send the reds player off or is he just incompetent, or a combination of all three. That goal came in the 15 mins and 13 mins later a United attacking move was intercepted by central defender Smith, who was unchallenged as he surged forward and he found Boyce who looked well offside and he found the net. Four minutes later United were awarded a corner and Cookie found Cush in the centre, but he delayed too long and was dispossessed and Gormely took on Black, who failed to tackle him and he fed Boyce and his cross ricocheted off a defenders leg to set up Knowles for a simple tap in. With halftime approaching United were offered a lifeline when they won a free-kick just outside the box and though Kane beat keeper Devlin his shot clipped the crossbar and went over for a goal-kick


2nd half
Manager Spike rang the changes at halftime, taking off Ally and Black and bringing on Jamie and Rodgers and changing to a 3,5,2 system, but it made little or no difference and Chickenville continued on their merry way. The goals onslaught continued unabated, 50 mins Gormley from 25 yards beat Nelson all ends up and proved with his goal celebrations that he was wrongly named it was 'gormless' I think and rubbed salt in an already festering wound. Three mins later it was six when after a short-corner, when Nelson could only parry a shot, Boyce scored easily but the visitors had five men in United's six-yard box and not a United man to be seen. Ten mins later it was seven when substitute McCarrol was given time to turn and rifle a shot in the corner of the net past a bemused Nelson. When Garret scored number 8 in the 83 minute I was really getting worried, the dreaded nein, nein, frauline was looming. But I must give credit to United here, although they were getting roasted alive, they still tried to play football.

Jimmy Mac had come on for Lowry but he hadn't made any difference, it was like for like. Near the end Alan D had a shot from long range saved by Devlin and thankfully there was no further scoring at the other end. United and their fans left the ground in sombre mood, they had started so brightly and had suffered at the hands of Chickenville, a thrashing, not unlike that of exactly a year ago when United got off to a bad start handing the reds a goal and eventually lost 7-3. But we were well in that game, but yesterday we were comprehensively beaten and I think our staff have got to study these two reverses against Chickenville and Linfield some more, they weren't bad days at the office, they were basic defending gone crazy. We missed Gavin badly in midfield and Sparky too, but surely we need cover for all positions or are combative midfielders as scarce as strikers. Gavin should be back next Saturday and Sparky for the final. But we need to be focused in the job in hand and we need to be clean shaven, but more importantly we need to take pride and be proud, of everything we do!

Nelson (5), Kane (5) Black (5)(Sub: Jamie 5,), Cookie (5), Archie (5), Thommo (4, Cush (4), Ally (4)(Sub: Rodgers 5,), Alan D (6), Lowry (5)(Sub: Jimmy Mac 5,), Elvis (5)

Man of the match: Alan D

Normal Service!

After Monday's nights blitz at the hands of the IFA, normality returned to Warden Street today, when United defeated the hatchet-men of Crusaders by two goals to one. We at 'Sport forget to mention that we needed a strong ref today, but we got a weak one and one completely biased to the point of blatantly cheating. With the unavailability of the injured Jamie, manager Spike gave a start to Elvis 'Susan bap' Costello and with the return of Cush, jigged things up a bit with Mike Ruddy in left midfield in a 4,4,1,1 formation that seemed to work when the boys got used to it. Referee Carvill was at his most biased and this was emphasised when he blew his whistle when a Crues player was injured, despite United being in an attacking position deep in the Crues half. As it turned out the player was only 'bluffing' and was able to continue unlike United's Mike Ruddy later in the game, who lay writhing on the ground, while the referee ignored him and Ruddy had to helped off and substituted, when the linesman at the Fisherwick end flagged for an offside.

This linesman at the Fisherwick end was flag happy in the first half, when United were attacking their favourite goals, the minute the Crues defence called for an offside he stuck his flag up without hesitation and he got it wrong on at least two occasions and in the second half, he 'missed' two blatant offsides and flagged for just one which was marginal. I can live with the linesman being poor, I know its not an easy job, but at least be consistent. United started brightly and the orders from Spike must have been 'shoot on sight', for Cush and Alan D whenever they got any space, fired at will. I think Crues keeper, Sean O'Neill, one of four ex-United players in the Crues line-up, had to save just one from Alan D, as for the rest they were high, wide and not very handsome. O'Neill angered our long serving ball boy, Paul (Paul is an institution at United), when he threw the ball over the bar and Paul had to retrieve it. Later on Paul exacting his revenge, when he left a ball near the corner flag and Sean had to go retrieve it, score one for the good guys.

Tony Kane, who had otherwise a good game, decided to throw the ball back to Dwayne in the United goal, a ploy we have seldom used and I think Dwayne was surprised by this move. That be as it may, Dwayne lost his footing and miskicked presenting another former player Gary 'the traitor' McCutcheon, with the ball and he duly scored. That goal came in the 25 minute and it was a goal that could've been avoided, there was no need to involve Dwayne in the throw-in, the old adage bears true, when in doubt, throw it up the line. United almost equalised immediately, when Ruddy had a rasping shot just over the bar . Then it was the Crues turn to have a slip and defender Robinson got his feet mixed up and when he fell, Alan D burst through and slotted ball home to tie the scores at one apiece, that goal came in the 28 minute. Another former United player, Craig McClean got caught in a 50/50 tackle with United's Thommo and lay supposedly writhing in agony but when he saw the United was not going to get a card, he got up and ran away unscathed.

Elvis was finding his feet and he brought the best out of O'Neill with a rasping shot, the referee's verdict, a goal-kick. McClean got his reward when in another 50/50 tackle, he chickened out and dived to the ground seemingly pole-axed, though no contact was made and the ref booked United's Tony Kane and McClean got up and trotted away, job done. Surely the referee has in his power when he sees a player was obviously conning him, to flourish a yellow card for this despicable behaviour, which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The United defence was struggling to deal with Crues Gareth McKeown's long throw-ins and were relieved to see an Owens header scrape the bar. United should have taken the lead when from a Cush corner Archie headed past with the goal at his mercy. The United midfield performed better as the match went on and Thommo was back to his best and the only disappointment was the normally reliable Cush, maybe his ankle injury has flared up again, I don't know what it is, but we need him firing on all cylinders in the next few games.

2nd half
Crues weren't going to use any subtlety in this half, it was route-one all the way and it's fair to say we had a few scares, but dealt capably for the most part. McKeown's long throws continued to put us under pressure and Declan Caddell of the Crues missed with one free header when there wasn't a defender within two yards of him, perhaps he was as surprised as I was in the amount of space he was afforded. We played nicely on the break, but the final pass often went astray or we got caught offside. The ref booked Gavin and Thommo and the Crues Caddell and how Crues Timmy Adamson picked up only a yellow for a crude two-footed tackle beggars belief. Then we had the Ruddy incident when the ref ignored the United man's obvious discomfort and he had to go off to replaced by Ally. That was in the 73 minute and Cush went off 3 minutes later with Lowry coming on. Then Gavin got injured, missed by both me and the officials and had to come off with Sparky replacing him, that was in the 80 minute.

Two minutes later we wrapped up the points, when from a short-corner, Ally found Alan D and his rasping shot from 25 yards was parried by O'Neill and Elvis scored with a diving header to rapturous applause. Immediately Crues manager Baxter took off the cheat McClean and brought on Coates to go three at the back. It's fair to say we were under a bit of pressure in the these last 13 minutes 8 in normal time and 5 in stoppage time, only there was supposedly only three. But we had chances to redress our goals for when Lowry left Coates for dead twice, the first time getting the best out of O'Neill and then later failing to find a telling pass to a United forward. But the main talking point among Sky Blue fans was the two that got away from Elvis. Firstly there was the left-foot volley which left O'Neill grasping at thin air and went just past the post and then the right-foot chip shot that hit the post and was cleared. The ref finally blew his whistle and the team was applauded off, a change of fortunes and a good victory!

Nelson (7), Kane (7), Black (7), Archie (7), Cookie (7), Cush (6)(Sub: Lowry 7,), Gavin (8)(Sub: Sparky 7,), Thommo (8), Ruddy (7)(Sub: Ally 7,), Alan D (8), Elvis (8)

Man of the match: Alan Davidson

Come Uppance!

United and their supporters went in to this Irn Bru quarter-final against the IFA, brimming with confidence and came out it a battered and broken team. It took Linfield just 20 mins to pierce United's rearguard and from then on it was one-way traffic. The IFA scored 5 goals in the first half and missed two sitters into the bargain and gave a quite scintillating performance in front of the smallest Linfield crowd I've ever seen for a competitive match. Lucky for United they were content to soak up what little pressure we gave them in the 2nd half and only scored one further goal and spare our blushes. Manager Spike ignored the advice given him in our preview and named an unchanged team with Jamie in for the suspended Cush. No doubt the fat controller had singled out Cush as a man who could wreck all his carefully laid plans and when Cush wasn't playing he was able to play the attack minded Johnny Black.

I was going surmise that DJ had a word with his friends at IFA headquarters to make sure Cush had picked up the number of yellow cards, that made him unavailable, but maybe that's too far fetched, lol. The first goal came from a corner that bears all the hallmarks of the 'bad old days' of the last few seasons. The ball fell in the six-yard box and the United defenders and keeper Dwayne stood idly by as Peter Thompson stopped to head it in. I think it was going in anyway but Thompson made sure. Ten minutes later the United midfield failed to close down Black and he scored with a left-foot shot that eluded Dwayne's outstretched arms. United couldn't get going themselves for the IFA had a well oiled offside trap and the lightweight Jimmy Mac was well marshalled by former player Albert Watson. Cookie nearly sold the ranch when his header back to Dwayne fell woefully short, but the chance was missed.

The linesman at the Fisherwick end where the IFA were attacking first half had already missed two offsides when Mark McAllister, who was at least 5 yards offside, passed to Carville in front of goal with no Sky Blue's players within five yards, but the linesman's flag stayed down, we were truly mugged then. Two minutes later McCaul added number 4 and you could see the United heads were down and we had no Captain Jenks to lift us. Jamie was finding life difficult and after refusing to chase down a ball, manager Spike took him off and brought Elvis on, a wrong move I thought when Jimmy Mac was a virtual passenger. The United midfield so dominant at Dung was not performing and Thommo had a match I'm sure he'll wish to forget. As if to rub salt in the wounds the referee was handing out cards 'willy nilly' to our players (no doubt under orders from his bosses) and letting the IFA away with several bookable offences. United conceded another goal before halftime when McCaul headed home despite the attentions of Ally.

2nd half
The IFA made a substitution at halftime taking off Murphy and bringing on Armstrong but United couldn't make any impression but we looked sounder with Elvis up front, although he's not match fit yet. With 58 mins gone manager Spike brought off Ross Black and brought on Mike Ruddy, no doubt with Saturday's opponents in mind and 6 mins later, Jimmy Mac came off and Neil Lowry came on. United only created a one clear-cut opening, when Lowry went on a run and fed Ally, but Ally hit the ball straight at former United keeper Blaney's body and the chance was lost. Alan D had a couple of long-range shots and Gavin got up to bring the best out of Blaney, which the keeper seemed to carry over the line, but unsurprisingly the linesman at that end (the Fisherwick end), wasn't up with play. That stung the IFA and they broke up field and Archie, who had been playing Thompson well, let him cross and Gary Browne volleyed the sixth goal.

It was remarkable how the IFA didn't rely on the offside trap the 2nd half, no doubt they knew the linesman was an onion and not to be trusted. United played out the remainder of the half without incident and Spike has to earn his money in the next few days getting the confidence back up for the task that lies ahead. We had said that we needed a draw and three wins from this set of 4 games, but we got a draw, two wins and a defeat, but have a County Antrim Shield final to look forward to. As the IFA are our opponents we might be filled with trepidation but hopefully we might get at least two our players back before then, Taylor and Cush and they will make a vast difference. The next four matches will be crucial as we play the Crues, Chickenville and the IFA in the league and the IFA in the Shield final. We need to dig in and keep our shape, now is not the time for panicking, now is the time for cool heads and hopefully we can put this freak result behind us!

Dwayne (6), Kane (6), Black (6) (Sub: Ruddy 6,), Cookie (5), Archie (6), Thommo (4), Gavin (7), Alan D (5), Ally (6), Jamie (5)(Sub: Elvis 6,), Jimmy Mac (4)(Sub: Lowry 6)

Man of the match: Gavin Taggart

Dun(g) That!

For long-suffering United supporters our manager Spike and his team delivered a rare victory at Stangmore Park and not only a rare victory, a consecutive victory for we had won there back in April. That day we got a late goal from Jamie, his first senior goal for the club I think, for a somewhat flattering 4-2 victory. This time we overwhelmed them and should've scored at least three more goals and missed a penalty. Manger Spike sprang a surprise making one change from his line-up of Tuesday night, preferring Jimmy Mac to Jamie D. This proved to be an astute selection because Jimmy Mac was prominent in everything we did and made the first goal for the Sky Blues. Referee Colin Burns set his stall out early as Cush was clattered right in front of where I was standing and the ref let the perpetrator away with it. Cush, who rumour has it is going to miss Monday's match against the IFA due to suspension, seemed intent on going out with a bang as he shot at nearly every opportunity.

Ally should've done better when well placed, blasting his shot wide, unforgivable not working the keeper but in the 27 minute United took a deserved lead. Jimmy Mac was released down the right and he beat his marker and picked out Alan D in the centre and he rifled a shot into the net to give United the lead. I personally though it was Thommo, but public opinion seems to be that Alan D was the marksman and no Sky Blue TV to verify that. Ally missed another chance flashing a shot wide from a good opening. The much maligned Ross black was having a superb game at leftback up against the tricky Lavery and little was seen of the hosts as an attacking force. Referee Burns denied United a certain penalty when Jimmy Mac was tripped in the box as he cut in from the right, in an almost carbon copy of his earlier assist that led to the United goal. Ally got yet another opening and tried subtly this time, placing a left-foot curler just past the post.

United's midfield trio of Thommo, Alan D and Gavin were completely dominant and Thommo had hard luck seeing one effort touched round the post by Morgan in the Swifts goal. Archie was having a bit of a battle with the impressive Stephen O'Neill, but was ably backed up by the superb Cookie and the impressive Tony Kane. Cush had shot a saved by the keeper, a fairly routine save and then went he went on a cross-field run and when everybody expected him to shoot he dithered and the chance was lost. With halftime approaching Thommo ran onto a through ball and rounded the keeper only to be fouled, The referee gave the penalty but only booked the culprit, when the rule demands that he should be sent off as it was a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Up stepped Ally and his weak penalty was saved by the legs of Morgan, a dreadful miss. Ally later confirmed he changed his mind at the last moment and the old saying bore fruit, 'he who hesitates, is lost', let that be a lesson to him.

2nd half
United were slow out of the blocks for the 2nd half and took a while to get into their stride. They were indebted at this stage to their keeper and defenders for denying the home team, who had made two substitutions at halftime. One of these subs, Emmet Friars, struck a hopeful shot hitting the upright, but I like to think Dwayne had it covered. Eight minutes into the half Cush was substituted and Jamie came on and he we started to get back to dominating the match. Ally burst through but he got caught at the expense of a corner, another miss. Gavin was booked by the ref for deliberate handball but he later let Brennan away with a vicious foul on Jamie, double standards. Dung manager Darren Murphy played his last ace, bring on Josh Cahoon, who scored the late equaliser at the Showgrounds in the last meeting between the clubs at Ballymena. Spike made another sub, taking off Alan D and bring on Sparky no doubt to get more bite in midfield. This had almost an immediate effect when United scored the next decisive goal and it was short-corner that led to it.

Ally and Jamie worked a short-corner on the left and Jamie's deep left-foot cross went behind for another corner at the far side. This time Ally whipped it in and in a goalmouth scramble Jamie got the touch to score his sixth goal of the season and give United a two goal cushion. That goal came in the 76 minute and almost immediately Elvis come on for Jimmy Mac, looking fitter than the last time we saw him. He got caught offside once and had a chance but delayed his shot, but I thought he looked sharp. United got the insurance goal when from another short-corner on the left, Sparky headed Jamie's powerful cross into the net to make the score 3-0. That goal came in 83 minutes and the ref finally booked Brennan for another vicious foul on Jamie. United, like all teams, relaxed a bit after this and Dung got a consolation goal they didn't deserve, when Cahoon cut in from the left and curled right-foot shot past Dwayne, a breathtaking goal.

That goal came in 88 minutes, but there was to be no fairy-tale ending for the Swifts. Referee Burns booked Sean Friars for a dirty foul on Elvis as we approached added time. The referee added on only two minutes and my friend, Neil, from Ellon in Aberdeenshire, remarked that, that decision, was the only thing the ref got right all night, I couldn't agree more. The fat controller, who was taking in the match, no doubt in a fact finding mission, couldn't fail to be impressed and it gives him food for thought bearing in mind Monday's game in the Irn Bru cup at Warden street. This win moves United up to fifth in the table, at least for 19 hours and if the Glens don't win their match with Chickenville, we would retain that position at least for a week. A comprehensive victory for the Sky Blues, thoroughly deserved, I can hardly wait for Monday night, COSB!

Dwayne (7), Kane (7), Black (8), Cookie (8), Archie (7), Thommo (8), Alan D (8)(Sub: Sparky 7,), Gavin (8), Cush (7)(Sub: Jamie 8,), Ally (6), Jimmy Mac (8)(Sub: Elvis 7,)

Man of the match: Cookie Munster