Knock-on Effect!

United suffered a knock-on effect from their narrow win over Ballymoney United, last night at Dixon Park, Ballyclare, against newly promoted Ards. United were second best to the 'nomads' of Irish league football, it is a well known fact that Ards haven't had a home ground since 1998 and despite several assurances over the last 15 years, don't look like getting one in the near future. But its maybe this nomadic existence that binds them as a team, they definitely played as a team last night, not like United, who were a shadow of the team that beat the Crues and the Swifts, more like the team that just got by Ballymoney United on Monday. United manager Glenn Ferguson sprung a surprise, when he made one change from his starting line-up of last Saturday, Neal Gawley for the enigma that is Neal Lowry and although Gawley acquitted himself well, he hasn't got Lowry's pace and guile.

United like on Monday night, were allowed to play the ball in their own half, but it usually broke down due to a misplaced pass or a big hoof up the field which easily dealt with by the Ards defence. Shane Mario Dolan was an isolated figure up front, who never looked like getting the better of Ards central defenders in the air, but he came in for some rough treatment and no protection from referee Deighan, who was conned by Ards players all night, lying down and holding their heads. The United midfield were sadly over-run, where Alan D was a virtually a passenger and Thommo and Jenks constantly got caught in possession, by the super-fit Ards midfield. Having said that the first real scoring chance fell to United when a Tony Kane free-kick was eventually stopped by Ards keeper McKibbin who had a superb game.

Ards continued to look the more lively but some of their shots were miles off-target, laughable really, but maybe they were just sighters and they weren't afraid to have a go. Their manager Niall Currie was vociferous in his condemnation but he was also encouraging his team nonetheless, the Ballymena bench seemed silent by comparison. United blew a great chance to take the lead with 29 mins gone, when Ally skipped past two defenders but Gawley somehow missed his driven cross, it seemed to only need a touch. Two mins later United were made to pay for that 'miss' when Ards winger Roy found some space between Marky and Tony and rifled an unstoppable shot past the outstretched arms of Dwayne and into the top corner of the net to give Ards a one-goal lead.

United spurned a chance to get back on level terms when Ally broke through but delayed his shot and a defender got back to clear the danger for a corner. Despite forcing another corner, United couldn't find a way through a resolute Ards defence, where keeper McKibbin used his height to pluck the ball out of the air with assurance and when he dropped one, no United man was able to take advantage, too slow. Ards it has to be said broke up the play by 'bluffing' the referee with 'bogus' head injuries and the referee was conned throughout the match by their antics. But as they say its all in the game and both teams can use these ploys, but we were devoid of ideas, we had no plan B. About two mins before halftime, Ards scorer Roy went down injured and I like all United fans thought he was 'bluffing' but he had to be helped off and took no further part in the match. Two mins later the ref blew for halftime and we thought surely Glenn will change it, but we were wrong.

2nd half
United took the field 'early' as befits a team chasing the match and it was obviously our manager had no fresh ideas or team talk, because we took the field with the same eleven players. Ards however made two substitutions Smith replaced Henderson and Faulkner for the injured Roy and Faulkner turned out to be a match clinching substitution. Try as they might United could not get anything going and it was obvious a change would have to be made but like 'Nero', Spike fiddled and we were getting burned. Alan D was having a 'stinker', getting caught in possession time and time again and little was seen of United in attacking mode and the hosts were attacking from the wings and when they couldn't get by us with fair means, they resorted to foul means,'conning' the ref and he fell for it.

This was epitomised in a one minute spell when an Ards midfielder fouled a United player and should've been booked but the referee took no action and 30 seconds later the same player took a dive from a 50/50 tackle with Neal Gawley and the United man was booked. This wrongful booking seemed to spur Spike into action and Gawley was subbed with Liggie taking his place. This made little or no difference as far as I could see, but we spurned a great chance to get on level terms, when Mario found Alan D in the box but he shot weakly and the Ards keeper gathered easily, a dreadful miss and it just about summed the night for Alan D and United, an awful performance. Ards struck the final 'nail in the coffin' for United when substitute Faulkner eluded Steely easily and beat Dwayne with a cross/cum shot which went into the net via the far post.

That goal came 11 mins from time and Glenn subbed Steely with Neal Lowry taking his place but I thought it was too little too late, he should have had them both on at halftime instead of 60 mins and and 82nd mins respectively and it would be truth to say, this made no difference to us. Alan D added insult to injury, trying two 'long shots' from the halfway line, which didn't trouble the Ards keeper, I thought idly he's trying to be a Cush, but he hasn't got the Cush's skill. Despite 5 mins of injury time the match petered out and United came down to earth with a bump, they had started the league in joint-second and a win would have taken them up to joint top, but as it was they slipped to fifth and with the next four matches coming up, at home to Ports and Chickenville and away to Linfield and the Glens the bottom three beckons, unless Spike and the three baldies can turn it around, I wish them luck!

Dwayne (7), Kane (6), Marky (6), Johnny (6), Steely (6)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Thommo (6), Jenks (6), Alan D (5), Gawley (6)(Sub: Liggie 6,), Mario (6), Ally (7)

Man of the match: Ally