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