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