Mister Magic!

United manager tied up midfielder Thommo to an extended contract just before kick-off and Gary repaid Spike's faith in him by scoring two goals as United beat Ards 4-2. Manager Spike made no changes to his starting line-up of last Tuesday night, selecting the same eleven that beat Portadown so convincingly in that game. Peter Duffin and Alan D got places on the bench at the expense of Dwayne and MM. We had a 'new' referee, Steven Wallace from Stroke City and he was called into action in the 4th minute when United Captain Jenks chased a long clearance and as the Ards keeper McKibbin advanced outside his area, Jenks headed over the keeper and he caught it outside the penalty area. When a keeper handles outside the penalty box, it's an automatic red card, but Wallace merely flourished a yellow one, a blatant disregard for the rules.

Stephen Alexander in his report for the Ballymena Times said that the ref maybe allowed that as there were two Ards defenders between the incident and the goal-line it wasn't a goal scoring opportunity. I don't want to disagree with so an illustrious reporter as Stephen, but I couldn't see any of the two defenders getting back to thwart Jenks's goal-bound header. But is the rule changed (just like the rule on throw-ins seems to be changed, arms only go back to middle of head now, which used to be a foul throw), when a goalie handles the ball outside his area, is it not an automatic sending-off? Justice was done anyway when Cush's free-kick deflected off the wall and beat McKibbin all ends up. United continued to press and Archie went on a surging run and his dangerous cross was headed behind for a corner.

The Ards defence was at sixes and sevens and from a sloppy back-pass Jenks gave chase and McKibbin had to come outside his area and tangled with Jenks. I don't think Jenks did anything wrong but McKibbin took exception to the challenge, raising his hands, the ref decided to book Jenks and let McKibbin off scot free, yet another clanger. Ally then bounded up the right wing but couldn't find a telling pass and at the other end Cully came close to equalising, curling his effort wide. The usually reliable JT was struggling and Tony K saved his blushes with a last ditch tackle, after Ards player Mitchell left JT for dead. At the other end Ally bounded up the wing again, but chose to shoot this time, but it was a feeble shot and easily cleared. United won a corner and JT was denied a goal by the keepers foot, from a shot at close range. Nine mins before halftime, Thommo intercepted a pass on halfway and surged forward and from the edge of the box drilled the ball into the net to give United a 2-0 lead.

Ards got back into the game when the United defence stood back and admired, instead of tackling, as Neil Dougan passed to Faulkner and he sidestepped Archie and drilled the ball into the net. A minute later the United defence failed to deal with a long throw-in from Hunter and Dougan scored with an overhead kick past Addis to tie the scores level at 2-2. JT was booked for a rash challenge and United spurned another chance to get back in front when Jenks found Cush and the United talisman bore done on goals, neatly sidestepping his marker and with the goal at his mercy, blasted his right-foot shot wide, a shocking miss, but an entertaining player. Despite 3 mins of added time, Ards had to make a substitution as early as 5 mins, but there wasn't a terrible lot of time wasted I thought, the teams went in at the half with the score 2-2.

2nd half
United attacking their favouritism Fisherwick end went on the attack to try to find a breakthrough and I thought they had got it when Cookie got on the end of an Ally corner only to be thwarted by an Ards defender on the line. Then in a spell of United pressure Sparky was upended, but the ref saw nothing. Sparky was involved yet again when he exchanged a pass from Jenks but shot harmlessly wide. Ards tried to hit us on the break, but Gordon's shot flew across goal and behind for a goal-kick. In a neat bit of play, Jenks found Thommo in space and he hit a 'daisy cutter' from all of 30 yards which beat McKibbin easily to restore United's lead, 3-2. Sparky was subbed soon after with Mario coming on and Jenks dropping back to midfield and it would be true to say we lost some of our fluency after this and were defending too deeply for my liking.

Ards nearly made us pay for this change of tactic when Addis had to dive full length to keep out a Faulkner effort at the expense of a corner. Cush, who had been in the wars, was subbed with 12 mins to go, with Liggie taking his place. We were still having possession but we weren't using it very well and Ards looked destined to find an equaliser. From one promising move I was glad to see Mitchell's fierce shot catch the side-netting. Our manager decided to make his last change and Mike Ruddy came on to add a bit of defensive stability to our team. Liggie, who must be the most maligned striker we ever had on our books, had the last say when he outfoxed his marker and ran into the box before picking out Ruddy for a tap-in to score and give the Sky Blues a fourth goal. This was in fact the first senior goal for Mike in a Sky Blue Jersey, I hope he has lots more and this was the icing on the cake, so to speak.

This goal came in 89 mins and Ards tried to to get back but they were leaving holes in their defence and the United forwards took advantage and forced two fruitless corners in time added on. United were awarded a free-kick near the goal-line and as this was taken ref Wallace blew his whistle to end the game and United had scored 4 goals for the 2nd match running. Next up is a trip to Dungannon to play Warrenpoint Town and we'll need to be on our guard for that one too, it's another 6 pointer to my way of thinking. We're are still in 10th place in the league, but getting close to our friends along the A26, but we have to keep on winning points and JT looks destined to be sitting out two matches any time soon as he nears the dreaded 10 bookings. Alas we won't be at Dungannon for we are away to the sun (hopefully), for our winter break, but we'll be cheering in Spain, as twitter keeps us informed, come on Sky Blues!

Addis (7), Marky (7), Archie (7), JT (7), Cookie (7), Tony K (7), Sparky (7)(Sub: Mario 7,), Thommo (8), Ally (7)(Sub: Ruddy 7,), Jenks (8), Cush (8)(Sub: Liggie 7,)

Man of the match: Thommo

King Tony!

United manager Spike made two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday, Marky McCullagh at rightback, therefore realising Tony K to midfield and Archie came in for Mike Ruddy at leftback and he dropped down to the bench. Gavin Taggart was either dropped or injured, I don't know which and Dwayne Nelson made the bench along with our three strikers. I'll admit I was worried when I saw we had gone into the game with no strikers again and we had 4 central defenders in our line-up, but it turned to be all part of the Fergie plan. I don't know whether we won the toss, but we kicked-off attacking the Farm Lodge end which meant we would have been attacking our favourite goals at the Fisherwick end in the 2nd half.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Blue Sport, a Ballymena United legend has stated that teams in England only get the first shot goal on average after 25 or 30 mins. Just 4 mins was on the clock when our talisman, Cush, tried a shot, not on target it has to be said, but I consoled myself that it was just a sighter. When United won a free-kick about 30 yards from goal and out on the right Cush lined up a shot and duly scored to give United the lead. I think the ball took a slight deflection of the Ports 'wall', but Ports keeper David Miskelly (the Dave O'Hare lookalike, fat basket), let the ball through his legs and into the net. With Tony K orchestrating everything in midfield, United took a stranglehold on the match, but continued to fritter away chances.

Captain Jenks, who led the 'line' brilliantly it has to said, had a chance to increase United's lead, but after good build-up play,his effort was blocked. Archie at leftback was linking up well with Cush and Ally and United looked destined to add to their lead. Little was seen of the Ports as attacking force, the United midfielders didn't give them any-time to settle on the ball. The fit again Thommo was back to his best, shrugging away defenders and carrying the ball out of defence. Sparky was revelling in his role in central midfield and his link-up play with Tony K was a thing to behold. Tony K released Jenks after 20 mins and although Miskelly in the Ports goal advanced, I thought Jenks should have scored, but the keeper got his hand to the ball and diverted it away for a corner.

Ally was unlucky to be adjudged offside after a slick passing move which involved the whole team almost and how did Cookie Munster get up-field like a marauding winger two mins later. In a spell of Ports pressure, our keeper, Stuarty Addis, came to our rescue when he managed to save a Twig effort with his foot. Twig had another effort two mins later, but his downward header was easily saved by Addis. Despite their fearsome strike force, the Ports it has to said were disappointing, but that's not to take anything away from this United performance. This was epitomised by Sparky trying a half volley about 35 yards from goal, which if had been on target would have embarrassed Miskelly again. With halftime approaching Cush nearly increased our lead with a shot, only for Miskelly to make a great save. Referee Ross Dunlop added a minute of time at the end of the 45 and United went in with a slender one goal lead.

2nd half
Unlike last Saturday I was quite happy when United took the field with the same personnel and they started this half as they had finished the first, on attack. Tony K tried a shot which Miskelly managed to turn round the post, but not convincingly and 10 mins later Tony received a pass from Jenks, bounded into the Ports box and found the unmarked Sparky, who in turn scored to give United a 2-0 lead. Portadown boss Ronnie McFall brought off Captain Kevin Braniff, who showed his displeasure by throwing his jersey down in disgust, unrest in the camp methinks. Referee Ross Dunlop, riled United fans with blowing for fouls and stopping promising moves, instead of playing the advantage and he never took any names, despite the Ports fouling at every opportunity. He finally booked McCaffrerty of Ports in 70 mins after letting him off with two or three dubious tackles earlier. Cush found space on the right and tried to curl a shot beyond Miskelly, but the keeper pulled off a magnificent save to deny the United talisman.

Then in 75 mins Cush was upended in the box by Friars of Ports and despite not getting treatment, the ref decided he should go off and not come on till he got a signal from the ref, that rule went over my head. Despite the foul being clearly in the box, United got a free-kick outside and Friars got booked and had to be helped off. Just for good measure, the ref booked Sparky, 3 mins later but what that was for I've no idea, maybe it was for Sparky hammering the pitch in frustration, could that be like a tennis player hitting his racquet off the court surface, I'll have to get a ruling on that one. Sparky was subbed almost immediately with Mario taking his place, allowing Captain Jenks to drop into midfield. United retreated into their shell somewhat at this juncture and the Ports came more into the game but the United defence held firm.

With 4 mins to go United scored the best goal of the night, when Thommo shrugging off defenders, carried the ball all of fifty yards, before striking a sweet left foot shot past Miskelly and into the net and in the process sparking off celebrations in the meagre Showgrounds crowd. With 2 mins to go Captain Jenks came off to a standing ovation with Ruddy taking his place and on the stroke of 90 mins Cush burst into the Ports penalty, only to be upended by Miskelly. Referee Dunlop merely booked the culprit and Ally stepped up to send Miskelly the wrong with the resultant penalty to give United a 4-0 lead. Despite 3 mins of added time there was no further scoring and United had reached their 2nd semi-final this season and the draw will be made this Saturday on radio Ulster before 3 o'clock. It was an emphatic victory it has to said, but its back to the nitty gritty of the league on Saturday and we'll need that enthusiasm against our opponents Ards if we are to climb up the league table at their expense!


Addis (8), Marky (7), Archie (8), Cookie (8), JT (8), Tony K (9), Sparky (8)(Sub: Mario 7,), Thommo (8), Ally (8), Jenks (8)(Sub: Ruddy 7,), Cush (8)

Man of the match: Tony Kane

No Mask!

There's an old saying that comes to mind when you think you been harshly treated and goes like so, 'Dick Turpin at least wore a mask', alas for United yesterday there was no mask. It was daylight robbery! True they contributed to their own downfall, missing numerous easy chances, I counted 5 alone in the first half, but what possessed Spike to go with no recognised strikers for the second week running, I'll never know. Then when we were chasing the game in the 2nd half he didn't make a change until the 70 minute and only another two changes in the 88 and 89 mins. Somebody in the crowd said he is saving them for Tuesday night, when United play Portadown in the league cup, it got an ironic laugh. Despite being fit, Dwayne didn't make the starting line-up and I'm not blaming Stuarty for Chickenville's two goals, but he was beat at his near post for the first one and nutmegged for the second one, Susan Bap eat your heart out.

Spike made one change from his starting line-up, Thommo for Marky and I thought Thommo had a better game than he's been having of late. Liam Boyce almost made us pay for slack marking, when Donnelly found him but he screwed his shot wide. At the other end Thommo fed Jenks and he brought best out Devlin in the Reds goal, but it was a real chance, he could have squared for Thommo. There seemed little danger when the United defence failed to deal with a cross-field ball, but Stephen Garret, neatly sidestepped Mike Ruddy and beat Addis at his near post, who never moved. Referee Hetherington or Heth as I like to call him, failed to observe the rules when Jenks broke free, only to ruby-tackled to the ground by a Reds defender, surely a booking at least if not a sending-off, but Heth merely gave the foul. Five minutes later he yellow carded Ruddy for a clumsy foul on Garret, but it was not vicious. Ruddy came to his sides rescue when after a spell of Reds pressure he showed his fellow defenders how to clear the ball.

With half an hour gone United had a real chance when a Thommo volley was parried by Devlin and gathered with Cush closing in. Then Cush fed Sparky but he shot straight at Devlin, another chance gone and then it was Cush firing a right-foot shot at the keepers chest. United were in control at this stage but with time ticking away in the first half it looked like we were going to be denied a deserved equaliser. Then the offside flag came to our rescue, as a Reds attacker strayed offside and Ruddy took a quick free-kick and found Thommo, who played a delightful ball into Cushley's path, Cush sprinted down the 'inside-left' portion of the pitch and beat Devlin with a crisp left-foot shot to the far post, to tie the scores at 1-1. It was no more than we deserved I thought, for we created at least 5 chances, but at the end of the day, its only goals that count.

2nd half
Surely I thought Spike has to see the error of his ways and bring on at least one striker, but no he went with the same team and we were punished within barley three minutes after the start, when we had three players bunched on Garret, Ruddy, JT and Sparky but he still found Boyce in acres of space and he nutmegged Addis from inside the box, to give his side the lead 2-1. The usually reliable JT was caught out of position and Cookie couldn't get across to intercept Boyce, a bad defensive goal. The Reds mounted the pressure after this and Gormely missed a sitter when he blasted a corner over when unmarked in the 6 yard box. At the other end in a spell of United pressure Thommo failed to find the target once more as his effort flew by the post. With 70 mins on the clock, Spike took off Ally and brought on MM, twenty minutes too late in my book and he took up Ally's place on the wing, surely the right decision should have been to replace Jenks up front, who was starting struggle with the pace of game.

From a Tony Kane free-lick, JT found Jenks, but he failed to find the target at the near post, another miss. With time ticking away, MM, found Cush in space and he played a delightful through pass to Captain Jenks. He sprinted into the Reds box and I thought surely he must score, but he hit his shot too close to the keeper, who blocked with his right-foot. That was the signal for Spike to bring on his 'big guns', lol. Cookie made way for Mario on 88 mins and a minute later, Thommo made way for Liggie and an idle thought came into my mind, does Fergie really care about this result, or is he just giving his strikers a run out, nonsense I know, but stranger things have happened. The Reds keeper and his team-mates had been wasting time and the Heth was speeding them up but he never took any action. The worst bit of time wasting was when Scannell was subbed with 15 mins left, he pretended not to hear or see his number being displayed and when the Heth invited him to hurry up, he ignored him and done a slow march.

Despite 5 subs being used and the Reds wasting time, Heth only seen fit to add on 3 mins and was in this 3 mins that United missed their greatest chance to get something out of this game. There seemed little danger when JT chased a ball that looked destined to be a goal kick, but the variance in the bounce of the Reds 3G pitch allowed the ball to hold up and JT managed to get in a pass to Mario, which Mario turned back to Sparky, who turned like a ballerina and crossed for Jenks and he headed past. Sparky had set it on a plate, but Jenks had missed it and we had missed our chance. Next up is a league cup meeting with the Ports at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night, played to a finish and the times getting short for Spike and three baldies to get this United team sorted, out or we could be in a dogfight for survival in this league and every game could now be likened to a cup match. We need to play as if our very futures depended on it, no need to panic some say, but I think its getting close, the next three league games will tell a tale, its squeaky bum times, bring on the Ards!

Addis (6), Kane (6), Ruddy (6), Cookie (6)(Sub: Liggie 6,), JT (6), Thommo (7)(Sub: Mario 7,), Sparky (7), Gavin (7), Ally (7)(Sub: MM 6,), Jenks (6), Cush (7)

Man of the match: Thommo

Chilly Thriller!

United fresh from their surrender of the County Antrim Shield on Wednesday came out the wrong end in a seven goal thriller at a rain lashed and cold Showgrounds. United manager, Fergie, made 3 changes from his starting line-up of last Wednesday's encounter with the Crues, out went Archie, Thommo and MM and in came JT, Ruddy and Tony K. Ruddy moved to left back in place of Archie, Tony K to midfield in place of Thommo and JT took up his usual place at central defence, therefore releasing Captain Jenks to play upfront in place of MM. I was disappointed to see us playing without a recognised front man, but as it turned out we did okay, for the first half anyway.

United created two chance in the first minute, first Tony K shot wide and then Jenks had a shot saved by Morris in the Glens goal. At the other end Stuarty Addis, filling in for the injured Dwayne, reacted smartly to save from Richard Clarke at the second attempt. United could have and should've have taken the lead with 12 mins gone, when Cush found himself unmarked, but he shot directly at Morris with the goal at his mercy. I wondered is it going to be one those days for Cush, as two mins later he lost possession when in a good position and the rain continued to lash. I needn't have worried about Cush, for with 23 mins gone he neatly sidestepped his marker and released Ally down the inside-left channel.

Now I was immediately filled with trepidation, the number of times Ally has been 'clean through' with only the keeper to beat and messed up, are too numerous to mention. But this time it was different, this time it was on his favoured left peg and his angled shot beat Morris with aplomb to give United the lead. United looked to have doubled their advantage 11 mins later when Jenks got on the end of a flick from a Tony K free-kick and crashed a shot off the underside of bar. Jenks, JT and Cookie were adamant the ball had crossed the line before being cleared, but the linesman and referee were unimpressed. On a side note it's interesting to hear where the ref is from, Comber, right in the Glentoran catchment area, but I'm not saying he was biased or anything, he is above reproach.

Within 4 mins the Glens were level and questions need to be asked of the United defence, when form a free-kick out on the left, Glens winger Jordan Stewart, was allowed time to collect the ball, move away from goal and turn and shoot past a bemused Addis. All this time the United defenders stood idly by and watched and in added time the Glens came within inches of taking the lead from another free-kick, this time from Callaher, only for Addis to make a finger tip save at the expense of a corner. United had bossed the first half but the Glens when they got their goal courtesy of the benevolent United defence, had moved up a gear and we were in danger of getting left behind.

2nd half
Despite losing ground the United management team didn't change things at halftime and we conceded two goals in quick succession. The first came about about when Tony K was beaten in the air to a free-kick and O'Hanlon was allowed to run free and score from close range, yet another defensive clanger. That goal came in the 49 mins and 3 mins later. Marcus Kane, who taken the free-kick was allowed space and he took a pass from Clarke and beat Addis from 25 yards, was Addis too far off his line I wondered or was just a good shot. Fergie, like Rip Van Winkle before him. woke up and replaced Marky with Liggie, necessitating Tony K to revert to rightback and Jenks to midfield. This substitution nearly brought an instant reward as United stepped up the pressure.

Elliot Morris, the Glens keeper was wasting time and he was warned by referee Burns, but the ref took no action, but he's not biased, he is just bloody useless. He denied United a cast iron penalty for handball, saying that it was a thigh the ball had struck, them Glens players must have their thighs attached to their elbows as far as I can see. United reduced the deficit when Ally's cross-cum-shot was headed into the net by Liggie to make the 3-2 in the Glens favour. Its a well known fact you are at your most vulnerable when you have scored and so it proved for United. With the whole United defence claiming offside Jordan Stewart got on the end of a through ball and gave Addis no chance to put his team 4-2 in the lead. United were indebted to Addis when he blocked another Stewart effort and O'Hanlon shot past the post mins later.

Two mins later Glenn rung the changes, bringing on MM and Robbo and taking off Cush and Sparky and United were denied a penalty again by ref Burns. He had allowed the advantage to be played as MM was fouled near the 'D' and when a Glens played handled it in the box, he brought the play back to the original foul. Surely if he allowed the play to go on, anything that happens later has to stand up, I would have thought, because a penalty would been more of an advantage to us than a free-kick outside the box. As it was Tony K's free-kick was turned over for a corner by Elliot. Liggie missed an absolute sitter when he miskicked with the goal at his mercy and later on he run the ball out instead of crossing it. Then he missed the target from 12 yards, no wonder he hung his head in shame, he could've been a hero.

In a rare Glens break, Mark Miskimmon could be seen clearly scuffling with Cookie and Cookie later accused of him of spitting on him, a despicable offence, but referee Burns took no action. When the 90 mins was up I was surprised to learn the ref only added the requisite 3 mins in spite of persistent time wasting by the Glens. Two mins into this added time United got an another goal when Ally got on the end of an MM cross. There was barely time to start the game, not helped by a Glens player kicking the ball away, but yet again the ref took no action. As the match drew to a close, there were scuffles in the two benches and later on it seemed to kick-off down the tunnel, a sad end to quite enjoyable match that had started with a minutes silence as a tribute to Roy Coyle's granddaughter, who had died earlier in the week.

To Roy Coyle and his family circle we pass on our condolences, Roy played for us before moving to the Glens and Omar says he was a combative player who never asked quarter and didn't give any. United could do with a Roy Coyle now, or somebody to start and score goals would be an asset, we can't go on like this, a fair result today would have been 7-6 to us, our defence is porous but our forwards are atrocious, they can't score for love or money. There must be somebody somewhere in this country of ours, North or South who we can afford, who's going to put the ball in the onion bag, but I wouldn't say no to a good stopper/sweeper who's going to tighten up our defence either, but we need a goalscorer more, sooner, rather than later!

Addis (6), Marky (5)(Sub: Liggie 6,), Ruddy (6), Cookie (6), JT (6), Sparky (6),(Sub: Robbo 6,), Jenks (7), Tony K (6), Gavin (6), Cush (7)(Sub: MM 7,), Ally (8)

Man of the match: Ally