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)