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