Young United!

United manager, Glenn 'Spike' Ferguson, was true to his word and picked a mainly reserve team, I only  recognised 5 players myself and they were, keeper Cairns, centre-back Loughran, Neil Lowry, James McCabe, who captained the side and MM. The rest of the starting eleven were mainly reserve players and I suspect a few youth team players as well. The back four, as well as Loughran, was made up of Harris, Graham and Hamill. The midfield three were Owen Kane, Johnston and our managers son, Matthew leaving Lowry, McCabe and MM as our strikers.

James McCabe, won the toss and decided we should attack the Farm Lodge end, a United tradition I think. His knowledge was rewarded when he got on the end of a long clearance to slot the ball home and give the Sky Blues the lead. They nearly doubled it through Lowry when his left wing cross-shot came off the bar with McKibben in the visitors goal, all at sea. Ards began to claw their way back into the game and the youngsters were guilty of defending too deep, but they managed to keep their line intact. Leftback Hamill and Loughran showed their class and it was obvious that Ards had to produce something special to get back on level terms'

Just when United seemed to have weathered the storm, Faulkner, who had mesmerised the full United defence back in August, went on a mazy run along the 18 yard box and with nobody tracking him, his crisp left-foot shot found the net past the outstretched, Macauley Cairns, to tie the scores up at one apiece. That equaliser came in the 42nd minute and the referee, John Deigan, from Limavady, added the customary one minute of added time and the youngsters held out to halftime. The United crowd, all 300 plus, applauded them off at the interval for they deserved it, they had come of age.

2nd half
I was looking forward to Neal Lowry, showing his pace as United were attacking out favourite Fisherwick end in this half, but alas after 6 mins he had to come off with what looked like a groin injury and was replaced by McQuillan. This half was not as good as the first but after United had made another substitution, Matthew Ferguson making way for Black, Kane threaded the ball through to McCabe and he forced McKibben to make a save with his feet. McKibben, showed his prowess by snatching the ball out of the air at a United corner and at the other end Cairns was relieved to see McClellan of Ards, head over when well placed.

United made their final substitution when the lively Hamill had to come off with cramp and was replaced by Carson. Ards should have sealed the points when Gibson found himself unmarked, but his free header finished up on top of the net, rather than in it. MM had a chance to snatch an unlikely victory right at the death but his powerful shot was saved by McKibbin and the chance had gone abegging. Referee Deigan added on the requisite three mins and the news had already filtered through the ground that Ards were relegated as Institute won the Championship. By a cruel twist of fate, Bangor had been held to a 1-1 draw, therefore gifting 'Stute the title and the equalising goal was scored by Ross Cahoon, who has signed for Ards next season, he'll be  a poplar boy, in Derry, if not in Ards.

When the ref blew the final whistle, the majority of our fans stayed to applaud the youngsters off and was a well deserved for they adapted well to first team football. I was worried when I heard Fergie's plans for the match, but the youngsters grabbed the chance with both hands and I thought that Hamill, Harris, Loughran and sub McQuillan acquitted themselves very well and were not overwhelmed by the occasion. All in all, it's been a good season and its fitting that should end with a look at the future, hopefully the senior boys will step up to plate next Saturday and win the Irish cup and then hopefully the good times will roll. We maintained our seventh position in the league table, not much to write home about, but we've bigger fish to fry at Windsor Park next week, Sky Blues for the Irish cup.

She wore, she wore a Sky Blue ribbon in the merry month of May and when, I asked her, why she wore that ribbon, she said its for United and I'm with them all the way, all the way, all the way, we're the famous Ballymena and we're with them all the way!

Cairns (7), Harris (7), Hamill (8) (Sub: Carson 7,), Loughran (8), Graham (6),  Johnston (7), Ferguson (7) (Sub: Black 7,),  O. Kane (7), Lowry (7) (Sub: McQuillan 8,), McCabe (8), MM (6)

Man of the match. Loughran

Nil Points!

The stay away supporters definitely got the better deal yesterday at Milltown, Warrenpoint. On the other hand the small band of 'dyed in the wool' supporters, who attend each and every game religiously, were let down by this lacklustre display by United. We could have in the end salvaged a point, but in truth we didn't deserve anything, but good teams do that, but alas we are far short of being a good team. But sure the boys have the Irish cup final on their mind is our management team's excuse, my response to that is, that's in eleven days time. Our manager, Glenn Ferguson, has been quoted as saying, he wants the Sky Blues to finish as high as they can. If results go our way on Saturday coming, that could be seventh, if not, we could finish eight and that would not be good.

Spike sprung a bit of a surprise by only starting one of three players returning from injury, JT and Tony K didn't start either. Macauley Cairns got a start in goal, as Shan was rested and I don't think we'll see him again to the cup final and despite coming off at halftime at Ferney, Steeky, started at leftback. All in all, Spike made only three changes from the side held to a scoreless draw at Ferney, Cairns for Shan, JT for Marky and Alan D for Sparky. Is this the team + Shan, Spike reckons will start at Windsor in eleven days time, I wouldn't be at all surprised. Maybe they had instructions to play only half-heartedly and if that's the case, they certainly didn't mess it up. We were second best throughout and owe  a huge vote of thanks to the Point forwards who missed chance after chance.

The Point wouldn't have been flattered by 6-0 scoreline and as it was, we could have got an equaliser with 2 mins to go, but it would have a travesty of justice, in the end we got what we deserved, nothing. JT, just back from injury was struggling to keep tabs on Points danger man, Daniel Hughes, but his partner Cookie, was cool, calm and collected, belying his mature years and came to our rescue time and time again. Alan D was a virtual passenger in our midfield and Gavin seemed intent on playing our keeper Cairns into all sorts of trouble, with one delayed back-pass. The Point should have two up after ten mins, when Hughes was allowed space and his powerful shot came back off the post and then he blazed over when well placed with Cairns flat-footed.

Captain Jenks failed to find the target with a free header and the out of form Cush, was struggling and for once not shooting at every opportunity. Hughes should have broken the deadlock when he lobbed Cairns, but he missed the target and then shot past when well placed. The Points keeper, Jonathan Parr, looked nervous, but the lacklustre United forwards hardly tested him. From one mishit shot from Jenks, Parr nearly spilled it into his goal but recovered to smother the ball. United wasted a corner by taking it short, what's new I hear you ask and nearly paid a heavy price as the Point managed to break, but Steeky cleared the danger. Steeky then had a chance to score when the ball fell to him outside the box, but with the goal at his mercy he blasted wide. Just before halftime, Ally had a run on goal, but couldn't find the target.

2nd half
Cookie and Gavin were substituted at halftime and Archie and Tony K came on in their place. I would like to say that United came more into the game after this, but I would be lying, we still continued to struggle. We had no idea of how to break down the Point defence and Darboy as a target man wasn't working, he never challenged for a ball in the air and one time he crossed the ball with nobody in the box when it was going for a corner. We forced a corner on the left and Tony took an in-swinger, but we had nobody on the far post and the Point had three men and when the ball came out to them they started a slick move that led to the only goal.

Jimer had a chance to make a tackle on the halfway line, but he missed and Stephen Hughes was allowed to speed up the left wing before releasing his namesake, Daniel and he had the simple task of beating the hapless Macauley. Alan D was replaced by Thommo, but he had little or no impact in this sluggish United display, which is worrying, 11 days before the biggest game we have had in 25 years. Referee Colin Burns, for once wasn't the centre of attention, though he did book Steeky for a deliberate hand-ball, when he got caught out of position in the Points half.  Cushley's, day was summed up when he tried a snap shot out on the left which didn't trouble the keeper and Archie was beaten easily by D. Hughes but he managed to divert the ball for a corner.

Darboy missed a chance, heading over when well placed and Macauley's hopeless dead ball kicks were getting us in to trouble, not even reaching the halfway line.  But we survived and should have got an undeserved point, when our Captain Jenks headed over with the goal at his mercy and that was our last chance. Ref Burns added only 2 mins to the ninety, but if he had added 22 mins, we wouldn't have scored, we were that pathetic. I didn't stay to see the team off, I was so disgusted, me and Omar made our way to the car to get out of there before the traffic got bad. Omar, questioned Fergie last season about United's inability to play teams who play football, I think he needs to be questioned this year also, but if we win the cup, all will be forgotten, if not forgiven!

Cairns (6) Jimer (5), Steeky (5), JT (5), Cookie (7) (Sub: Archie 6,), Gavin (5) (Sub: Tony 6,), Alan D (5) (Sub: Thommo 6,) Jenks (6), Ally (5), Darboy (5), Cush (5)

Man of the match: Cookie

Summer Football!

The IFA this week unveiled the results of their survey about the future of the game here in Norn Iron and they have said the majority opinion seems to favour Summer football, e.g. changing the season round to run from March until November. As the Sky Blues and the Ducks struggled to play football on the bumpy Ferney Park pitch, I think it served as a no, no for summer football, the match was in fact a bore from start to finish. United manager Glenn Ferguson started almost a full team and only made three changes from the side that snatched a draw at the scum, courtesy of Ally's last minute penalty.

Jimer, having served his one game ban came in to rightback, therefore releasing Marky to play alongside Cookie and Ruddy dropped to the bench. Sparky came in for Alan D who dropped down to the bench also and the same fate befell Mark Kelly who was replaced by the returning Darboy. United seemed to be of the intent to try to  play football despite the ground conditions and this invariably followed a pattern. Shan, our keeper would play the ball short to Marky and he would hoof up field, where it was bread and butter to the Stafford in the Ducks defence. Or we would try to play a close passing game in midfield, where the ball took a wrong bounce and presented itself to the opposition.

The opposing team to their credit, adapted well to the bumpy conditions but it was not a classic match, it was a pass and run sort of game and our forwards to a man seemed bereft of ideas. Cush, the United talisman, continues to struggle for form and it must be worrying for Spike with the Irish cup final getting ever closer. Darboy, hardly challenged for a ball yesterday, he seemed to hope the big central defender would miss one, which he didn't. Cush had a chance midway through the half when he was found by a delightful pass by Sparky, but he make  a mess of it, not Cushlike at all. Shan came to United's rescue, when Stafford got a header in from a free kick, but Shan plucked it out of the air near the post.

2nd half
At the halftime interval, leftback Steeky, didn't go off and could be seen stretching and it was obviously in some pain and was replaced by Mike Ruddy. The home steam started this period with a bombardment of the Sky Blues goal, forcing at least 5 corners and United struggled to clear their lines. When they got the ball up, the forwards couldn't hold onto it and the ball was thumped back again. At this time United were indebted to Cookie, he was cool, calm and collected and one tackle he made was out the top drawer. As Cush was continuing to struggle, Fergie replaced him with Gawley in 65 mins and 4 mins later Captain Jenks made way for Kelly and we changed our formation for a 4,4,2, but still we struggled.

The good news for United, is that Thommo, JT and Archie played for the reserves yesterday and Tony K should be back on Tuesday, when United travel to Warrenpoint. Darboy had a chance but shot hopelessly wide, failing to work the keeper. United carved out one chance near the end, when from a Jimer free-kick, Mark Kelly headed over with the goal gaping and the keeper stranded at the near post. United survived two scares near the end when Stafford headed over when well placed and forced Shan into a diving save from another header and the ball was scrambled clear, with Ducks supporters claiming it had crossed the goal-line. Referee McGrath added on the requisite three mins and United had escaped with a draw, but it not a classic by any means, but better than a defeat!

Shan (7), Jimer (7), Steeky (6) (Sub: Ruddy 6,), Marky (6), Cookie (8), Sparky (6), Jenks (6) (Sub; Kelly 6,), Gavin (6), Cush (5) (Sub: Gawley 5,), Darboy (5), Ally (5)

One Hole!

They say two halves make one whole and Coleraine Showgrounds, home of the Coleraine scum is definitely a hole, it's in need of a facelift and needs to be brought into the 20th century, never mind the 21st. That could be also said of the match yesterday as the two teams struggled in the windy conditions to play constructive football, it was a game of two halves. In the first half with the wind at their backs the scum were in the ascendency and in the second half it was United's turn to have the lion's share of possession. As expected the United team were decimated by injuries and suspensions and Fergie made five changes from the team that started last Saturday.

In a surprise move to me, he kept Shan in the team and it was as well he did, for he was sorely needed. Marky McCullagh came in for suspended Jimer, Mike Ruddy and 100 cap Cookie Munster formed a new partnership in central defence for the injured JT and Archie, Gavin got the nod in midfield for the suspended Tony K and Mark Kelly was the replacement for the ineligible Darboy. As usual United lost the toss and the scum dictated the end we defended in the first half. They, the scum, usually like to defend the end where their supporters are gathered in the first half, we will call this the station end or home end and left us to defend the end where the bulk of our die-hard supporters are situated.

That it was blowing a gale force wind down the pitch from the 'home' end, I'm sure must have influenced their decision and we were left to suffer during the first 45 mins. Owen Bradley, who according to reports this week is mulling over two contract offers, one from the scum and another from United's opponents in the Irish cup final, Glenavon, is definitely in the Oran Kearney mode, he cant seem to keep his feet in the opponents penalty box. Oran Kearney, the 'diving bird', was notorious for this in his playing days and he seems to have passed the technique onto Bradley. Barely two minutes was on the clock when Bradley took a swallow dive in the United penalty box.

I was worried when I saw we were to have four Maltese officials taking charge of this volatile fixture but I gave Clayton Pisanni (Pis for short), the benefit of the doubt in this instance, but it later he proved he was just incompetent. Little was seen of United in the opening half hour, Cush had two shots, one from a free kick, neither of which didn't trouble the keeper. The scum were on the attack and making good use of the wind and our two fullbacks, Marky and the experienced Steeky, were both having nightmare games. It seemed only a matter of time until the scum scored, but despite plenty of pressure they didn't manage a menacing opening until about halfway into the first half.

McDaid the former Derry City reserve player, turned Ruddy, but his cross came to nothing but Marky diverted it for a corner, the safety first approach. The scum stepped up the pressure and forced another corner but couldn't break the deadlock. Marky was harshly booked by the ref for a foul on the edge of the box, when I thought he got in a good tackle, but Bradley went down like a sack of spuds. With 32 mins gone, Shan was called into action, tipping over a free kick, but in doing so he collided with the post and had to be treated by the team physio. Luckily he was able to continue after treatment, but he looked unsteady and when the corner came over he stood stock still instead of coming out and claiming it and was relieved to see Bradley's header strike the post.

Pis was then fooled when Bradley and Ruddy were tussling for the ball and awarded the scum a penalty, it was a clear case of 'six on the one hand and half a dozen in the other', but the ref was pure piss. Despite guessing the right way, Shan was beaten by Bradley, who taunted the United fans in the terracing behind the goal, surely a yellow card, but Pis did nothing. Two mins later he denied the Sky Blues a penalty at the other end when a scum defender pushed Kelly off the ball in the opposite penalty box. The oldest player on the field, United's Cookie Munster, was having a stormer for the Sky Blues and forced Bradley to shoot early when the striker strived for a better position and despite the oohs and aahs of the scum crowd, Shan got his angles right and the shot passed wide of the six-yard box.

2nd half
In the 2nd period United had the elements at their back and despite not exerting the same pressure as the scum did in the first half, they had the lion's share of possession, no doubt. The first real incident of note was when Gavin, of all people, tried his luck from near halfway and Ferry, the scum keeper, just got back to divert the ball for a corner. I don't know whether the ref was annoyed about Gavin having a shot, but when Gavin went for a tackle in midfield five mins later, he flourished the yellow card and the scum player who had been writhing on the ground, made a complete recovery when he saw Gavin had been booked, Oran must have been pleased at this turn of events, it justifies his training methods.

In a rare scum attack, Bradley got the better of Marky and from his low cross, Shan spilled the ball, but McDaid could only divert the ball past the post, but he was only a reserve player at Derry City.  Fergie rung the changes, taking off Alan D, a ghost of the player he was last week against Queens and Gavin, who was having a good game and replaced them with Sparky and the hairdresser, Neal Gawley. United should have tied things up soon after this when Ally found Kelly with his back to goal and heeled the ball, but Beverland, the scum Captain, was able to to hack the ball clear. The referee booked a scum player for time-wasting, kicking the ball away and thought 'what have I done' and promptly booked Sparky, who had only come on for an innocuous tackle.

Neal Gawley's long throw-ins was causing havoc in the scum defence, but United couldn't get the breakthrough despite their possession. Fergie's played his last trump card when Steeky was scythed down going forward and the ref waved play on, bringing on MM to replace the injured Steeky. Oran seemed to take pity on us and removed his best player, McIlmoyle and brought on Watt. Cush almost got us on level terms but his snap shot from a Kelly flick-on, flashed wide of the goal, like Bradley's did earlier for the scum. United continued to batter the scum defence and after a corner by Ally on the right the ball was cleared for another corner on the left, Neal's in-swinger came back off the post. That was in the 88 minute and it looked like United were going to lose for the first time this season to their bitter rivals, the Coleraine scum.

It's a well know saying, 'cometh the hour, cometh the man' and from United's point of view, that man seems to be MM. He won us a penalty, with the 4th official getting ready to hold up his board showing the added time, when from another Neal corner, his flick-on was handled by Canning and the ref pointed to the spot. Up stepped the reliable Ally to send us home full of the joys of spring as he beat Ferry with aplomb. The 4th official signalled that there would be another 3 mins and Cookie became our 4th player booked when he stopped a scum attack. From this kick, the United defenders scrambled it for a corner and despite a few anxious moments we held out for a credible draw. Despite our handicap of having to change our team we kept our unbeaten run going against Coleraine, I only hope they are there to be played next season, I'm not an expert but I think they'll struggle in a play-off match, I hope for their sake, they can avoid that!

Shan (7), Marky (5), Steeky (5) (Sub: MM 7,), Ruddy (6), Cookie (8), Gavin (7) (Sub: Sparky 7) , Jenks (7), Alan D (5) (Sub: Gawley 7,), Cush (6), Kelly (6), Ally (7)

Man of the match: Cookie Munster

Job Done!

When the draw for the Irish cup semi-finals was made , by two former United players and it pitted the Sky Blues against the students of Queens, it looked a potential banana skin tie. Despite ever totally dominating their opponents, the Sky Blues got the job done and in the end ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, but only just. That they owe a big debt for this victory to their keeper Aaron Shanahan (Shan for short) and the enigmatic Alan D, bears witness that the students weren't there to just make up the numbers. In fact it took a World class save from Shan to prevent the Queens men equalising on the brink of halftime and if they had got back on level terms at that stage the result might have been different, we'll never know for sure.

What we do know for sure, United will face Glenavon in the Irish cup final on first Saturday in May for history in the making. Our manager, Spike, made only one change from his line-up for the game at home to Glenavon on March 29, Alan D replacing Sparky. The bench was made of Cookie, Gavin, Gawley, Kelly and the aforementioned Sparky. United kicked-off defending the Sydenham end of the ground and the students signalled their intent when Lavery got the better of Archie, but JT cut out his cross and the danger was averted. Cush tried his luck from distance but it was over the bar and set the trend for the remainder of the game as far as Cush's shots was concerned.

Shan made a hash of a routine catch dropping the ball but recovered in time before any damage was done, obviously it was nerves playing a part. The Queens boys had a well oiled offside trap and United forwards  fell for it a few times. From a free kick, nobody picked up Mark Prenter, but luckily his shot was well over. United should have taken the lead when a cross from Jimer, was flicked by Ally to Captain Jenks, but he didn't get enough power on his shot and Browne made a good save. At the other end, Prenter got on the end of a long throw but headed tamely at Shan. Then from a short corner, Cush headed Jimer's cross wide, what a waste, I don't like short corners or quick free kicks, they usually come back to haunt you in my experience.

United a lucky let-off, when Lavery was left unmarked on the edge of the box and Prenter got the ball to him and Lavery tried to curl the ball beyond Shan, but missed the target, did Shan have the goal covered, I honestly don't know, maybe it was our slice of luck. United were stuttering in attack and Cush, with time to steady himself shot from about 30 yards, but didn't trouble keeper Browne. Then from a delightful pass by Cush I was amazed to see the linesman flag go up when Ally seemed to beat the offside trap. United had a shout for a penalty turned down, when Cush was upended in the box, but referee Dunlop wasn't impressed. United were in the ascendency at this point and they emphasised that with a goal of real quality.

There seemed little danger when Alan D took the ball off Cush outside the penalty box, but he drifted out to the right past a couple defenders and fired an unstoppable shot past the bemused Browne in the Queens goal to give United a 1-0. A minute later from a corner taken by Ally, Browne came for the ball, collided with his own player and the ball fell to JT who promptly volley it into the net, only for the ref to blow it up for a foul on the keeper, but there was no foul on the keeper. I think if that goal had stood, we would have gone on to win even more comfortably, but the students took heart from this turn of good fortune and went at United. Shan came to our rescue punching a effort from Prenter round the post for a corner.

From this corner kick the United defence were all at sea and Culbert was left unmarked and his powerful header was miraclessly pushed onto the underside of the bar by Shan and the ball was cleared away to safety by Jimer, I think, a truly remarkable save, no doubt Damien Grant, our goalkeeper hero from 1989, thought it a routine save,lol. At that point and only then, did I dare to think that this was going to be our year. It's a well known fact that goals win matches, but saves, like the one witnessed yesterday at the Oval also win matches. If the students had got back on level terms going into the break, who knows what the outcome would have been, but that save by Shan stopped that speculation from becoming a reality.


2nd half
United started like a whirlwind in this half and I thought they had increased their lead through Darboy when he tapped in at the near post only to ruled out by a linesman flag, presumably for offside, I'd like to see that again. Alan D then tried his luck form distance, about 30 yards from goal and keeper Brown was relieved to see the ball strike the crossbar with him beaten all ends up. But United weren't to be denied for long and Cush delivered a sublime pass from full 35 yards to Alan D and he went through on goal and beat the keeper to give United a 2-0 lead with his second goal. Five mins after this goal disaster struck for United when Archie in intercepting a through ball, pulled up in what looked like a groin injury and had to come off.

Archie was replaced by Cookie Munster, making his 99th appearance in a United jersey marking an incredible record in the twilight of his career, rumour has it, that he has hinted at retirement this season, I for one hope not.  How Alan D didn't complete his hat-trick is a mystery to me and the rest of the Sky Blue fans, when his initial shot was stopped by Browne, he drove the rebound wide of the target with goal gaping. United frittered away loads of  chances to put this match to bed and Cush had no luck when Browne saved from his shot. Little was seen from the students in this half, they forced a corner but the United defence coped well with it and their shooting from long range didn't trouble Shan or his defenders.

Cush had got injured a couple of times and he went off with 12 mins to go to be replaced with Neal Gawley. Darboy was having a quiet match by his standards and he was replaced by Kelly with three mins to go. Kelly was only on the field 2 mins when he snuck in on the keeper Browne's blind side to tuck away a Jenks cross for his first senior goal for the Sky Blues to leave the score a flattering 3-0 in United's favour. The referee added on the obligatory three mins and I started to make my way to the Kop terracing on the city side of the ground, along with the bulk of United fans. The referee duly brought the game to a halt and we had won through to the final of the Irish cup and I felt a mixture of euphoria and relief, roll on the final is all I have to say!

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

Man of the match: Shan