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