April Fools!

United fans couldn't be blamed if they thought that manager Glenn Ferguson was playing an April fool's joke by his team selection yesterday. The Sky Blue Sport's team had expected a few changes, but not the wholesale changes made by our manager. In fact there were only two players from his starting line-up of last weeks in our panel of 16 players, Archie and Tony. I couldn't help feeling that we'd been short-changed somehow, but if we come out next week in our semi-final and blow the opposition away, all will be forgiven. Having already made plans to take in the game at the Mallards on Easter Saturday, the Sky Blue Sport's team are feeling kinda let down and the performance depressed us even further.

Still in the scheme of things a 2-1 defeat is not too bad and we seemed to have a perfectly good goal disallowed and were denied a cast iron penalty by referee McNabb, who was pretty awful to say the least. United with two players starting for the first time, Leroy Millar and Mark Kelly, after previously appearing as subs and Cal Loughran, making his debut, started brightly with Alan D pulling the strings. We had a near disaster with 6 minutes gone, when Swifts keeper Turker's clearance struck United striker Kelly full in the face and he went down like a sack of spuds. Turker, immediately went to the stricken player, Kelly and turned him over to the recovery position and his quick thinking saved Kelly from swallowing his tongue, well done Turker.

Kelly was able to continue after treatment, but he looked only a shadow of the player who had made a sensational debut when coming on as a sub against the Coleraine scum back in mid February. Liggie had missed a chance early on when the Swifts beat the offside trap, firing over but it was only a sighter I think. MM had our first chance, but his long range shot didn't trouble Turker in the Swifts goal. With 25 mins gone Cairns the United keeper pulled off a marvellous save with his foot to deny Harpur of the Swifts and Turker a minute  later, not to be outdone, denied Gavin with his legs to keep the scores even. Swifts took a deserved lead in 31 mins when Marky was caught out on United's right flank and nowhere near Swifts forward Hazley.

The danger seemed to be a averted when Hazley shot and missed the target, but Liggie was on hand at the far post to slide the ball into the net and give the Swifts the lead. Three mins later the visitors missed a gilt edged chance to increase their tally when Brolly fired over from close range. Keeper Cairns came to United's rescue when he kept out a Liggie shot with halftime approaching. I was surprised that the ref only added on 1 min of stoppage time, but we looked like a beaten team and maybe a change of personnel would make the difference, as well as a breather and more importantly, a change of tactics.

2nd half
We got our player change and surprisingly it was Alan D who went off to be replaced by Owen Kane, making his senior debut. This seemed to be like for like, but Kane seemed to relish the chance to prove himself. Now I mentioned the awful performance of the referee earlier and how he missed a blatant handball by a Swifts player in their box, beggars belief, the player actually punched the ball, no question of not being deliberate, but referee McNabb and his linesmen saw nothing. Disaster struck for United soon after when Ruddy was caught in a sandwich between a Swifts player and Leroy Millar deep in the United half. It was obvious that Ruddy was out for the count, but as Swifts were attacking the ref and lino were reluctant to stop play. When United averted the danger, Ruddy was able to get treatment, but he had to come off to be replaced by McCabe.

This substitution necessitated a change in tactics and United went into the more familiar 4,3,3 formation but it was all to no avail and Fergie took off MM and brought on the enigma that is Neal Lowry. Lowry was only on the pitch 5 mins when the visitors increased their lead. Cookie looked to have the situation well under control but his outstretched foot just failed to make contact with the ball, leaving Harpur through on goal and he beat Cairns with a thunderous shot into the net. United looked to have pulled a goal back almost immediately, when Kelly breasted the ball down and beat Turker from close range, only to have the linesman's flag raised for a handball against Kelly. Admittedly it was at the far end of the pitch, but it looked alright to me but it was disallowed.

The Swifts seemed content with their work and United enjoyed some freedom for the remainder of the match. Cal Loughran came close to scoring his first senior goal, when he got on the end of Millar's cross-shot, but Turker made a fine save. Then from fully 30 yards Cal's free-kick, stung the hands of the German stopper. Try as they might United couldn't get a goal back, not even with the news filtering through, that the Coleraine scum were losing at the Mallards. When the ref added on 4 mins of added time there didn't seem much hope that we were going to get something to cheer about. Deep in to this added time we scored, when Gawley took a corner with the outside of his right foot and Turker could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed into the net, to leave the final score 2-1 to the Swifts, not as bad as had feared  but not a confidence booster for next week either!


Cairns (7), Marky (6), Ruddy (6) (Sub: McCabe 5,), Cookie (5), Loughran (7), Gavin (6), Gawley (6), Millar (6), Alan D (6) (Sub: O. Kane 7,) MM (5) (Sub: Lowry 6,), Kelly (6)

Man of the match: Cal Loughran

Double Bluff!

Both managers were adamant before Saturday's match, there would be changes to their starting line-up, the bearded, fat man Hamilton, called it squad rotation, but our own manager, Spike, said he was going to give some youngsters a try out, but as it turned out it was a case of 'bluff' and 'double bluff'. United made three changes from their starting line-up of last week against the Crues, out went the injured Thommo, Cookie was rested, I think and Gavin dropped down to the bench. Captain Jenks was restored to the team along with Ally and Tony. Glenavon seemed to pick a strong team and I recognised most of the names, but I needed someone to point out to me that the bearded 'fat man', was indeed Glenavon's player-manger, Gary Hamilton, who resembled a tramp.

The surprise inclusion in the United side for me was defensive stalwart, JT, who had to go off injured at Seaview in  88 mins, which looked like hamstring trouble, but he played the full 90 mins today and looked fit to me. With Tony restored to the team, we now were able to exert some long throw-ins at the Glenavon defence, with JT as the target. Glenavon are well known for this ploy themselves, but as Jonesy says, they don't like 'up em', or to put another way, they don't like a dose of their own medicine. The United's first chance came about from this unlikely source and it fell to local lad Sparky, when JT's knock-down from Tony's long throw, landed at his feet, the Broughshane man turned quickly and shot for goal only to see McGrath the Glenavon keeper block the shot with his body.

Glenavon forwards were getting not much change out of our defence and Hamilton and Bates, were arguing the toss with the lino at the Fisherwick end and the referee, Wesley Campbell, from Aughur, a sure sign that things were going well. The referee, who I admit I never saw before yesterday's game, seemed to have forgotten his cards, when he let the visitors away with some tasty tackles. One in particular, a nasty studs-up on Cush went unpunished, save for the free-kick, which came to nothing. Glenavon had a well oiled offside trap and the United forwards were caught time and time again, but I was hopeful we would get a chance. After nearly half an hour of play, JT, with a chance to clear the ball allowed himself to be dispossessed by Bates and although Bates turned Jimer and shot for goal, JT, deflected it over the bar.

This chance seemed to wake the dark blues from their slumbers and they should of taken the lead, when a Hamilton pass was dummied and fell to winger McGrory, but he shot into the side netting. Almost immediately Glenavon paid for their benevolence in front of goal, when United took the lead on 36 mins. Cush was fouled out on the touchline by a defender, not booked again and from Tony's free-kick, JT nodded the ball goalwards, only for McGrath to parry the ball yet again, but it fell kindly to Darboy and his goal-bound shot was helped on its way by Patton on the goal-line, to give the Sky Blues the lead. United were almost undone a minute later when Bates shrugged off three defenders, but was unable to find the unmarked Hamilton and Shan in the United goal, got his angles right and the ball missed the target by inches.

Glenavon forced the pace and Bates set McGrory free but he shot tamely at Shan, a chance gone begging. The visitors continued to press and forced three corners in a row, but the United defence held firm, ably led by JT and Archie. McGrory on the right wing was proving to be a handful, for Steeky McBride, but the veteran stuck to his task and kept the winger quiet for the most part. The referee finally woke up and booked, player-manager Hamilton for berating the lino at the Fisherwick end and this was to have kind of repercussions for United as in the second-half this lino made some questionable offside decisions in favour of Glenavon. He also had a stern word with Paul Millar the coach of Glenavon. Shan, whose dead ball kicking is not the best, made a hash of a free playing it into touch and gifting possession to the opposition, but luckily for him they couldn't take advantage of this and the referee's whistle brought the first-half to a close.

2nd half
Glenavon made one change at halftime, the veteran David Rainey, coming on to replace player-manager Hamilton. There was  rumours circulating in the ground that Hamilton was mistaken for a vagrant and was arrested by the PSNI, but these rumours were subsequently proved to be false. Nine mins into the half Darboy volley the ball just over the bar, with his left-foot, past the stranded McGrath. Then in a Glenavon attack, the 'red mist' descended on Tony as he scythed a Glenavon player down on the touchline, a needless foul and a needless booking. Our manager had seen enough of Tony and he was replaced by Gavin, who's been known to have the seen 'red mist' at times too. Almost immediately the United line was breached when, Patton on the left wing was allowed to waltz round our defence and then pivot, to curl a right-foot shot past Shan to tie the scores at 1-1.

We had been pegged back and Spike made another substitution bringing on Alan D in place of Sparky. Alan D was only on the field two mins, when under-pressure near the centre-circle, he managed to find Ally with a defence splitting pass and the former Portadown player raced away from defender McCallion. As Ally cut into the box, McGrath seemed to cover the near post and Ally crossed to the inrushing Darboy who volleyed the ball into the net to give the Sky Blues a 2-1 lead. Then we had two doubtful offsides given against United players, the first saw Darboy, who had been in an offside position get back onside and as the ball was delivered to him the lino raised his flag. Then it was Ally's turn but he wasn't offside at all, but the flag was raised anyhow.

United continued to search for the clinching goal and they came so close when Ally and Darboy combined, to play in Alan D, but his shot was just past the post. United won a free kick about 30 yards from goal and the veteran Winkie Murphy, who had come on as a sub for Glenavon seemed to be taunting the referee, with his antics, when the ref was lining up the Glenavon wall, trying to kick the ball away, but Cush was having none of it and he held onto the ball. Cush drove the free kick round the Glenavon wall, but McGrath turned his goal-bound effort round the post, Cush's first shot on target in the match. Shan came to United's rescue once more with a good save from Singleton and Cush went off to be replaced by Gawley. Despite only five subs coming on and holding up play, Rainey had come on at halftime, the referee decided to add 4 mins of stoppage and I didn't think we were wasting time at any point.

During this added time, Jimer got a needless booking for trying to run the clock down, by attempted to take a corner, which he knew was a throw-in and he was booked for blatant time-wasting or for shirt-pulling. But United held out to get some revenge for the last time they met Glenavon at the Warden Street venue, on the first match of this season, when we lost 6-3, but only lost three points. There was an incident near the end when Bates seemed to direct an elbow at a United player, but the ref saw nothing. When nearly five mins had elapsed he brought proceeding to an end and we had prevailed against a team that will possibly meet again in the near future, if and I emphasis the 'if', we both win our semi-finals in 13 days time, but lets not count our chickens etc..etc..!

Shan (8), Jimer (7), Steeky (7), JT (8), Archie (8), Sparky (7) (Sub: Alan D 7,), Tony (7) (Sub: Gavin 7,), Jenks (7), Cush (7) (Sub Gawley 7,), Darboy (8), Ally (7)

Man of the match: Darboy

Lazing On!

This game left me thinking on the words to the Kinks song, 'lazing on a sunny afternoon' and I think its most appropriate in analysing yet another insipid display from United. United manager Spike saw fit to make four changes to his starting line-up of last Friday's capitulation to Glentoran. But in his wisdom he didn't drop the two main culprits of that defeat, JT and Cookie. However he did drop Tony Kane (or is he suspended), he didn't even make the subs bench and we had nobody to take our free-kicks and corners from the left, except the predictable Cush and his free kicks seemed like a magnet for Sean O'Neill's arms every time.

As I said Fergie made four changes to his line-up of last Friday, out went the aforementioned Tony Kane, as well as Alan D, Ally and surprise, surprise, Captain Jenks. Replacing them we had McBride, Thommo, Gavin and Sparky and we lined up for a 3,5,2 formation. That's three times Spike has tried the 3,5,2 formation and we got away with the first time against the IFA/Linfield in the Irish cup, more by good luck than design. We tried it the next match against the scum and we were cruelly exposed and only rescued with an 11th hour substitution, revealing our secret weapon, Mark Kelly.

Yesterday there was to be no 11th hour substitution, for the player concerned wasn't even in our panel, reportedly playing for the reserves. United gave a disjointed display, they couldn't string more than two passes together and the Crues like the Glens, were under-strength, but unlike us they got on with it. Crues missed the best chance when Owens slipped past Cookie but his header was wide and then Cush blasted wide for the Sky Blues, failing to work the keeper, but I fooled myself into believing it was only a sighter. Referee Raymond Crangle was at his bias best, epitomised when Leeman of Crues pushed Cush out of his way in the Crues box, but Crangle saw nothing.

Heatley eluded the United defence in one searing run, but his shot was wide of the target and moments later he was tripped by JT in the box but Crangle allowed he dived and booked him for it, I thought was a cast iron penalty myself. Jimer had a long range shot which didn't trouble O'Neill or Ogre as I call him. United's best chance fell to Crues old boy McBride, when he found himself a free shot at the target, but shot straight at Ogre. Heatley almost made us pay for this benevolence in front of goal when he he somehow got on to a through ball but Shan in the United goal saved our bacon at the expense of a corner. Thommo had to go off and was replaced by Captain Jenks just before halftime, I hope its not a serious injury.

2nd half
United spurned a great chance to take the lead when Captain Jenks perfect pass found Cush, but United's top scorer missed the target with the goal at his mercy, slicing his shot wide. Then just before the hour mark, Darboy could only poke the ball past the post when picking up a short headed back pass from Magowan of the Crues. But Ogre seemed to pull him down, but Crangle gave a goal-kick, nothing surprising there. United then failed to deal with a cross from ex-player Hanley, claiming offside, but the lino at that end had already missed two blatant offsides and this was a close one, he was never giving that. United had enough bodies in the box to deal with any eventuality but Caddell was allowed a free header and he found McAllister unmarked and had the simple task of finding the net.

It was obvious that a change was needed, but I was worried when I saw Alan D getting ready, we didn't another midfielder, we needed another striker. We needed to take Archie or McBride off and bring Ally on and go back to the tried trusted 4,3,3 formation. Before the sub could be made (we take an eternity to get a sub on for some unknown reason), JT had a header saved by Ogre at the expense of a corner and another header straight at Ogre. Glenn made his substitution then, taking off Sparky and bring on the enigma that is Alan D. This player frustrates me, he can unlock a defence with a pass so sublime or he can give the ball away to the opposition so easily as he does so often and he did in this match.

Spike made another sub and this time he took Gavin off and brought on of all people, Neal Gawley and this move necessitated Archie having to move into midfield, the mind boggles. United created one last chance, or to more precise Darboy created one last chance, when he ghosted past two defenders out on the right, but his rising left-foot shot didn't trouble Ogre. Referee Crangle saw fit to book a Crues player for an altercation with Gawley, which drew blood, United players seemed to be claiming it was an elbow and Gawley had to go off for treatment and when he tried to come on, Crangle didn't allow him to, making him wait fully two minutes and he seemed to explain his actions, as making sure the bleeding had stopped, where do they get them.

The paltry crowd of Sky Blue fans, myself included, were praying for the final whistle, so dire was the match and with two mins to go disaster struck as JT went down in our box, clutching his hamstring and had to go off and as United had used all their subs, we had to play out the remaining mins with ten men. Referee Crangle seemed to empathise with us, only added two mins of added time and then reverted to type,  playing four minutes of added time. As only three subs had come on, two mins was correct, but Crangle being Crangle had to have the last say. When he finally blew the whistle we couldn't wait to get out of the ground, bemoaning our failure to even threaten a top six finish in the league, as it was Glenavon beat the scum anyway and our goose was cooked, but why oh why, did we not give it our best shot?

We are now faced with six league games with little or nothing to play for save pride and the two home matches we are facing, against the Swifts and Ards, when the league splits, will not add much money to the coffers I'll warrant. We have a chance to try and restore some pride next week, when we entertain Glenavon, one of our potential opponents in the Irish cup final ,if we get past QUB, but we already lost to the other potential opponents yesterday and I don't hold out much hope for next Saturday's match. Hope springs eternal as they say and maybe by next Saturday I will get my enthusiasm back, but I very much doubt it, I feel a holiday to Spain coming up in the next few weeks, after the Irish cup that is!

Shan (7), Cookie (6), JT (6), Archie (6), Jimer (7), Thommo (6) (Sub: Jenks 7,), Sparky (7) (Sub: Alan D 5,), Gavin (6) (Sub: Gawley 5,), McBride(7), Darboy (6), Cush (6)

Man of the match: Stephen McBride

Backward Step!

After all the positives lately, of getting into the cup semi-final and consolidating our league position, United undone that with a disjointed display at the Oval last night. For a change we took a good crowd to an away match, but their team let them down, by trotting out this passionless display, which maybe will harm future away crowds, now that would be a tragedy. United manager Spike made one change from his starting line-up of last Saturday, Archie came in for McBride. Whether McBride was injured or dropped, I cannot say but Spike let be known that he had a panel 21 players to pick from, the only player not available was Marky McCullagh who was serving a one game ban.

Its true to say that United never exerted any authority in this match and the only outfield player to come out with anything approaching praise, was Archie, the rest were virtual passengers. Glentoran, who fielded only about five regulars, bossed this game from start to finish and United keeper Shan was the only thing that stood between out team and a hiding. Cookie Munster, was the hero last week, but he got the run-around from McKee, of Glens, making his debut, surely our manager had to see this and change things around, but he didn't and we paid the price. Scullion, one of the few recognisable players in the Glens team tested Shan earlier on but the United keeper made a routine save.

The United defence whether by design, or accident were getting the Glens forwards caught offside and they survived a few scary moments, when the flag stayed down. Scullion tried his luck again but Shan saved well for a second time. The United midfield could get nothing going and they weren't helped in this by Tony and Alan D, giving the ball away countless times. In a neat passage of play, Ally broke through to the Glens box, but the ball skidded away from him before he could get a shot in. On the half hour mark, Ally again found some space on the left and from his left wing cross, Darboy headed over the bar with Morris, in the Glens goal stranded, a half chance, but a chance.

Two minutes later we were made to pay for this benevolence in front of goal, when McKee, in an offside position was allowed to carry as the ball hit off JT and he calmly sidestepped Shan, to give the Glens a 1-0 lead. I thought, naively it seems, that this rule was abandoned when the new offside rule came in, accidental collision with the ball meant the player was offside, the only way he could have been onside was if JT had played the ball deliberately, but the goal stood and we were one down. Surely I thought Spike has to change things, but he didn't, he seemed devoid of ideas and we just went on as before. We managed to limp through to halftime and not concede any more, but it was obvious that a change would have to made, sooner rather later, but Spike dithered and dallied.

2nd half
United started brightly in this half and Cush found Captain Jenks in space and the big Scotsman made a beeline for the the Glens box and was about to pull the trigger when he was cleaned by Garret. I thought it was stonewall penalty, Jenks had the ball protected and the only way Garret could get to it, was through Jenks, but the referee McNabb saw nothing. A minute later, McKee skinned Cookie out on the left and from his cross McCaffrey had time to steady himself and pick his spot past the stranded Shan. Still Spike made no changes to his starting eleven, he just seemed to resigned to losing the match. With nearly an hour gone at last Spike made a double substitution, with Cookie coming off to be replaced by Ruddy and Kane coming off to be replaced by MM.

Archie moved into the centre of defence with Ruddy moving to leftback, but I thought MM was a bad move coming on in place of Kane as we had no tacklers in midfield now. Referee McNabb, who had been reluctant to book Glens players when they committed bookable fouls, showed his bias by starting to book United players and the first one was JT. How JT remained on the field after that is a mystery to me, as he continued to foul with impunity and dish out punishment to Glens players. With twenty mins left, Spike made his final sub with Ally making way for Thommo, but in my mind Thommo should've been on at the start of the 2nd half for Alan D, but what do I know.

Referee McNabb contrived to give the Glens a penalty when he gave them a throw-in despite the Glens player deliberately playing it out and United got caught napping and JT was adjudged to have bundled over O'Hanlon unfairly and the ref pointed to the spot. Shan tried in vain to stop O'Halloran's spot kick but he was beaten and the match was over and it became a damage limitation for the United defence. Shan came to our rescue another couple of times, with good stops, but he was alone in having a good game, the rest of the team let him down. Darboy nearly a fashioned a consolation goal for us with time ticking away, but Morris denied him, saving at the strikers feet when he slipped the past the Glens defence. The referee's whistle saved us from any more embarrassment and with it we had blown all hope of a top six spot in the league I think!

Shan (8), Jimer (5), Archie (7), Cookie (5) (Sub: Ruddy 6,), JT (6), Kane (5) (Sub: MM 6,), Alan D (5), Jenks (6), Cush (6), Darboy (6), Ally (6) (Sub: Thommo 6,)

Man of the match: Shan

Dream Start!

United manager Spike broke with his policy about not changing a winning team with Archie and MM dropping down to the bench, taking their places were the veteran Cookie and Ally. Spike ignored the advice freely offered to him by Sky Blue Sport to rest Alan D and the South-Down resident repaid Spike's faith by having his best game this season. United got off to a dream start, when from a free-kick taken by Tony Kane out on the right touchline, Cookie stole in unnoticed and his header went in off the post while Buchanan in the Swifts goal could only look on in horror. United and their fans were in dreamland, there was barely 90 seconds on the clock and two mins later from a corner taken by Tony from the left, JT got a boot on his forehead, ignored by referee Ross Dunlop and had to go off to get it stitched, what a hectic five minutes it had been.

Down to ten men, United continued to force the pace and Ally exchanged passes with Alan D and forced a good save from Buchanan. When the ball came back in again, Jimer was floored in the box but referee Dunlop saw nothing. JT returned with his head bandaged and stitched I assume and the Swifts forced a corner but United keeper Shan proved he was fit, by plucking the ball out of the air. United were relentless and Alan D tried an overhead kick and from the rebound Buchanan fisted the ball for a corner from the left. From this in-swinger, again taken by Tony, JT glanced a header into the net to give the Sky Blues a 2-0 lead.

We had reached the halfway stage in the first half and we were coasting at 2-0, but I remembered what happened last week when we were coasting so I managed to quell my excitement. Tony and Jimer had exchanged passes on the right earlier in the game, nearly below where I was sitting, but unfortunately lost possession by taking too much out of the ball. But they tried again and from the fifth pass, Jimer crossed and Darboy headed United's third goal, making three headers in a row and was beside myself with joy. Jimer collected the ball in his own half and strode into the Swifts half and found Cush on the right. Cush made a bee-line for the box and with Darboy unmarked beside him, he elected to shoot himself but it was too high, but referee Dunlop decided that Buchanan had tipped it over for a corner from the left.

Tony's corner this time led to a goalmouth scramble and JT looked set to score when he was tripped, but referee Dunlop waved play on. The Swifts should have got a goal back just a minute before halftime when McCullough headed against the post, when looked easier to score and Cookie threw himself and blocked Ligget's follow up shot. United should have sealed the match in time added on, when Jimer broke up an attack and made inroads into the Swifts half and with Darboy making space on the right, he elected to find Cush in the centre. United's leading scorer steadied himself and hit a daisy-cutter towards the Swifts goal, but ball unfortunately the ball came back off the post. That was virtually the last action of the half and United players came off to a standing ovation, but it was only halftime.

2nd half
United took the field in the 2nd half and like last Saturday against the Point they seemed lethargic and the Swifts got a lifeline 8 mins in the half. Shan came for a cross and was beaten to it by a Swifts forward and he headed it towards goal and JT hooked the ball off the line, but from the follow-up header by Ligget the linesman adjudged the ball had crossed the line, but I was not too sure, but the lino was well positioned. It was obvious that a change of personnel was needed at this point, as United couldn't get anything going and in my humble opinion they needed tacklers in midfield, but Spike continued with his starting line-up. The Swifts came within inches of reducing the leeway with 20 mins left when from a corner, Brennan was unmarked, but his shot struck the crossbar.

Surely Fergie would act now I thought and he had Archie and Gavin warming up. United survived another scare when Lavery could only head into Shan's chest with the United defence at sixes and sevens. We had a bout of fisticuffs when a United player was fouled and the Swifts central defender appeared to elbow Ally and it resembled a ruck at rugby for a  moment, but referee Dunlop took no action against the culprit.  At last Spike acted and took off Ally, with Archie coming on to play in front of the back four I think and that was in 81 mins and five mins later Captain Jenks made way for Gavin. Shan came to United's rescue when he pushed the ball for a corner from a free-kick. United sealed the game when Alan D unselfishly passed to Darboy and he beat Buchanan with a rising shot to score his second goal and United's fourth.

In 89 mins Spike took off Cush and brought on Kelly and when they were waiting for a free-kick to be taken, the Swifts central defender went down clutching his head, blaming Kelly for an elbow. The ref checked with his fellow officials who saw nothing and the match drew to a close and United had triumphed by 4-1, beating the Swifts for the 4th time this season, but it had been closer than it needed to be, but we were through to a semi-final with Queens who beat Bangor. I would have preferred that we got a Premier team, for I know from painful experience how we struggle against so called inferior opposition, Ballymoney United and the Welders being two prime examples this season alone, but if we can't beat Queens, it'll be a sad day for everyone of a Sky Blue persuasion!

Shan (6), Jimer (8), McBride (7), JT (8), Cookie (8), Tony (8), Alan D (7), Jenks (6) (Sub: Gavin 6,), Cush (7) (Sub: Kelly 7,), Darboy (8), Ally (7) (Sub: Archie 7),

Man of the match: Cookie Munster