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