Goliath Slain!

United manger Glenn Ferguson made four changes from his starting line-up of Tuesday night, one of them forced due to the suspension of defensive king-pin JT. The other three were tactical, with two Alans, Alan D and Ally Teggart and Tony dropping down the bench. Marky McCullagh came in to replace JT and Archie returned for his two hundredth appearance in a United jersey, along with Alan Jenks and our talisman, Cush. Fergie (bless him), sprung a couple of surprises, firstly he changed our formation to a 3,5,2 and the jury is out on this one, when it worked it was a thing of beauty, but when it didn't work, there were alarming holes in our defence.

Another surprise was in appointing Jimer as Captain, whether that was a one-off I honestly don't know, but I think Jimer showed great leadership, when we were under the cosh in the last quarter of the match. When most of the Linfield fans had petered away at the end, Jimer made his way over to the United fans and applauded them for their undoubted contribution to the victory, much appreciated by the United faithful and he applauded the small handful of Linfield fans who had stayed on as well. I don't like to get involved in criticising football fans, but that really was a miserable home crowd for the team with the biggest fan base in our wee country, is it a sign of the times, too much distraction, or is the football too boring?

It was anything but boring yesterday, when the Linfield juggernaut was halted by the Sky Blue crew and beaten into submission. It really was a David and Goliath situation, but for once, David was on our side and we slew the Linfield Goliath. Cush, our talisman, its fair to say, was not having his best game in a Sky Blue jersey, but they say 'form is temporary, but class is permanent' and Cush has class in abundance. But that said, he is his own man and despite scoring a wonder goal yesterday and setting up Jenk's goal with his corner kick, United fans were less than pleased when he tried an audacious shot from fully 40 yards, just moments after scoring the winner, but that is so Cush, you either love him or hate him, the Sky Blue Sport crew love him and so does every right thinking Sky Blue fan.

Linfield started the better and they pounded the United goal from the start and McAllister just failed to get a touch to a Carvill cross and then a Mulgrew shot was blocked and Shan was called into action several times and saved a header from the home teams Mark Haughey. Referee, Crangle, who had so much bearing on events the last time the two teams met in mid January, was at his most biased, insisting United take their throw-ins from the correct place and letting the home team take them wherever they pleased. But he inadvertently done us a favour one time, when Shan tried to take a short goal-kick to Jimer, he called it back, signalling that the ball was moving at the time of the kick and it was just as well, as Jimer looked set to be dispossessed by two Linfield players and we had had little or no cover.

Little was seen of the United attack, the Linfield defenders were on top and the first real chance we had in the first quarter fell to Archie. He picked up the ball in his own half, ghosted past two tackles and then unleashed a shot which Tufney in the home goal saved. It is true to say Tufney wasn't unduly troubled with the shot, but Archie did make him earn his wage. Linfield were forcing corners, but the United defence held firm and our keeper Shan was in inspired form. United started to get into the game and Darboy found himself some space on the right and he forced a corner. Cush took the in-swinger with his left-foot and Darboy got on the end of it near the goal-line and the ball was going in, but Tufney managed to scoop the ball back and over the bar for another corner, I thought it was in at the time, but I'm no hawk-eye.

Cush trotted over and took the corner on the left and with his pin-point accuracy found the head of the 'flying Scotsman', Jenks and he found the back of the net, the United fans, me included, were delirious, it was sheer joy. That goal came in  25 mins and I was hoping that United could hold out to halftime, but it was obvious to me that the systems wasn't working and we needed to go to a flat back four, but what do I know. My worst fears were realised, when that diver Quinn, who had got Tony sent-off with his antics at the Showgrounds the last time the sides met, was allowed to advance up the left and he found McAllister in space and from his cross, Phillip Lowry was on hand to tap it in and bring the sides level. Surely Spike would change the formation now with 10 mins to go to halftime or at least change it at halftime.

2nd half
The teams took the field with the same personnel but we started to get more possession and Stephen McBride, playing left wing-back was instrumental in this, combining well with Darboy and Cush. Spike made a change taking off Sparky and bringing on Tony. United took the lead when Thommo got the the ball in his own half and shrugged off a couple of challenges and set Darboy on his way on the right, Darboy delivered a great cross and Cush hit it on the half-volley to beat Tufney all ends up and send us delirious again. A minute later Cush found himself in space and with Darboy  unmarked beside him, he tried an audacious shot, but it was high wide and not so handsome. Darboy had a chance to wrap things up when he was found by McBride, beating the offside flag, but he tried to chip the advancing Tufney, who made a great save, but Darboy I think chose the wrong option.

Referee Crangle  was telling our keeper Shan to hurry up every time he had the ball and I was anxious that he was going to add five mins at the end of the ninety. Waterworth had a shot easily saved by Shan and then Fergie took off McBride and brought on Ruddy. It was backs to the wall and Linfield had made two subs themselves and one of them was former Omagh Town winger, the speedy Ivan Sproule. Shan came to United's rescue when he tipped over Tipton's fierce shot and from the resultant corner he clutched the ball from another shot. With five mins remaining Cush made his way off to be replaced by MM and I was getting nervous I can tell you. United carved out another chance, when Tony released Jenks down the left, but he tried to cross with his weaker left-foot, another chance gone begging I thought.

Linfield won a free kick on the right with full time approaching and from Quinn's delivery the ball was nodded to Lowry, he in turn found Sproule in acres of space and his shot cannoned off the post and Jenks cleared for a corner. I give Shan the benefit of the doubt here, he had covered his angles well and deserved a bit of luck, Shan clutched the ball to his chest from a shot at that corner and when the 4th official held up the added time, 3 mins, I could hardly believe, I was in a Sky Blue wonderland. United had one further chance to wrap up the game when Tony found Darboy, but he couldn't find the target but Tufney looked relieved to see the ball clear the bar. MM wasted some time, winning us a corner, but he got himself booked for kicking the ball away when Linfield won a free kick and Crangle added on another few seconds, but it was all over bar the shouting and when he finally blew, we did plenty of shouting I can tell you!

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

Man of the match: Cush