Pathetic Display!

I confess I don't know what United's tactics were yesterday, if they were to make it easy for Chickenville to claim three points without ever breaking a sweat, they worked to a T. If on the other hand they had wanted to reward their die-hard fans with a spirited performance and give the North Belfast Reds a match, they failed miserably. As expected Spike made one change to his line-up, Cush for the suspended Jenks. It took Chickenville just 12 minutes to pierce our flimsy rearguard when Liam Boyce was allowed a pop at goal and found the top corner with a blistering shot. United to their credit tried to get a foothold in the match and in a spell of pressure they were denied twice, when first Scannell kicked off the line and secondly when referee Brian 'ham shank' Courtney, completely ignored a hand ball from a Reds defender, a blatant penalty.

That was the wake-up call the home team needed and they surged down-field and after a spell of pressure when we had ample chance to clear the ball, Scannell crept in unmarked to side-foot the ball into the net to make the score 2-0. Both our fullbacks were being taken to the cleaners and McCullagh got a yellow card for a foul as early as the 13th minute and Reds defender Smith received a yellow card 2 mins later for what to appeared to be a deliberate elbow. As far as I know you can't use your elbows in football and it used to be a sending off offence, but 'ham shank' has his own rules, I think. Despite being 2-0 down, United were well in the game going forward, but looked decidedly shaky at the back. From two Tony Kane free-kicks, first Cush could only find the side-netting and then Sparky from a free header failed to trouble the Reds keeper. It was left to our best outfield player Kane, to produce a good save from Devlin with a stinging shot, diverted for a corner and Cookie was adjudged to having fouled when winning Ally's corner kick.

Liam Boyce so delightful to watch going forward showed his brutal side moments before halftime, late tackling Archie, when he had no chance of getting the ball and was rightly yellow carded. Dwayne had kept us in the match with a couple of smart saves and the home team had missed a few chances and we were relieved with halftime approaching we were only 2-0. It might been 2-1 when the ball was half cleared and Kane tried to lob the keeper, Devlin, who he had spotted off his line, but unfortunately missed the target. When the ref blew his whistle for halftime the talk was all about if Spike had a plan to turn the match around and when would we see young Peter Duffin come on, if ever. During the halftime interval Duffin treated us to some of his tricks, including what I can only describe as overhead back-heel, there was South American goalie who did it years ago I think, but it was amazing to get seeing it in the flesh so to speak, that was as good it got yesterday.

2nd half
We seemed to be playing further up this half and Cush was playing on the left as is his wont, he generally plays on the flank where Spike is standing, but that meant Kane playing wide right and he wasn't as effective this half as he had been in centre-midfield. I have often wondered why our fullbacks give wingers so much room and 4 mins into the half the ball was played to Caldwell on the right, with nobody within 20 yards of him. He sped down the wing, cut in at a level with the penalty spot and found Johnston and he flicked the ball on and the unmarked Garret duly slotted home to make the score 3-0. Someone wondered if Spike would make a change now and I said 'tongue in cheek' he would wait until it was 4-0 and then make a change. The home team had to make a change when Scannell, surely the best leftback in our league by a country mile, had to go off and was replaced by Seydak, who almost set up a goal with his first involvement in the match.

We didn't have long to wait for the 4th goal as Archie was beaten in the air to a cross from Boyce, by Caldwell and he headed the ball into the net past Dwayne. Eight minutes later Spike made a change taking off Cookie and bringing on Ruddy and Archie moving into the middle. I couldn't for the life of me understand this move, Cookie was not at his best, but Archie had been nowhere to be seen when the Reds scored both their second-half goals and it was a negative move anyway, a defender for a defender. Then five mins later Ally made way for Alan D, another amazing substitution, Ally was not the worst, Thommo was the worst by far. Almost immediately the Reds got their fifth when Boyce stole in to slide the ball home after a cross from sub O'Carrol, which the United defenders left to each other. Dwayne had already thwarted Gormley and he pulled off a marvellous save from Boyce but injured himself in the process and had to go off to be replaced with Gavin. The versatile Sparky donned the keepers gloves and was denied a good save when he diverted the ball for a corner and the 'ham shank' gave a goal-kick, the mind boggles.

Sparky had earlier been booked for deliberately holding up play at a free-kick and he had been talking back at the ref the whole match as if he wanted to get booked. Unless he's due another suspension and wants to serve it this season, instead of it carrying into next season, he was a very silly boy to get booked. The ref seen fit to add 5 mins of injury time and it was a waste of time in my opinion. The Reds were just playing out time and we had nothing left and I know rules are rules, but 'ham shank' could've used a bit of common sense and added the requisite 3 mins and I doubt anybody would have complained. The bulk of United's travelling support had already left when the ref brought proceedings finally to a halt and we had suffered yet another big defeat. Is it six or seven we have suffered this year, I'm losing count, I only know something needs to be done about it and done quickly, we can't go on this way, we are Ballymena divided, definitely not, Ballymena United!

Dwayne (8)(Sub: Gavin 5,), McCullagh (4), Archie (4), Mahan (4), Cookie (5)(Sub: Ruddy 5,), Cush (6), Thommo (4), Sparky (5), Kane (7), Ally (6)(Sub: Alan D 5,), Liggie (6)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Tedium United!

I haven't got much to say about this boring scoreless draw at Shamrock Park yesterday, we were too tedious for words. In contrast to last weeks fighting draw against the Glens, this one was a damp squib. In the absence of the suspended Cush, Spike resisted calls to start young Peter Duffin and instead opted for Thommo. When we were in the running to sign Thommo in the summer I wondered idly where he was going to play? We already had 3 central midfielders in Jenks, Gavin and Sparky and we had put feelers out for Alan D, who eventually signed. Thommo wasn't a winger and we needed another winger, not a central midfielder. Thommo has been tried on the wing and found wanting, so I reckon it was foolhardy of Spike to select him in a wide position yesterday, you could see he was a 'fish out of water', he didn't know where to position himself when we lost the ball and his marker on the Ports side, Ross Redman, had the freedom of the park and when he got the ball, he tried to cut inside, instead of hugging the touchline like a natural winger would.

What a contrast the Ports had in winger Patton, who gave McCullagh a torrid time and when he switched wings late in the 2nd half, we were indebted to a last ditch tackle from Archie, robbing him of a certain score. Spike has said players must adopt to the system, not the system being changed to suit them, well I have news for Spike, the system stinks and its definitely not working. We hadn't a real shot on target yesterday until about 15 mins to go and it fell to Jenks who just hit it and the Ports keeper Miskelly blocked it. I couldn't help thinking that if Jenks had placed his shot we would have stole the points, it would have been an injustice I know but that's football. We nearly stole it in injury time when Kane tried an audacious chip which clipped the crossbar with Miskelly beaten all ends up. Liggie was left to plough a lone furrow up front and Ports had two or three defenders marking him every time the ball was played in his direction.

The first half was a nondescript affair, the home team looked lively and referee Carville let a Ports player away with a late tackle on United keeper Dwayne Nelson, when he punched the ball away following a corner. Two mins later he had no hesitation in booking Kane for a foul in midfield, a bad foul, but not vicious. In contrast when Ally was fouled about 25 yards from the Ports goal, no yellow was flourished, meaning its okay to stop an attack by whatever means but don't foul anybody in midfield. United had claims for a penalty turned down, when a Ports defender seemed to handle in the box, but referee Carville gave the free to the home team, but I don't know why, who knows what goes on in a ref's mind, I certainly don't anyway. The twin centre-half combination of Cookie and Shaun Maher nullified the threat of Braniff and Murray in the main, but Murray found room on the right and swivelled and shot but Dwayne was equal to it. The referee brought the first half to a close and I contemplated going for a drink, but I had to drive home and kept my thirst in check.

2nd half
The 2nd half was no better than the first, but the home team did make some inroads into our defence and mainly through Patton on the left wing. I don't know whether its a ploy used by our coaches, but our fullbacks seem to give wingers too much space and we almost paid the ultimate price for this benevolence at the start of this half. Patton skipped past McCullagh and found Braniff, but Dwayne saved well and minutes later a Patton pass was deflected to set McNeil up, but with the goal at his mercy, his shot struck the bar, a lucky let-off. The Ports forced several corners and it looked like only a matter of time before they scored, but the United defence held firm. I could see Liggie was getting tired and he made way for Alan D with 20 mins left and Jenks moved up front. I was dumbfounded by this substitution, I had hoped to see Spike bring on Duffin or even Jimmy Mac, but instead he subbed a striker for a midfielder, talk about negative tactics.

The home team seem to tire after this and we started to get inroads into their defence and Thommo had one run where he cut into their box, but delayed his shot and the chance was lost. Ally then found a bit of space and his cross fell to Jenks and his lash hit the keeper and another chance went begging. The Ports had only made two subs and we only had made one, but still the 4th official held up 3 mins of added time. The home team almost stole the points when first a Patton shot hit the post and then Archie made a last ditch tackle to rob Patton of what looked to be a certain score. United had one last chance to commit barefaced robbery, but Kane's audacious chip clipped the crossbar with Miskelly beaten. The ref blew his whistle finally and we had not been beaten but the fans had been bored silly, call this entertainment, it's tedium, I nearly regretted not sitting at home and watching the rugby, but I did say nearly, we haven't stooped to that level just yet, but we are getting close!

Dwayne (8), McCullagh (6), Archie (7), Cookie (7), Maher (7), Thommo (5), Jenks (5), Sparky (6), Kane (7), Ally (6), Liggie (6)(Sub: Alan D 6,)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Cold Comfort!

When I arrived at a cold Showgrounds yesterday I was amazed at our manager, Spike's, selections. He had picked four central defenders, surely a negative ploy I thought, a what we have, we'll hold and so it proved. The fit again Johnny Taylor didn't even make the bench and Dolan, Ruddy and Alan D were dropped. In came Cookie Munster and Shaun Maher to form a new central defensive pair, Archie moved to leftback in place of Ruddy and McCullagh moved to rightback allowing Tony Kane to take up central midfield duties, alongside Jenks and Sparky. Cush and Ally retained their places and we had Liggie leading the line. We seemed to be playing two formations, when the Glens had the ball, which was about 70% of the time, we reverted to a 4,5,1 formation and we had the ball, we tried to play a 4,3,3 formation, but our passing was atrocious and we invariable lost possession and had to revert to defensive tactics.

Tony Kane struggled for the first 10 minutes and then he got to grips with his role and thereafter had a good game. When playing alongside Jenks, you have got to realise that he doesn't tackle, merely directs, but expects you to tackle for him, Tony and Sparky did this superbly yesterday. Speaking of Jenks, he did half-heartedly go into some tackles yesterday and if he had went with more purpose, he would have won the ball, as the Glens players didn't like the sticky surface that is Ballymena's Showgrounds at the moment. The Glens had lost keeper Morris and defender Magee during the warm-up and had to promote Aaron Hogg, their second string keeper to their starting line-up and Colin Nixon stepped up from bench to replace Magee. Referee Colin Burns had a stinker of a match, failing to even caution a Glens player for a brutal tackle on United's keeper Dwayne Nelson shortly after halftime, which left him hobbling for the remainder of the game, this sort of tackling on keepers went out many years ago when Omar was a boy.

However he had no hesitation in showing two yellow cards to United's David Cushley, which I have no argument with, but in contrast with this, he let Jason Hill of Glens off without even a ticking off for a brutal foul on United sub Peter Duffin and 2 mins later ignored a blatant shirt pull on the same player from Hill, when he burst into the Glens box. He also ignored a high tackle on United's Ally Teggart, reminiscent of Nana's sending off for Man U, not even a booking, but his worst clanger was not sending off Stephen Carson off for a deliberate elbow on United's Mark McCullagh, who had to come off. I don't like to criticise referees for they have a hard job, but fairs,fair, show some consistency, if you're going to book brutal tackles, do it, but if you going to let one team get away with them, you have to let the other team away with them also. He also let Colin Nixon take a dive in the United penalty area to try and con him, without booking him for simulation, talk about rose tinted glasses!

As Glens had their 2nd string keeper I was hoping for United to try and test him with a shot early on, but we had to wait nearly 20 minutes in for Liggie to try from long range, but unfortunately it was straight at the keeper and he pushed it easily over the bar, a text book save. The linesman at the Fisherwick end missed an offside and O'Hanlon was allowed to cross the ball, but luckily no Glens player could get a touch, thereafter the linesman didn't miss an offside the rest of the match, but missed several other incidents like the shirt pull and the Carson elbow, both of which he had a perfect view. Tony Kane had a shot well saved by Hogg, which had goal written all over it, but the keeper done well to push it for a corner. From this corner, Maher was unlucky to see his header clear the bar and in a spell of United pressure, a Jenks volley which was going wide was deflected for a corner. The visitors fullback Ward had to go off with what looks like a knee injury and the Glens for all their possession, didn't trouble the United defence, where Cookie and Maher were superb.

2nd half
The second half started the same way as the first, with the Glens in possession and United trying to hit them on the break. The match had barely restarted when the visitors won a corner on their left, the Slemish stand side. When this corner came over Dwayne rose superbly and claimed the ball only to suffer a brutal late tackle from a Glens player who had no mission of getting the ball. I fully expected the referee to brandish the red card, for this sort of tackle is no longer acceptable or a yellow card and a good ticking off, but he took no action against the culprit. Dwayne was able to continue after 3 mins of treatment, but you could see he was hurt and he was hobbling for the rest of game. Referee Burns intimated that he had already gave the free-kick, but I never saw the signal and the United defenders who had been far closer to the action than me didn't seem to know, as they kicked the ball into touch so as Dwayne could receive treatment.

Five minutes later Carson dispossessed McCullagh near the Glens goal-line and shrugged off the United man's attention by a blatant elbow, ignored by both the referee and linesman. The Glentoran physio, George Magill, who had a spell as United caretaker-manager in the 1990's, treated McCullagh as our own physio was with Dwayne to see if he needed further treatment. Mark had to come off replaced by Thommo and Kane moved to rightback and we lost his tackling in midfield. It was backs to wall now but Dwayne soldiered on and United continued to try and hit on the break. Cush lost the plot when he lost possession in the Glens box and he late tackled a Glens defender and immediately got a yellow card for it. A bad tackle admittedly but no worse than the Glens player on Nelson and the injured party lay writhing on the ground, but he was only bluffing and was able continue without treatment.

Then we had the high tackle on Ally which was worse than the Cush tackle, but the referee didn't flourish the card and moments later Cush committed a reckless challenge on Glens defender Callaher and the referee couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough, followed by the customary red. Cush knew he was a silly boy, he had showed his frustration and he had paid the penalty and he had to go, I hope the club fine for his reckless challenge which looked to have cost us the points and I was at odds with the spectators who applauded him off. After he messed up yet again, Spike finally lost patience with Liggie, who had been a virtual passenger in the United attack in the 2nd half and brought young Peter Duffin on. United were on the rack and Dwayne kept them in the match with some good saves, despite hobbling and Kane was taking all the goal-kicks. When United tried to attack with Peter Duffin, he was brutally fouled by Hill, aided and abetted by the referee.

The United passing was atrocious, Thommo had a chance to set Duffin on his way, but the ball got stuck in the mud, but there was no excuse for that, he had plenty of space to hit it into. Then near the end Howland missed with a free header and Waterworth shot straight at Nelson. Despite only being two subs used per team in the 2nd half, the referee allowed 4 minutes stoppage time and played five. United were denied a cast iron penalty when Hill tugged Duffin's shirt inside the box but referee Burns ignored our claims and our manager, Spike, was so incensed he had to be restrained by the 4th official. The referee finally brought the curtain down on a marathon session which had run over by about 12 minutes all told and United had been vindicated and had claimed a point, but it was dire stuff to watch. But horses for courses so they say and next week away to Portadown the same will do nicely, methinks, but let's have Peter Duffin on from the start and a good referee, oh please let's have any referee, but not this stuffed dummy!

Dwayne Nelson (9), McCullagh (7)(Sub: Thommo 6), Archie (7), Maher (8), Cookie (8), Kane (8), Sparky (8), Jenks (6), Ally (7), Cush (6), Liggie (6)(Sub: Duffin 7,)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Two Halves!

The old adage about football being a game of two halves, was never better illustrated than at the Showgrounds yesterday. United deservedly lead DC 2-0 at halftime, although the visitors were well in the match, but United in the 2nd half, didn't (or weren't allowed to), compete. From my place in the home stand I could see Mike Ruddy being taken to the cleaners almost every time DC attacked and Mark McCullagh was floundering in central defence. There were the remedies on United's bench, back-up leftback Vaulsey and fit again central defender Johnny Taylor. What does our manager do, he takes off striker Dolan and midfielder Thommo and brings on striker Liggie and Alan D. Surely he could see our midfield was getting over-run by two former United players, Conor Downey and Paul McAreavy and we needed a defensive midfielder, which Alan D is not. Too late he brought on Gavin Taggart to replace his namesake Ally, leaving chief culprit Jenks on, but we were already on the rack at that stage and in replacing Ally we had little or no outlet.

Spike made three changes from team who performed so miserably at Glenavon the previous week, out went Chrissie to be replaced by the fit again Archie, given a torrid time by Miskimmon. Gavin was the scapegoat in midfield, making way for Sparky and Ally replaced Alan D. I don't know whether the new breed of referee's we have at the moment are just incompetent or biased but they're definitely hard to fathom. Take yesterday's incumbent, Andrew Davy, as an example, he booked Dolan of United for simulation (taking a dive), when he appeared to be tripped although he made it look good and let Cleary and Miskimmon of DC away with a dive apiece, one in each half and they were blatant. DC certainly came to have a go and McCullagh was easily beaten by O'Neil and Dwayne made a neat save with his feet. At the other end a Cush shot hit the post with Connolly beaten. Then we saw the two sides of referee Davy booking Dolan for alleged simulation and then completely ignoring Cleary at the other end for throwing himself to the ground in United's box. Conor Downey then had a run at United's midfield and he was allowed to penetrate to the edge of the box, before clipping a shot just over the bar.

United took the lead after 31 minutes, following good work between Thommo and Kane and when Kane's cross wasn't cleared it fell to the unmarked Cush and he brought the ball under control before slamming it into the net past the hapless Connolly. DC should have equalised ten minutes later, but O'Neil could only find Nelson when well placed. United went further ahead when Dolan was fouled at the edge of the box and the ball ran to Cush who slammed it into the net, but the ref had already blown for the foul, instead of playing the advantage. Justice was done however when Kane's clever free-kick found the back of DC's net to leave United leading by two goals to nil at halftime. During the halftime interval the United subs were have a kick about and Johnny Taylor fooled me by doing a lot of stretching exercises which lead me to believe he had got the nod to come on at halftime, but unfortunately I was wrong in my assumption and United literally paid the penalty for it the 2nd half.

2nd half
DC stepped up the pressure in the 2nd half and United were struggling to clear their lines and were under a tremendous onslaught from the visitors, but Spike like Nero, fiddled and did nothing. DC got a reward for their persistence when Miskimmon was allowed to run at the United defence and when Nelson could only parry his shot, Hughes was on hand to slot home the rebound. At the other end United continued to miss chances, firstly it was Ally bringing the best out of Connolly with a rasping shot, but surely a lob was the best option and later he found himself in the clear again and he picked out Alan D who miskicked and the ball fell to Liggie and he miskicked and all I could do was laugh. United were to pay dearly for this benevolence in front of goal, but in the meantime we were treated to a blatant dive from Miskimmon ignored by referee Davy again. Alan D had a couple of chances but he shot from distance instead of making sure. United were under the cosh as the 4th official held up his board for 3 mins of added time and referee Davy played his trump card.

From a throw-in Cleary knocked the ball over the by line and threw himself at United's Captain Jenks, who made little or no contact but referee Davy pointed to the spot and I was reminded of my childhood. In kick-abouts, we used to play 'three corners a penalty', referee Davy obviously has changed the rules somewhat, to three dives a penalty. Cleary picked himself up and dispatched the spot kick to leave the scores tied at 2-2 and promptly got himself sent-off for removing his shirt in celebration, which drew his 2nd yellow card. I have no problem with the result, just in how it was achieved. DC were worthy of their point but if referee Davy had continued with his policy of booking players for simulation, Clearly wouldn't been on the field for he already had a 'dive' in the first half, but in the end we had not come out for the 2nd half, but it's better than last week, but only just!

Nelson (6), Kane (7), Ruddy (5), McCullagh (5), Archie (6), Ally (7)(Sub: Gavin 6,), Thommo (6)(Sub: Alan D 5,)Jenks (6), Sparky (6), Cush (8), Dolan (6)(Sub: Liggie 5,)

Man of the match: Cush