Broken Welds!

United manager Spike was forced to make four changes from his starting line-up from last Saturday's game against league leaders Linfield. Out went the suspended JT and Tony, as well as the injured Cookie and the unavailable Frenchy Lacroix. In came newcomer Aaron Shan to replace Frenchy, Sparky to replace Tony, Marky to replace JT and Archie switched to central defence in place of Cookie and Mike Ruddy took his place at leftback. There were two 'new' faces in the subs bench, Robbo and the fit again, Stephen McBride as well as the regulars, MM, Lowry and Alan D. I was amazed to see no traces of the rain that seemed to fall constantly yesterday, but the pitch although heavy, was in re-markedly good condition, a credit to the council's groundsmen.

In the draw up at Tillysburn, the Welders had dictated the play and I and the entire Sky Blue Sport crew were hoping that United would dictate the pace of play at the Showgrounds, but alas we were disappointed. The championship side were the team in the first half and Magennis missed an early chance when unmarked, he blasted his shot wide, despite having loads of time, a lucky let-off for United. Magennis came closer after 11 mins when his volley from 25 yards flew past the post with United keeper Shan watching anxiously. United first real chance came after 16 mins when Cush's free-kick was saved by Windrum in the Welders goal. Welders number 11, Cockcroft, was putting over dangerous free-kicks from set-pieces and Shan saved United blushes, when he saved a Harris header, from one of those set-pieces.

United couldn't get anything going and Cush, our talisman, was struggling on the heavy surface and our midfield were being dominated by Magennis & Co. So much so that Sparky took matters into his own hands, well not his own hands as it turns out. He had tackled Magennis on a number of occasions but when he was adjudged to have tackled him unfairly (I personally thought it was a fair tackle, but ref Dunlop thought different), Sparky protested his innocence and Magennis could be seen to strike Sparky with his fist in the mouth. This incident started a mini riot, with players jostling each other and when it had all calmed down referee Ross Dunlop took the easy way out by showing both players a yellow card.

This was an isolated incident it has to be said, but the Welders had showed their unsporting side earlier when the ref had stopped play for an injury to an United man. When the ref started the action once again, a Welders player kicked the ball over the goal-line, instead back to Shan in the United goal. Shan's kicking leaves a lot to be desired and in one incident he came out of his area to clear the ball and promptly gave possession away and had to scramble back and watch anxiously as the ball sailed wide of the goals, obviously some work with big Wes needed. Halftime was reached with no score and I wondered idly as I watched the subs in their kick-about, who, if any of them, would change the pattern for us.

2nd half
United showed no changes from the first half, but they were determined to get a foothold in the match and Captain Jenks led by example in this as he started to dominate midfield and make his presence felt. Ten minutes into the half Cush cut inside and his stinging shot just missed the target with Windrum in the Welders goal flat-footed. That proved to be just a sighter and 2 mins later he repeated the dose and Windrum pushed this effort for a corner. Sparky thought he had given United the lead only to be denied on the line by  Welders player Beattie . But this seemed to spur United on to greater efforts and Marky got his head to another Ally corner in 65 mins, only to see his effort strike the bar and bounce away to safety.

United were in the ascendency now and Captain Jenks epitomised this by picking up the ball in his own half and beating five men, but he messed up the final pass. Thommo, starting to come in the game then fed Ally but when it seemed he was about to score, he dragged his shot wide of the post, surely he had to make the keeper work. United had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Dunlop, but I thought it was a clear handball, but the ref thought different. Cush failed to work the keeper when well placed and when Ally's corner on the right didn't trouble anybody, Spike played his hand and brought on MM to replace Ally, in the 72 minute. Would we play with two up front I thought, but no MM moved to the wing and he was a revelation.

He had been only on the pitch three mins when he was found by Thommo near the right touchline and he carried the ball across field to the left wing where he played a one-two with Thommo and Thommo surged into the area and drove the ball into the net. I breathed a sigh of relief, for extra-time was beckoning and the question was now could we hold on to our lead or better still, get another goal and seal the tie. We had a chance to make the tie safe when, when Captain Jenks drove the ball out of defence from a Welders corner and found MM and he tried to chip Windrum but alas he was too high. Then it was Darboy's turn to not trouble the keeper, when he latched onto a pass from Jimer and bore down on goal.

Captain Jenks downward header was wee buns for Windrum, as we approached stoppage time. The Welders were trying to get back on terms but Archie was a stalwart in the United defence and he was calm in the face of a determined onslaught by the visitors. United managed to relieve the pressure somewhat when we won a free-kick just over the halfway line, but Captain Jenks decided to waste time and we gave possession away and Ruddy had to make a last ditch tackle on the left flank and hurt himself in the process. So much so he had to come off and be replaced by McBride. As there was only three subs used in the entire match the ref brought the match to a close in the 92 minute and United had won 1-0, the Welders had put up a good show, but United were in the next round and that's all that matters!


Shan (7), Jimer (7), Ruddy (7) (Sub: McBride 7,), Marky (7), Archie (8), Sparky (7), Thommo (7), Jenks (8), Cush (8), Darboy (7), Ally (7) (Sub: MM 8,)

Man of the match: Archie

Linfield Divers!

The only thing that worried me about this game, was the referee, I knew he wouldn't be fair, that's too much to ask, but I hoped he wouldn't be taken in with the Linfield players histrionics. But my worst fears were realised when Linfield players were 'diving' all round the place, feigning injuries and 'Dick head Crangle' fell for it every time. He ruined a perfectly balanced match with sending-off, of Tony Kane, but he looked over at the Linfield manager and produced the second yellow immediately. I didn't think Tony made any contact with the Linfield diver, the diver just made a 'meal of it', it was no more than a clumsy attempt to block the ball and should have brought no more than a stern talking to, but Crangle did as his master bade him.

All in all he booked four United players and two Linfield men and finally he booked one of those Linfield men for diving, in the 90 minute, too little too late. United manager, Spike, selected the same team as won at Dungannon on Tuesday and the only change was in the subs bench, with Ruddy replacing Lowry . United had the best of the early exchanges, with Captain Jenks and Darboy sending efforts wide and it looked positive from a United viewpoint. Archie, went on the overlap and from his cross Darboy shot for goal, only to see Tufney in the Linfield goal make a save. Tony tried a shot from distance but he was well over and then he found Darboy with a great ball, but the ball seemed to bobble on the wet grass and ran through to Tufney. The linesman at the Fisherwick started brightly flagging two Linfield players offside in the the first 15 mins, but he only flattered to deceive.

Despite two men being offside, he kept his flag down as Linfield mounted an attack and it was only the quick-thinking of Cookie who prevented a goal. Linfield, buoyed by this blatant cheating stepped up the pressure and Lowry almost gave them the lead when the United defence was wary about playing offside, but Frenchy got his angles right and the danger was averted. Tony was booked for a foul, with the Linfield player looking like a stretcher case, but it was only more histrionics. Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president wants players who feign injury to suffer a time penalty, but I believe that a yellow card is sufficient but the referees have to have the courage to administer one. On another Linfield attack, Cookie received an  elbow to his head  from a Linfield player but Crangle ignored it .Carvill of Linfield then flicked an effort onto the top of the net and United were under the cosh at this stage.

Linfield won a free kick and Frenchy made a save at his right post and then plucked the resultant corner out of the air. With halftime approaching United mounted an attack and when it inevitably broke down, the alert Cush robbed BJ Burns of Linfield and fed his Captain Jenks who shot for goal, the ball hit Tufney in his legs and bounced out to edge of the box to Ally, who cut inside on his weaker right-foot and blasted the ball into the net to the delight of the home stand. Linfield were shell-shocked and they could have been worse for straight from the centre they gave the ball away to JT, but he couldn't find the unmarked Darboy. The ref added on two mins and after being on the receiving end for a good  20 mins, it was the United players who went in at halftime feeling the better I think.

2nd half
The talking point at halftime was that United had got their noses in front but they had to be careful of the Linfield divers. There was obviously no talk in the United dressing-room of being careful, with what followed when the teams came out again, maybe its our manager in his naivety he thinks he's still at Linfield and all will be well. Linfield made one change at halftime, Carvill coming off to be replaced by Mulgrew and switching to a 4,4,2 formation. United didn't react to this change but the turning point of the match came 5 mins after the restart. Tony Kane made an attempt to block a Linfield player's header who went down holding his head although no contact was made. Referee Crangle gave the foul and then he saw the Linfield bench encroach onto the pitch, he produced the 2nd yellow card and Tony was sent off.

I was disappointed with Tony, he had been on a yellow card and he was walking a tightrope and he needed to be careful, but the ref gave in to the histrionics of the Linfield players and the Linfield bench. Could United hold out I wondered and would Fergie made any changes in personnel to get more tacklers on having Ruddy, Marky and Sparky on the bench, but please not Alan D, but he didn't, I think this was more naivety on his part. United weathered the Linfield storm and they managed an attack themselves and Darboy was clean through on the right when he was 'chopped down' by Linfield defender Haughey, a sending-off offence if I ever saw one, but Crangle only administered a yellow card. The United defence finally cracked when Waterworth beat Cookie on the touchline and his cross was headed in by Lowry leaving Frenchy no chance.

Still Fergie didn't make any changes, leaving us with two non-tacklers, Jenks and Thommo in midfield, surely we had to get defenders on I thought. Linfield took the lead when Sproule, who was a virtual passenger, took a  dive when he lost possession near the United box and Crangle gave a free-kick instead of booking the culprit. Gault's free-kick came back off the United-wall and it fell kindly for Mulgrew and he struck a ferocious shot through a ruck of players and it seemed to take a slight deflection on its way into the net. At last Fergie awoke from his slumbers and made changes, taking off goalscorer Ally and bringing on Ruddy and taking off Cookie and bringing on Marky, but still leaving two non-tacklers in midfield. Jimer showed Sky Blue fans just where his loyalties lay when he took out Alan Burns at the expense of a corner and he seemed to be genuinely injured, but due to the histrionics that had gone before, the United crowd weren't too sure.

A minute later Thommo was booked for a foul, not a bad foul and two mins later Ruddy was fouled as he tried to break out of defence, but no card this time, but what else is new. Haughey, who should have been enjoying an early bath, headed just over the bar and Burns had a shot saved by Frenchy. As United mounted an attack they won a free-kick near the halfway line and as a Linfield love child was trying to wast time, JT stuck out his foot to get the ball and was promptly booked by Crangle and the time-waster was allowed to get off. The free-kick came to nothing and when Linfield mounted a counter-attack Darboy was booked for impeding a Linfield player, no complaints from me on that one. Finally Spike brought on Sparky for Thommo and United started to get a foothold in the match. Jimer seems to possess a long-throw and this was put to good use in the closing stages of the game.

Waterworth was booked for a blatant dive near the halfway line, did Crangle think it was one of our players or did he think he think this will take the bad look off his abject performance. United did fashion one more chance in the 5 mins of added time, but despite Cush beating Tufney from close range, Ward cleared the danger and the match petered out to a United defeat. But it was a spirited performance from the 10 men and they were so unlucky not to get something out of the match, but the extra man made the difference. United must focus on their replay in the Irish cup against the Welders on Tuesday night, where they will be missing at least three players, Kane, JT and Gavin and set up another tussle with yesterday's opponents in the next round. It'll be tough against the Welders, but we are at home and surely we can't be that unlucky again to get a ref that is so blinkered to the fact there are two teams playing, could we?

Frenchy (7), Jimer (8), Archie (7), JT (8), Cookie (7) (Sub: Marky 7,), Kane (7), Thommo (7) (Sub: Sparky 7,), Jenks (7), Ally (8) (Sub: Ruddy 7,), Darboy (7), Cush (7)

Man of the match:  Ally

Team United!

This latest victory over Dungannon Swifts, whom we've beaten in all three games this season so far, was down to one thing, belief. When we went one down to a sloppy free-kick, the 'wall' didn't do its job, our team didn't let their heads drop, but clawed their way back into the game and finally got the job done. It was fitting that a member of that 'two man wall', Jimer, got the equaliser, his first goal in a Sky Blue jersey, on his full debut. Our manager Spike, made three changes from his starting line-up against H & W Welders on Saturday past. Gavin, as expected wasn't fit and Jimer came in at rightback and Tony moved to midfield, Sparky dropped down to the bench, allowing Darboy to make his full debut up front and Frenchy got the nod in goals, instead of Shan.

The Swifts came out the blocks flying and subjected us to a constant onslaught and their chief architect was former United player Gary Ligget. Sammy Patterson later remarked, if Liggie had played three games like that for United, he could have cemented himself in the team. Cookie Munster was struggling with Liggie's pace and was adjudged by ref Heth, to have pulled him down on the edge of box, I thought in my unbiased opinion, that Liggie fouled Cookie first, but Cookie definitely fouled Liggie and was lucky to escape a booking. But Heth, who refereed the previous game between the two sides at Stangmore, merely warned big Cookie. The incident took place over on the left about 15 yards short of the goal-line and 2 yards short of the penalty box.

Frenchy, lined up his two-man wall, of Ally and Jimer and Tomelty of the home side drove his free-kick straight at the wall, which parted like the 'red sea' and the ball found the right corner of the net past the unsighted Frenchy, to give the Swifts a deserved lead. You can almost hear every word at Stangmore (and the paltry crowd contributed to this effect) and our manager Spike laid the blame for this goal fairly and squarely on his Captain Jenks and Jenks was not best pleased and protesting his innocence but I think Fergie's point was he, Jenks, should have ensured the wall stood its ground, no doubt he'll warn them in future. The Swifts continued to pile on the pressure and its true to say that United were hanging on at this stage, but despite getting a few free headers at corner-kicks, Frenchy in the United goals wasn't unduly troubled.

The Swifts defence was working the offside trap and I think this led partly to their undoing, when United's talisman, Cush started to dribble instead of passing. There was a session of blocked shots from Cush, Ally and Darboy, but the home team survived this onslaught. Ally was caught offside in a good move but United weren't to be denied for long and in 20 mins Cush went on another dribble, cut in from the left and found Jimer in the six-yard box and he turned and found the net to tie the scores at 1-1. Now United had their tails up and started to exert their authority on the match and were rewarded by a 2nd goal when our Captain Jenks got on the end of another Cush left-wing cross, to find the net in 38 mins. Now that they had got their noses in front, I was wondering if they could go on and win the game and said as much to  a fellow supporter at half-time, but I knew in my heart it was going to tough.

2nd half
The Swifts came out with renewed purpose and were rewarded by a goal from Liggie, when he got his head to a corner by Tomelty and found the net via the underside of the bar, to tie the scores at 2-2. Despite the home team piling on the pressure, they never looked dangerous after that and the United defence came into its own from then on. JT, who had been wasteful early on, started to mop things up at the back and this allowed Archie and Jimer to overlap and as a result, we came into the game more. Heth, who had a  good game, finally had to book a home player when he pulled down Ally as he was threatening to break for goal, a professional foul if I ever saw one.

With 20 mins left United fashioned a goal and it was fitting that Cush should have been involved in it, when he found Darboy on the right edge of the Swifts box. The former Swifts on-loan player took a touch and then bent a left-foot shot past Buchanan in the home goal, a brilliant finsih and his second goal in two matches or a match and a half to be precise and give United the lead , 3-2 in the process. Four mins later Thommo went off to be replaced by Alan D of all people when we were crying out for a ball winner, but Alan D seems to a favourite of our manager Spike. No doubt he's a skilful player, but he's a player struggling for form and he's a more of an hindrance than a help in my opinion.

 He flattered to deceive as usual but it was the reliable Cush who missed a glorious chance to seal the points, when in spite of turning his marker, he didn't trouble Buchanan from 15 yards with the goal at his mercy, putting his right-foot shot over the bar. United made their second sub when Marky (McCullagh), returned from a month on the sidelines to replace big Cookie, no doubt to get a match in, with JT facing a two match suspension having run up ten bookings, Marky is the obvious choice to replace him. With the match deep in added time, 4 mins, Cush tried to run off the clock, a thing that I hate and committed a foul on a Swifts player and got himself a silly booking placing the ball back where the foul took place, which leaves him facing a one match suspension when the disciplinary committee of the IFA meets.

With the refs whistle about to be blown, a Swifts player ran at the United defence, only to be stopped with a foul by Captain Jenks, which was his fifth yellow card too and leaves him at the mercy of the IFA, the same as Cush. United survived the free-kick and the ref blew his whistle to end the game and United had picked up another three points to consolidate their sixth place in the Dankse Bank Premiership on 37 points and safe from automatic relegation. They'll be harder games to come, when we are due to play the the top 5 teams starting with the IFA (Linfield), at home this Saturday in our next 7 games before the split, but if we are a united, United, I believe we can pull if off and then anything is possible, we are after all only 5 points off 4th place, bring it on!

Frenchy (7), Jimer (8), Archie (7), Cookie (7) (Sub: Marky 7,), JT (7), Thommo (6) (Sub: Alan D 5,), Jenks (8), Tony (6), Ally (7), Darboy (8), Cush (8)

Man of the match: Jimer (Jim Ervin)

Tillysburn Tremor!

United so nearly came unstuck yesterday when they snatched an undeserved draw at H &W Welders Tillysburn Park, Just four minutes of normal time was left, when United's Cookie Munster, in spite of his admitted 37 years, chased a seemingly lost cause, got to the ball, before it crossed the goal-line and delivered an inch perfect cross for Darboy to mark his debut with a goal and keep the Sky Blues in the cup. It was hard luck on the Welders and their manager, Gary Smyth, they were far and away the best team and played some delightful football against a lack-lustre United team. As expected, United manager Spike, made only one change from his starting line-up of last week, Aaron Shanahan in goals, for the ineligible Frenchy Lacroix.

Barely six mins was on the clock, when Shan saved a brilliant lob from Welders Matty Burrows at the expense of a corner. From the resultant corner kick, the United defence was at sixes and sevens and the ball fell kindly for Welders central defender, Phillip Simpson and he scored with a crisp shot. Surely this would wake United from their slumbers and they should have got back on level terms, when Ally turned his man, but he found Cush with his back to goal and in spite of a neat turn, the United talisman shot was blocked for a corner. Archie was overlapping, but when he came up, there was nobody to pass to and he had to pass cross-field and the chances were lost, as inevitably the Welders intercepted.

Burrows nearly increased the Welders stranglehold on the game, but Shan saved his deflected shot and at the other Archie went on a surging run and sent an inviting over, but nobody, but nobody tried to get on the end of it. From a free-kick by Magennis, Cahoon was allowed a free header but luckily he missed the target. United were forced to make a substitution when Gavin got injured and new signing Jim Ervin took his place and Tony K moved up to midfield. Jimer was straight into the action, taking a throw-in and then tackling back when the Welders stole possession. United forced a corner just before the break but Welders keeper Windrum was equal to a header from Cookie, from Ally's kick.  The Welders had the last say in the half, when Burrows curled an effort, wide another lucky let-off for the Sky Blues.

2nd half
United came out early for the second-half, a good five mins early in fact and the match was held up another five mins when one of the nets had to be pinned down. United made another substitution at this time  ex-Coleraine player Darren Boyce coming on to replace Sparky. This meant our Captain Jenks, moving back to midfield and this I thought was a mistake on our part, better to go 4,4,2 and keep Jenks up with Darboy. Jenks incidentally was playing his hundredth game in a Sky Blue jersey, but it was not one of his better games it has to said. United spurned a good chance to get back on level terms, when another Ally corner was met by the head of Cookie and although Windrum made a good save, JT missed the target with goal gaping sending his shot wide.

United began to get a grip on the match, but the Welders were still in the game and Davidson curled an effort wide with Shan in United goal scrambling. United were getting inroads into the Welders defence with Kane, Jimer and Cush prominent and in 60 mins they fashioned an equaliser. Cush fed Jimer and from his deep cross, Kane challenged Simpson and ball seemed to go into the net off Tony's back and tie the scores at one-apiece. Welders came back and Davidson went on a jinking run leaving defenders in his wake but Shan was equal to his shot. Tony then played Darboy in but he lifted his shot over the bar instead of working the keeper. With 12 mins remaining the Welders struck and from a another set-piece, a throw-in on the right, Archie was left to deal with two men and when the deep cross came in, Burrows had the easy task of tapping the ball into the net with the United defence in tatters.

We were up against it now and the home team were making it difficult, denying us precious seconds with their time-wasting, but it was all done good-humouredly. Spike made his last substitution, MM coming on for Thommo and we switched to 4,4,2. There an old saying that goes something like this, 'cometh the hour, cometh the man' and that is so true in United's case yesterday and the man was Davey 'Cookie' Munster. As I said earlier, he chased a seemingly lost cause, the ball seemed to be going out for a goal-kick, but he not only prevented that, but he got in a cross and débutante Darboy scored with a glancing header to leave the score tied at 2-2. I breathed a sigh of relief, I couldn't honestly see how we were going to get back in the game. We nearly 'stole' it when Ally's right-foot shot was brilliantly palmed away by Windrum, but I was relieved I can tell you to get a draw!

Shan (7), Kane (7), Archie (6), Cookie (7), JT (6), Gavin (6) (Sub: Jimer 7,), Sparky (6) (Sub: Darboy 7,), Thommo (6) (Sub: MM 6,), Cush (6), Jenks (6), Ally (7)

Man of the match: Cookie Munster

Didn't Duck!

United finally triumphed in yesterday's game, where chances were few and far between, but I always had a feeling they would get a clear-cut chance and when it came, Cush, our talisman, didn't duck the responsibility. In the process, he notched his 12th goal of the season, which keeps United firmly in 6th place in the Dankse premiership. United manger, Spike, was able to name the same team as that which got a drab draw at Clandeboye Park against Ards three days ago. If rumours are to be believed, maybe Spike will be forced to change his formation soon, with two new faces coming in next week and he will have to change the keeper, as Crues don't want Frenchy cup-tied. We said goodbye to one familiar face yesterday, in Shane 'Mario' Dolan, whose 8 goal contribution from 30 games in a United jersey, wasn't considered good enough, Mark 'ham shank' Courtney send him on his way with a late booking for not receding at a free-kick.

Referee Courtney saw fit to book 5 players, but it wasn't a particular dirty match, I reckon the physios were only called on three of four times to treat minor ailments, about what I'd expect in the 'rough and tumble' that is Irish league football. Tony Kane had the first real chance when he found space, but his 30yard dipping shot ending up on top of the net with ducks keeper Rouse, watching anxiously. There was just 5 mins gone and United came again 2 mins later, but after a neat build up, Ally's shot was weak and easy dealt with by Rouse. Then Archie went on the overlap, but Captain Jenks just failed to connect with his inviting cross. United almost paid the penalty for the Captain's miss 1 min later, when the linesman at the Fisherwick end, missed an offside when Leckey was adjudged not to interfere with play, but was allowed to carry on and from his deep cross, Frenchy distinguished himself, by tipping Cashel's header over the bar.

Then it was Gavin's turn, but he shot over from the edge of the box, when well placed, he had surely to work the keeper I thought. United were playing nice football, but play usually broke up with no end product, they couldn't get the final pass to unlock the stubborn Duck's defence. But a long ball from the back sent Captain Jenks free, he looked certain to score but a Duck's defender got in a tackle and 'ham shank' allowed he had got the ball, I wasn't so sure. At the other end, the Ducks missed a good chance when Kee's shot was feeble and easily gathered by Frenchy. United won a free-kick right on the D when somebody pushed Sparky, but the Tony K free came back off the Ducks defensive wall and the Cush follow up led to nothing. United did fashion one chance on the stroke of halftime, when from a long throw-in by Tony, Sparky headed on but Archie couldn't get enough on the ball to trouble Rouse and the chance was lost.

2nd half
Attacking their favourite goals at the Fisherwick end in the 2nd half, United stepped up the pace and Ally missed a glorious chance when a pass from Tony found him in the box, level with the penalty spot, but his rising left-foot shot was high and wide, missing the target by yards, not inches. The Ducks were looking likely to get inroads into the match, but Captain Jenks and Thommo, dive-bombed them just over the halfway line and Captain Jenks sent Cush away via a delightful pass. The United talisman sped down the right in the inside-right channel and his right-foot shot found the net, despite Rouse getting a hand to it, to put United 1-0 up and gain some revenge for Rouse denying him (Cush), with a penalty save, in the last meeting between the two sides at the Showgrounds on the last Saturday of November.

The Ducks made a sub almost immediately with Liam Martin coming on and almost the first thing he did was chop down Cush and got a yellow card in the process. Cush was able to continue after treatment, but we had the bizarre incident of somebody getting booked in the Ducks dug-out, for something they did or said. JT was denied a goal when his goal-bound shot hit his own player, Sparky. Two mins later Jenks was fouled about 25 yards from goal out on the right, but the Cush free-kick was blocked. Then Captain Jenks had a chance to wrap up the points, but he blasted over from 12 yards, failing to work the keeper. With 13 mins remaining Cush left the field and Mario came on for his last game in a Sky Blue jersey, but Sammy Patterson opined that surely Neal Lowry would have been the better option as the match was still alive, I tended to agree with him, but Spike thought otherwise.

The remainder of the game took on the familiar pattern of the Ducks pressurising our defence and us relying on breakaways and despite a few anxious moments they never got a shot on target. With 3 mins remaining Ally made way for Neal and we won a corner with time ticking away. JT was up for this but when the Ducks started to break he got in a tangle with a Ducks player and was harshly booked by the ref, this meant he had acquired the dreaded 10 bookings, which will see him miss two matches when the IFA disciplinary meeting is called later this month. On 91 mins Thommo came off to be replaced by Ruddy and we saw the match safely put to bed, despite' ham shank' adding on an extra minute to the three already signalled for. When the final whistle sounded we were able to celebrate not only the victory but another three points which keeps us firmly in the afore mentioned top six. Next up is a trip to Tillysburn to play Harland & Wolf Welders in the Irish cup, with hopefully two new faces on board and our 'new' keeper Shan, cleared for take-off, come on Sky Blues, get into them!

Frenchy (8), Tony (7), Archie (8), JT (8), Cookie (8), Thommo (7) (Sub: Ruddy 7,), Sparky (7), Gavin (7), Cush (8) (Sub: Mario 7,), Jenks (7), Ally (7) (Sub: Lowry 7,)

Man of the match: Cush

Ugly Draw!

United received devastating news prior to this match that number 1 stopper, Dwayne Nelson, will be missing for up to a calendar year when he was diagnosed with a  cruciate knee ligament injury, on top of his chipped bone. As if that wasn't enough, his back-up, Stuarty Addis will be missing for at least six months, with a broken finger with complications, the result of an horrendous tackle from Stephen 'one cap Carson on Boxing day, he got only a yellow card, but Stuarty's finger will need extensive surgery and extensive physio if he's ever going to get full use of it again. All of us in the Sky Blue Sport team wish Dwayne and Stuarty a speedy recovery and hope to see them donning a Sky Blue jersey again, however long it takes.

In light of this United, who had signed Yohann Lacroix on-loan from the Crues, had to delve in the transfer market and sign Aaron Shanahan, formerly with Shamrock Rovers, on the recommendation of former United keeper, Dermot O'Neill and he's signed until the end of this season, I wish him well. United as expected picked the same team as won at Coleraine on Boxing day, with Frenchy Lacroix in nets, for Stuarty. Frenchy was called  into action early on, barely five mins had gone in fact, when he stopped a first-time volley, when Henderson got on the end of Faulkner's cross from the left and five mins later he dived to his right to palm away a 30yard free-kick from Andy Hunter.

United were struggling on the slick unnatural surface and they were intent on taking short free-kicks and this invariable ended up giving possession to the opposition, much to the displeasure of their fans, mysrlf included. However they did carve an opening for themselves when Cush, got the better of Armstrong on the right and picked out Thommo in the area, but his weak header was easy for former United keeper Alan Blayney, on-loan from Linfield. United's day could be summed in one man's experience, their defensive king-pin, JT. JT was commanding in defence and he was breaking with the ball, but he held onto it too long and gave it away to the Ards players, this happened at least four times, so frustrating. When we won a corner on the right Ally took it short to Cush, but his cross was blocked, what a waste i thought.

Knowles, another on-loan signing from Linfield, found Hunter with a free-kick and Frenchy was relieved to see his header go wide. Then in a spell of United pressure, Sparky missed a sitter when he got on the end of a Thommo header, shooting over the bar from six yards, when he surely had to hit the target or make the keeper work, a dreadful miss. Thommo was involved yet again near halftime, when his shot deflected off a defender into the grateful arms of Blayney. I was thinking referee Evan Boyce didn't bring any cards with him when he let Armstrong away with a heavy tackle, but United instead of punishing this foul, took it short once again and lost possession, but the referee's whistle for halftime saved us any further embarrassment.

2nd half
I was hoping for an improvement in the 2nd period, but I was disappointed, we played in the same disjointed way. Ally, restored to the corner taking duties, was struggling with his placement and the Ards defenders dealt with them all comfortably. From one of them the ball came back to Ally and into touch and he took a quick throw-in to Tony K. It was not a good one and on the slick surface Tony did not get it under control and an Ards player 'robbed' him and sped up the wing, with Ally in pursuit. I thought Ally had got a good tackle in, but the ref gave a free to the home side and Ally in frustration kicked the ball away, the ref promptly booked Ally, which was harsh. He had let the home team away with far worse tackles, but he chose Ally to be the first name taken, even if was for kicking the ball away, it was harsh nonetheless.

The free-kick led to a corner and Ards nearly broke the deadlock when Armstrong's  free header, struck the base of the post and the rebound went over the bar from an Ards boot, a lucky let-off for United. Just 5 mins later, from a corner on the left, JT missed the target with free headed from Ally's kick. A minute later, Archie found space on the left, but his his pass over the face of the goal found no-one in a Sky Blue jersey, yet another chance gone begging. Spike decided to make changes, Cush and Sparky were taken off and Neal Lowry and Alan D, of all people came on. The play had been stopped for a free-kick to us just over the halfway line and Alan D decided to take it, or waste it, is a better description.

I fail to see what Alan D coming on as a sub does in a positive manner, better to bring a striker on when your chasing the game, but Spike seems to think Alan D is the man. Neal Lowry found Thommo in space on the edge of the area, but his shot was capably dealt with by Blayney, but in all fairness he should have done better, it was a chance missed. Knowles tried to con the ref with a dive as JT tackled him and at the other end the ref was unimpressed when JT himself took a tumble. Mario had come on for Thommo and he had to chance to shine, but he couldn't get into the game, surely it would have been better to have brought MM on, or is he on the way out too. Frenchy had the last say in the 4mins of added time, when he smothered the ball at Faulkner's feet when he looked likely to score and United escaped with a draw!

Frenchy Lacroix  (8), Kane (6), Archie (6), Cookie (7), JT (6), Thommo (7) (Sub: Mario 6,), Sparky (6) (Sub: Alan D 5,), Gavin (6), Cush (6) (Sub: Lowry 6,), Jenks (6), Ally (6)

Man of the match: Frenchy Lacroix