Gutless Surrender

I must pay to the United fans who journeyed to Seaview last night to support their team, they were a credit to Ballymena. It's more than I can see about the team, excuse me, I digress, we are not a team, just a useless bunch of individuals. I couldn't define any shape to our team last night, we were that disjointed. This was epitomised by Gary Thompson, I really don't know where he was playing last night and one time in the first half a Crues player went on the run from defence and Gary stood idly by and watched him. It's true we were decimated by injuries and suspensions, but Stephen Baxter only started 5 of his players from last Saturday, but we never looked likely to punish this act of benevolence in Mister Ugly's part.

Our manager, Spike, was forced to make five changes in his line-up of last Saturday, Stuart Addis came in to replace the injured Dwayne and Marky switched to rightback in place of the suspended Tony Kane. Cookie came in to replace the injured JT, Captain Jenks switched to central defence alongside Cookie and Archie replaced the injured Steely McBride. Sparky and Gavin came in to replace Jenks in midfield and we played with one striker, leaving Liggie on the bench. It was obvious from the start that we had no cohesion and we had no player in midfield to get us moving. Marky has said his preferred position is rightback, he was so bad in that position last night, I hope it's many a long day before he plays in that position again.

Captain Jenks excelled at central defence, but he was up against nothing and the same could be said for Cookie and Archie, they dealt adequately but up against nothing untoward. The one bright star in our defence was our stand-in keeper, Stuarty Addis, he dealt capably with anything that came his way and was blameless for the goal which eventually beat us. It's not too difficult to describe the action from our point of view in the first half, because they're wasn't much. The first shot was by Cush, but it was wide, but only a sighter I consoled myself, then Ally bounded clear and when one-and-one, with Crues keeper Sean O'Neill, he bottled it and took the easy way out and passed behind MM and the chance was lost.

The home team gave us a fright next when Cleary and Coates rose unmarked to a free kick, not a United defender in sight but luckily Cleary's headed went past. The next significant attack saw Archie deliver a low cross but nobody could get on the end of it, a chance gone begging. Then Marky showed his dribbling skills (lol), advancing up the line before letting the ball run into touch, what a waste. The rest of the half was devoid of chances and consisted of Crues playing a 'cat and mouse' game, where they played the ball about in their own half and then released a big 'up and under' which generally came to nothing. Halftime was reached and you could hear the audible sigh from the spectators, surely Spike would change it at halftime, but he didn't.

2nd half
The Crues made a substitution at halftime, with Morrow coming on to replace Robinson but it was United who had the first chance when Cush got a bit of space on the left, cut inside, but his right-foot shot flew past O'Neill's right upright with the keeper stranded. A miss it has to be said, but I was hoping to see more from Cush this half, I was disappointed. Spike took off Thommo and brought on Neil Lowry at this juncture, but it made little or no difference to us. Crues almost took the lead when Gavin got caught in possession and Addis made a smart save at the expense of a corner, but referee Burns gave a goal-kick. Baxter played his joker and introduced Owens for Cleary and the United defence was subjected to real pressure from this moment on.

Then it was Jenks turn to get caught in possession, but Addis saved his blushes pushing away McMaster's shot, but it was only an interlude. The goal that sealed United's fate finally arrived midway through the second period, when a Jenks header fell nicely to Morrow and his shot from inside the box, took a wicked deflection, leaving Stuarty stranded at one end of the goal, while the ball went in the other. A cruel piece of luck but I'm of the opinion you make your own luck. Spike made a sub at this point and I was expecting him to take a defender off and bring Liggie on, but instead he took Sparky off and brought Ruddy on, a midfielder going off and a defender coming on. Sammy Patterson was of the opinion that Ruddy was going to replace Archie at leftback and Archie was going to replace Captain Jenks, but Ruddy settled into midfield and Jenks was left in defence where he was struggling against the tall Owens.

Ally was next to go and Liggie came on for the last 9 minutes, too little too late and I don't think he got one positive attack in. We huffed and puffed, but there no plan, just a big ball up to the strikers but it was easy meat for the Crues defence. With time ticking away United were leaving gaps in their defence and Addis kept us in the match with a fine stop from sub Heately. But it was to no avail we hadn't a clue and we had relinquished our hold on the County Antrim Shield without so much as a whimper, an utterly disgraceful performance, but I suppose it is nothing new from this United team, we expect nothing and they deliver nothing, a sad state of affairs. I wish I could offer some hope that were getting better, but sad to say, I think we are getting worse and we've only less than three days to recover when the Glens visit this Saturday, damn that Gypsy curse!

Addis (8), Marky (5), Archie (7), Cookie (7), Jenks (7), Thommo (5)(Sub: Lowry 6,), Cush (7), Gavin (6), Sparky (6)(Sub: Ruddy 6,), Ally (6)(Liggie 6,), MM (6)

Man of the match: Stuarty Addis

Mugger Hunter!

The Sky Blue Sport's team was hoping for a strong referee for this game at home to Linfield, but what we got was a 'weak and biased' official, who gave our keeper no protection and I hold him personally responsible for Dwayne's injury when Matthew Tipton fouled him for Linfield's first goal. The correct decision should been a free kick to United and Tipton should've been at least booked if not sent-off, we can't have players going in rough shod on keepers. In the 2nd half he gave a foul on the Linfield keeper Tuffey, which was laughable in the extreme, as he had flapped at a corner kick.

The linesman at the Fisherwick end of the ground was abysmal, there's no other word to describe him, he 'missed' three blatant offsides where Waterworth was the offender and gave Linfield a corner when the whole of A section in the home stand could see that the ball was over the byline. Is this incompetence or just plain cheating? He was up with the play on every occasion so I can't fault him for that, but to be wrong so many times, beggars belief. He had a better view of Linfield's first goal than the ref, but he thought it was okay for Tipton to go in with studs showing on our keeper, another mugger like Hunter.

Manager Spike made one change to his line-up from last Saturday, JT replaced Cookie and we got off to the worst possible start, when Dwayne, the hero last week, fumbled a shot from B.J. Burns from 30 yards and as he dropped he clearly had his hand on the ball and in control of it, I was amazed to see Tipton being allowed to challenge him and foul him and the ball ended up in the back of net and Dwayne was left writhing in pain. Dwayne had made a mistake, but he had recovered, but Hunter and the linesman must've considered the ball was loose, which it clearly wasn't and allowed the goal to stand, a clear miscarriage of justice, but what we have to come to expect when playing the IFA/Linfield, you can't beat the system.

Dwayne was able to continue after extensive on-field treatment, at one point the ref indicated that the stretcher should be called, but bravely Dwayne decided to carry on, but he must have been in terrible pain. I heard reports after the match, he had been diagnosed with a broken jaw, as yet unconfirmed and I lay the blame fairly and squarely at Tipton, Hunter and the linesman, who all colluded in this despicable attack, which will leave Dwayne on the injured list for the foreseeable future. When the game got under way the Linesman added insult to injury by not flagging Waterworth offside, but he dragged that effort wide of the posts. United spurned 3 chances to get back level, when first MM received a ball from Liggie and from his cross Thommo could only blast the ball over the bar, a horrendous miss.

Then it was Liggie's turn when he found space at the edge of the box and with time on his hands, he shot, but didn't trouble the keeper. Then Thommo managed to get a shot on target, Tuffey making a smart save, but Thommo failed to get in a cross from the rebound, pushing the ball harmlessly past the post. Then in 38 minutes the linesman 'missed' Waterworth clearly being offside and as Dwayne advanced, he lifted the ball over him and into the net and we had been mugged a second time. We were two goals down but in fact the score should have 0-0, but Hunter & Co, had seen to that. The ref added on 5 mins stoppage time for the injury to Dwayne and Waterworth should have done better when the Linesman 'missed' another blatant offside this time at least 5 yards, but his cross eluded everybody, what a let-off.

A minute later he chased a long pass which clearly went over the byline, but I was amazed to to see the Linesman signalled a corner. Deep into time added on, the Linesman woke up and flagged Waterworth offside, only to be overruled by the referee Hunter, who penalised United for an infringement in the build of play. The Linesman was obviously muffed by this turn of events and he never flagged for offside again during the remainder of the match. From the resultant free kick, Dwayne turned the ball onto the crossbar and away for a corner. Finally after what seemed an eternity, referee Hunter blew his whistle and we had survived. But could we regroup and get a foothold in the match, or would we have to make a substitution, with Sparky replacing Dwayne, lots of talking points at halftime.

2nd half
United came out with renewed vigour in the second half and they reduced the deficit two mins into the half when the ball fell nicely for Cush and he rifled a volley low into the net, beating Tuffey all ends up. Two mins later Cush repeated the dose and Tuffey did well to turn his effort over the bar. Then United produced the best move of the match, started with Tony Kane and carried on with Cush and Tony of all people missed with a diving header when it seemed easier to score. The Linfield defence was looking shaky at this time and they should've been punished when Liggie rose unchallenged for an Ally corner, but headed over, another dreadful miss. Then it was Ally's turn when he blasted over when Cush found him unmarked in the box, but he failed to work the keeper again.

We were to pay dearly for this benevolence in front of goal, when Linfied won a throw-in deep in our half. The United defence didn't deal too well with it and when Waterworth was left unmarked, his cross-cum-shot was headed home by the unmarked B.J.Burns. That goal came in the 60th minute and seven minutes later, Aaron Burns was allowed to waltz through our midfield and his speculative shot took a wicked deflection off a United player and found the net with Dwayne wrong-footed. We were dead and buried, but truth be told we only had ourselves to blame, for despite the cheating of the ref and Linesman, we had, had numerous clear-cut chances to be at least on level terms, but we spurned them all.

Fergie rung the changes after this, taking off Ally and Liggie and bringing on Robbo and Mario and despite creating pressure, Tuffey in the Linfield goal brought off a couple of good saves. We were leaving holes at the back and Linfield were guilty of some misses themselves and United were indebted to the woodwork on at least two occasions and the resolute Dwayne, who despite his fumble, was my man of the match. With 15 mins remaining Fergie brought on Archie to replace Steely McBride, but to our credit we continued to play football. JT got a head injury and had to come off with the match in injury time and as he was falling he touched the ball with his hand, unsurprisingly the ref penalised him for handball. Finally the whistle came and the feeling that we had been mugged would not go away, but in truth I never expected anything else, its hard to beat the IFA!

Dwayne (8), Kane (7), Steely (6)(Sub: Archie 6,), Marky (6), JT (7), Cush (8), Thommo (5), Jenks (5), Ally (6)(Sub: Robbo 6,), Liggie (6)(Sub: Mario 6,), MM (7)

Man of the match: Dwayne

Name's Dwayne!

I thought of this headline driving home from Dungannon and I think it sums up our keeper and hero yesterday and my man of the match, Dwayne Nelson. He took the all player of the year plaudits last season and this season he looks a likely candidate to stage a repeat. I think if you were talking to him, he would say 'the name's Dwayne and saving's my game' or words to that effect. It wasn't a 'perfect' match for him, he came for and missed one ball but his defenders covered his blushes on that occasion and he nearly gave away a penalty, rushing from his goal and colliding with an unseen Swifts player, but luckily he got a touch on the ball and there was minimal contact with the player. I'm in no doubt if we had been playing the scum 'diving birds', they would be claiming a penalty, but Swifts manager Darren Murphy, plays the game the proper way, not like that other diving bird.

Dwayne has come on 'leaps and bounds' with the coaching of 'big Wes Lamont' and it was obvious when we under pressure in the 2nd half yesterday, the calming influence Dwayne had on our defence in the absence of the suspended Taylor and the injured Ruddy. He was plucking balls out of the air as Swifts must had ten corners at least in the second half and he made two of the best saves I have seen in a long time near the end of the match. Manager Spike made four changes to his starting line-up of last Saturday, Cookie and Liggie replaced the suspended Taylor and Mario, Steely McBride came in for the injured Ruddy and Archie dropped to the bench and was replaced by Ally and we played 4,4,2, although in the latter stages of the 2nd half, we played 4,5,1, as we were under the cosh.

United got off to a dream start when Liggie surged past the Swifts defence from a pass from Captain Jenks and his cross-cum-shot squirmed under the body of Swifts keeper Buchanan to give the Sky Blues the lead. That goal came in barely 60 seconds and I had just said to Sammy Patterson I was disappointed that we were playing down the slope in the first half, but we had taken the lead, maybe we could go on and win it. We nearly doubled our advantage after 10 mins, when a Tony Kane in-swinging corner hit the far post and Cookie just failed to make contact. The United defence almost committed 'suicide' when they allowed the Swifts player Fitzpatrick a free header at a corner, but luckily the ball went over the bar and then moments later Fitzpatrick played in Lavery but he shot over.

The rain came on and we adjourned to the stand and we had just barely taken our seats when United doubled their advantage through Thommo. Ally ran on to a through ball down the right and his cross deflected off a defender and into the path of Thommo who beat Buchanan from 8 yards to give United a 2-0 lead. As the rain lashed Referee Hetherington (or Heth as we like to call him), missed a blatant handball by a Swifts player but he didn't miss an alleged foul from Thommo and gave the free in a dangerous position to the Swifts. Heth, who's not that big, counted out 12 paces instead of the regulation 10 paces for the United 'wall'. It was obvious the way the Swifts had lined up that the free was going to be taken short to Harpur and I thought surely we had to have a man detailed to mark him, but we didn't. His shot took a deflection of a United defender and fell nicely for the unmarked Lavery who beat Dwayne easily to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Someone said Lavery came back from an offside position, but I couldn't say and the goal stood.

The Swifts nearly got back on terms when a Hazley shot flew past the post, as the Swifts buoyed by their goal found some form. Then in 41 mins United increased their lead when a Kane long throw-in found Liggie's head and in turn came back off an upright. Liggie got his boot to the rebound but Buchanan managed to parry the United man's shot and in the resultant scramble, Captain Jenks forced the ball into the net to restore United's two goal advantage. With halftime approaching the rain got worse and I for one was hoping the pitch wasn't going to 'cut up' but I needn't have worried, it stood the test, a testament to the Dungannon groundsman. I had remarked earlier that Dungannon had no loudspeaker, when it sprung into life in the halftime interval, with the recorded Pete Snowdon Spiel about 'football for all'. I thought it was 'fixed' and we would get the halftime scores but alas it was only a flash in the pan and we never heard from it again.

2nd half
I hate to say I told you so, but we struggled to get the ball out of our box in the 2nd half playing up the slope and it was no surprise when Swifts fashioned a goal about 6 mins into the half. After good work by Hazley and Fitzpatrick out on the left, the latter's shot was blocked but fell kindly for Boyce, who was lurking at the far post, to score. I don't mind telling you I was worried at this juncture as we were struggling to clear our lines and our talisman Cush was struggling, although he managed one shot past the post, when well placed. On 58 mins Cush made way for Robbo and he flattered to deceive, getting into good positions and then delaying his pass. But he did show some of his pace when he waltzed by his marker and crossed, only for the ball to be deflected for a corner. On the other wing Steely and Ally produced a bit of magic, with close passing, but from Steely's cross MM could only head past, a horrible miss.

A goal then would have given us some breathing space and it was obvious MM was struggling and he was replaced by Sparky in 65 mins and we went in to lock-down. I thought that Sparky was going to play upfront but he went into midfield and we hardly threatened after that. It was nearly all Dungannon now, with occasional breakaways for us that came to nothing. At the back we were struggling except for the calming influence of Dwayne, it was just another day at the office for him. With about five minutes left, Hutchinson's 25 yard shot was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Dwayne and then he recovered to grab the rebound, a marvellous piece of goalkeeping by the ex-Swifts man. Liggie was replaced as we approached injury time with James McCabe coming on and ref Heth reminded Liggie to hurry up. There was no blatant time-wasting by any of our players, but the Heth added on 4 mins stoppage at the end of the ninety.

United were indebted to Dwayne during this stoppage time when he pulled another dramatic save from a Hazley free kick. It's fair to say United were under the cosh, but with a little bit of composure they could have punished the Swifts for their all-out attack as Ally was left one-on-one with their keeper on the halfway line, but we were content to clear aimless balls into their half and they came back again and we were under the cosh once again. Sammy Patterson remarked that he thought Captain Jenks should have used his experience and held the ball but he was content to hoof it into their half and soak up the pressure like the rest of our team. After what seemed to be an age, Heth finally blew his whistle and we had won and in the process we had become the first team to beat the Swifts on their own ground in the league this season, but even better, we got the three points, bring on the Linfield.

Dwayne (8), Tony (7), Steely (7), Marky (7), Cookie (7), Cush (6)(Sub: Robbo 7), Thommo (7), Jenks (7), Ally (8), MM (6)(Sub: Sparky 7,). Liggie (8)(Sub: McCabe 7,)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson

Taylor Made!

United came from behind yesterday to snatch an unlikely draw in this derby game against the Coleraine scum and with a bit more composure could have got all three points. In truth United didn't deserve any more than they got, for in a first half dominated by the scum, the Sky Blues were decidedly lucky to be only two goals down at the break. The scum should had more to show for they dominated the chances but United hung on and kept the match alive. As expected, Spike started with the same team as Tuesday night and only one change on the bench, Cookie for Gavin. United started brightly and although the scum had the first shot on target in 5 mins, it was United who took the lead 4 mins later, at least I thought they had, when keeper Drummond could only palm a Tony Kane free-kick away and as it came back in Cush headed home, but referee Tim Marshall disallowed the goal for an imaginary push.

That disallowed goal meant that the scum knew they only had to go down with a groan and Tim would allow that they were fouled and they 'milked it' from that point on. At the slightest touch they would go down clutching their head, leg or any part of their body. In one instance in the second half 'one cap' was lying clutching his head, but when he realised the scum were on the attack he miraclessly recovered and joined in. The scum began to get an edge and aided and abetted by the weak referee, they won numerous free-kicks by diving but they took the lead on 25 mins when Marky allowed Eoin Bradley to turn in the box and he squeezed a shot past Dwayne and into the net. I thought originally Bradley was pulling Marky's shirt but ref Tim saw nothing and allowed the goal. When 8 minutes later Archie made a last ditch tackle on 'one cap' the United fans were astounded to see ref Tim give a foul.

After rolling about 'one cap' got up and added insult to injury, by beating Dwayne from 20 yards, a marvellous free-kick it has to said, but it was a free-kick that shouldn't have been. Little was seen of United in attack and MM was struggling with his passing and despite winning at least 3 corners we couldn't get anything going. The scum missed 2 gilt edged chances, when Bradley scuffed his shot with only Dwayne to beat and later when Canning strolled into the box, drew a tackle (why he didn't go down I'll never know, Tim would have been fooled I know),beat his man and when Dwayne advanced and with an open goal, Canning could only shoot past the post, a lucky let-off for United. That was almost on the stroke of halftime and it was obvious that a change of personnel would have to made if United were going to salvage anything from this derby. With the corporate dinner taking place, we the 'rank and file' fans were amazed to hear the 'half an half' was only £90, a bit of creative accounting if ever I saw one, but then that's to be expected.

2nd half
United took the field for the 2nd half with one change, winger Robinson on for Archie and this meant we had to switch to 4,4,2 formation. This substitution almost bore fruit immediately, when Robbo delivered a cross to the far post, but MM headed weakly at the keeper, a chance gone begging. Mike Ruddy, back to his old form, before he got that horrendous injury last season, was linking up well with Cush, but Cush seemed to be struggling and it was no surprise when he made way for Ally in 62 mins. Two mins later United won a corner on the right and Ally's pinpoint in-swinger was headed home by the unmarked Johnny, despite Bradley,s attempt to save it. United had got a lifeline and the fans were delirious and the scum were rattled. How Stephen Lowry wasn't booked by the ref for dissent I'll never know, he berated the linesman and the referee about something, but got away with it.

The United comeback was complete, when Mike Ruddy won a corner on the right and despite taking it short, won another corner and from this corner, again taken by Ally, Johnny again rose unchallenged and found the net with a powerful header. The United fans including yours truly were ecstatic and hoping that United could go on and win it. Alas we didn't press home our advantage and allowed the scum to regroup and aided and abetted by some queer decisions by ref Tim, they got back into the match. Robbo it seems has a problem with his feet, he can't keep them and he found space in the box and fell on at least 3 occasions, it wasn't a dive, he just seemed to lose his footing, something to work on, but he has pace to burn. If we can get that pace harnessed and teach him to keep his feet, he could be a real find. With 10 mins remaining Liggie came on for MM, but there was to be no match winning performance from Liggie who seems to be struggling to fit in to this United team.

Dwayne kept us in the match diving full length to keep out a Lowry shot at the expense of a corner and we were under pressure for a time. Memories came flooding back to that Irish cup match last season when United had got back on terms, only for the scum to snatch it in the last few mins. There was to be no eleventh hour winner yesterday and Johnny was denied his hat-trick header from another Ally corner, when he could only head the ball down. Deep into added time, Mario got a merited red card when he needlessly elbowed McIlmoyle in full view of the linesman (and me) and was rightly sent off. That he was provoked I've no doubt, but he shouldn't have taken the 'law into his own hands' and I couldn't understand the United fans clapping him as he was going off and he couldn't help telling McIlmoyle that he was shirking, for once I think the ref had no choice, but it was one of the few decisions he got right on the day.

The ref blew his whistle early in my book and I couldn't help thinking he wants to get off before this crowd turns ugly. We had salvaged a point and stopped the run of defeats, but the search for a win against the scum goes on. Is this the end for Fergie's 4,3,3 system? I and the rest of the Sky Blue crew definitely hope so, but maybe it will get an outing at Dungannon next week. I've been asked to thank the web master (ASD), on United's official web site for fixing the preview of this match so Omar can view it. As I made my way from the ground I couldn't help thinking that we have no match winner in our panel, somebody to bring on when the chips are down and to galvanise us into action, is there such a player around the Irish league, I sincerely hope so. Maybe that is Fergie's priority, that and tying Johnny up to a long term contract, then and only then, will we be a team to be reckoned with!


Dwayne (8), Kane (7), Ruddy (8), Marky (7), Johnny (8), Thommo (7), Jenks (7), Archie (7)(Sub: Robbo 7,), MM (6)(Sub: Liggie 6,), Mario (5), Cush (7)(Sub: Ally 8,)

Man of the match: Johnny

Duck Soup!

Ballymena United helped themselves to some 'duck soup' before a meagre crowd at the Warden Street Showgrounds last night thanks to a spirited performance given their recent form. Manger Glenn Ferguson, who has been getting some criticism of late, was in the stand for this match leaving his two lieutenants, 'Doc and Norm' to take control of matters from the dugout. If this was a matter dictated by the IFA (disciplinary), I just don't know, or maybe Glenn wanted to get a fans perspective on the game, but whatever the reason be it choice or punishment, United didn't suffer any because of it. Spike or the boys, made three changes from their starting line-up of last Friday, out went Robinson, Ally and Alan D and in came Captain Jenks, Mario and MM.

Readers of my reports will know that I'm not a fan of United's Captain Alan Jenks, but even I had to admit he was back to his best last night but should given us the lead with 10 mins on the clock. The improving Mike Ruddy, delivered a ball into the box and found the unmarked Jenks and with time to bring it under control he decided to make a deliberate header, only to see the long stringy Alvin Rouse push the ball onto the post and away for a corner. From the resultant corner Jenks had a chance to make amends, but his side-foot, missed the target. At the other end Johnny Taylor, with time on his hands, tried to find Marky on the edge of our box, a foolhardy ploy if I ever saw one. Marky slipped and McManus lurking nearby pounced, Marky recovered to steer him away from goal, but he got his shot in and Dwayne saved Taylor's blushes with a good stop.

Then on 18 mins Cush broke into the Mallards box and found Mario, the big striker hesitated and Mark McConkey (the son of former United player Harry, I think), managed to nick it off his toe, but the ball fell nicely for Captain Jenks and he made no mistake from about 12 yards away and atone for his earlier misses. United almost increased their lead when a Thommo cross deflected off a Mallard defender and missed the target by inches. From the corner, taken by Cush, Mario headed wide, then it was MM's turn but his shot just flashed wide, not to be outdone Cush tested Rouse from 25 yards. United nearly got caught when they were attacking and I think Marky can count himself lucky to be only yellow carded for a 'professional foul' on a Mallard forward, I also think the player went down theatrically, but it was a foul. United almost paid the ultimate penalty from the cleverly taken free-kick, but Dwayne saved their blushes yet again.

United increased their lead in 35 mins by a brilliant piece of football by Cush, as he burst into the Ducks penalty box, pushed wide to the byline, he eluded his marker and beat Rouse with a stinging shot from a near impossible angle. Part of me hopes the cameras were there to record this piece of magic, but another part of me thinks, 'why should the stay-away fans see this goal when they can't be bothered to turn up'. If any reader takes offence, I know of one fan who would have been there but for circumstances beyond his control and I sympathise with any or all that applies to and hope they get to see this piece of magic which was worth the admission price on its own. Captain Jenks was back to his best and was not giving the Ducks players any time on the ball, ably backed by his two lieutenants, Thommo and Archie. With halftime approaching, I wondered idly if United would continue in this vein in the second half, that has be our failing lately, we only play one half.

2nd half
United took the field with the same personnel and attacking their favourite 'Fisherwick end' and I for one was hoping for more goals. Nine mins into the second period, Thommo dispossessed Ducks player Keohane on the halfway line, surged forward and found Mario and the big striker done the rest, neatly sidestepping his marker and beating Rouse 'all ends up', the ball going into the net via the inside of the post. This goal was the icing on the cake as far as I was concerned and proved to the only goal of the half, but we should of had more undoubtedly, but the match was won but credit to the Ducks, they were still trying to play football, but leaving themselves exposed at the back. Referee 'ham shank' Courtney denied United a cast iron penalty when a Ducks defender handled MM's goal-bound shot, but otherwise let the players get on with it.

Cush was replaced by Ally in 66 mins and it just was brought home to me how meagre the crowd was, there was no deafening ovation, more like polite applause when Cush came off. With about 15 mins to go the United defence had a lucky let-off, when the Ducks player, Ryan Campbell, beat the offside trap, but could only fire over the advancing Dwayne and over the crossbar. Dwayne almost committed suicide when he rushed from his goal and found himself in no-mans land, but luckily the Ducks couldn't take advantage of it. MM showed his intent moments later when from just inside the Ducks half, he unleashed a thunderous shot, which Rouse just managed to tip over. Tony Kane, who had earlier picked up a foolish booking when taking a free-kick too quickly, despite the ref spelling out his instructions, was replaced by Gavin, with Archie moving to central defender to allow Marky to switch to rightback.

With just two mins of normal time to go, Mario was replaced by Liggie but in truth the match was over then and we were just playing out time. Ham shank surprised me by adding on 4 mins of stoppage time, 'what for I asked myself', I didn't see any blatant time-wasting on our part and the physio had been only on once I think, but it didn't matter, in the end, we survived the added time without incident. The players deservedly were applauded off the pitch and I couldn't help thinking, maybe we had a chance to progress in this competition, given our lucky win over Ballymoney in the first round and we rode our luck defensively last night, maybe, just maybe, we could go all the way if the players apply themselves like last night and we continue to have lady luck shine upon us, stranger things have happened. I can't wait for Saturday, bring on the Coleraine scum, United for ever, I follow Sky Blues....etc!

Dwayne (8), Tony (7)(Sub: Gavin 7,), Ruddy (8), Marky (7), Johnny (7), Thommo (8), Jenks (8), Archie (8), MM (7), Mario (8)(Sub: Liggie 7,), Cush (8)(Sub: Ally 7,)

Man of the match: Archie