Shell Shocked!

I'm literally shell shocked reliving the game yesterday against Chickenville. It wasn't that it was that pulsating, I can't believe how United threw away a gilt edged chance, to record a rare home victory over the Champions. Admittedly they weren't helped by an incompetent referee, but we always knew he was incompetent and I and the 'Sport team, expected nothing else from him and he didn't disappoint. Spike surprised me in the fact that he for once changed his policy of never changing a winning team and Cush replaced Ally.

That meant a place on the bench for club Captain Jenks, alongside the hero of United's victory over the scum, Mike Ruddy, as well as Tony, the afore mentioned Ally and the unlucky Kyley. JT was Captain for the day and he won the toss and elected that we should play defending the Fisherwick end in the first half. United almost got off to a dream start, barely four mins was on the clock when Thommo found Darboy, but the former scum striker, shot weakly at United's ex-keeper Ryan Brown and he made a routine save, but it was begging to be put away.

The linesman at the Fisherwick end seemed to think the off-side rule had been done away with and Garret of Chickenville when clearly off-side, was allowed to run with the ball but Marky managed to divert the cross with his head for a corner. This left the United defenders in two minds whether to try to play the off-side trap, which only works with an alert linesman and they were caught after 15 mins when Mulvenna burst through, but Dwayne stood tall and managed to get a touch and JT was on hand to complete the clearance.

Mulvenna wasn't finished and he tackled JT from behind, a callous act, but Burns took no action save for awarding the free-kick. Thommo went on a mazy run and managed to get a shot in, but unfortunately he just missed the target and controversy reared its ugly head mins later, when United's talisman, Cush, who had been strangely quiet, eluded a tackle and charged for goal only to be chopped down. Burns reluctantly gave the foul, but didn't even talk to the perpetrator. From the resultant free-kick, Gawley beat the 'wall' but the ball sailed harmlessly past the post with keeper Brown nowhere, yet another chance gone begging.

Then from Steeky's left-wing cross, Darboy found Gawley, but he headed tamely at keeper Brown. At this point i turned to Sammy P and said maybe we would pay dearly for those missed chances. Thommo again found a bit of space and found Tippers in space, but he shot straight at Brown who saved well, yet another chance gone. But United finally got the goal they fully deserved, when from another Steeky cross,, Gawley found Tippers in acres of space and the former Linfield striker, glanced header past the outstretched arms of keeper Brown and into the net.

The Chickenville players were stunned but referee Burns took a hand in proceeding as he allowed JT had fouled McDaid, the former scum player and measured out 15 paces for the United's defensive wall. McDaid, who had made a miracles recovery from his injuries (he hurt himself diving), took the free-kick himself, but Dwayne managed to divert it away from goal. In another Chickenville attack attack, JT, was adjudged to have obstructed McDaid, but what could he do, but Burns couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough.

From the resultant free-kick, this time only back the requisite ten yards, the United 'wall' did its job and the ball was deflected onto the top of the net. The lino missed yet another blatant off-side and Archie came to our rescue with a timely tackle. I failed to see the 4th official's , so I don't know how much time was added, but JT was fouled in this added time but the perpetrator got off scot free (Omar gets annoyed at this term).. Despite the blatant cheating by the Chickenville players and the incompetence of the referee and the lino at the Fisherwick end, United went into their halftime cuppa deservedly leading 1-0.

2nd half
United started brightly in this half taking the game to the champions of the last two seasons and when we won a free-kick after 5 mins, Cush decided he should take it. From fully 35 yards and he forced keeper Brown to beat the ball out, with a thunderous shot. Cush was rampant at this stage and he cut in from the right and released a tremendous left-foot shot that Brown managed to divert for a corner, that brought Omar to his feet, there's life in the old man yet. Chickenville's manager had seen enough and he replaced Garret and Mulvenna with Gormely and Donnelly. United should've have increased their lead, two mins later when Darboy headed wide from a Gawley cross.

That was nearly Gawley's last act as he was replaced by Tony. Tippers was lucky to get away with catching a Chickenville defender with his arm, but referee Burns ignored the offence, much to the annoyance of Chickenville fans and management. But he proved later where his loyalties lay, when he gave them his 'get out of jail free' card. Tony was barley on the pitch two mins, when he latched onto a weak header from a Reds player and despite beating Brown, he slewed his shot wide, yet another gilt edged chance passed up.

Three mins later it was United's turn to breathe a sigh of relief, when Donnelly wriggled free, but his cross shot trickled by Dwayne's left post. The warning signs were there to see for United, but they didn't heed them and then referee Burns played his trump card. United were mounting an attack and as the cross came in a Chickenville player attempted hand-pass and the lino immediately signalled for a penalty.  The United players stopped, but couldn't believe their eyes when, Burns ignored the penalty and actually give the Reds a free-kick presumably for handball against Tippers.

Despite the lino's flag, Burns didn't go and talk to him and I thought does he referee Gaelic games as well and he ruled it a legitimate hand-pass. This theory was compounded  later in the game, when keeper Brown fielded a ball, clearly outside his area and the referee ignored United protests. United let their guard down and Chickenville took advantage of this, as Steeky deflected Curran's shot past the unsighted Dwayne to draw the Reds level at one apiece. United were shell shocked and Spike decided to act with four mins to go he brought on his Captain Jenks and Ruddy, to replace Thommo and the unfortunate Steeky, whose deflection had drawn Chickenville level.

United had played on earlier in the match with a Reds player feigning injury, much to the annoyance of the Reds management, but he didn't even need the physio, blatant cheating or what. Chickenville broke United fans hearts then with a killer goal in the 88th minute, when Winchester drove a pile-driver into the top corner, from a weak JT clearance. As we approached injury time and the visitors on the attack, one of their players went down injured and instead of kicking the ball out, that they wanted United to do earlier they continued to attack.

Burns added insult to injury, if you'll pardon the expression, by stopping play as United cleared the ball and tried to mount an attack of their own. The player in question, was shown to be feigning injury, but Burns no action, not a surprise. I failed to see the 4th official's board yet again but I think it had to be deep in stoppage time, when we were mounting a last ditch attack, the ball fell to Captain Jenks near the penalty box and he rifled a shot past the startled Brown to tie the scores at 2-2. It was no more than we deserved and moments later the referee brought proceeding to a halt.

I can't help feeling we had been cheated, but in all honesty we should've had the points safely in the bag before the shenanigans of referee Burns, or best described as cheating, there's no way he could be that incompetent. I foolishly thought nobody could rival Heth's performance at Mourneview against Glenavon, but I have to take my hat off to Burns, he surpassed it. He showed a yellow card to three or four of our players and didn't book a single one from visitors, biased or what, but what I have come to expect from the bungling Newtownabbey man, he really beggars belief!

Dwayne (8), Marky (8), Steeky (8) (Sub: Ruddy 7,), Archie (8), JT (8), Gawley (7) (Sub: Tony 8,), Gavin (8), Thommo (8) (Sub: Jenks 8,), Cush (8), Darboy (7), Tippers (8)

Man of the match: Archie

Blew It!

That may seem a strange headline I've given this report, but in my humble opinion, we missed a load of chances to be sitting at the top of the Premier league table today. The chief culprit, as far United were concerned, in this enthralling game, was their capture from Linfield in the close season, Matthew Tipton (Tippers), who could have had an easy hat-trick. By an ironic twist of fate, one of the players we released in  order to make room for Tippers on the payroll, was Michael McClellan (MM) and he hit 9 goals for H &W Welders yesterday, but that's another story.

This match had everything, including a controversial sending-off by ref Andy Hunter, I thought originally that incident was merely obstruction, or at worst or an accidental collision, but Hunter had no hesitation in issuing a red card to our Captain, Alan Jenkins and awarded the Glens a penalty. Sammy Patterson allowed it was a goal-scoring opportunity, but I'm wasn't so sure, for our keeper Dwayne was in the thick of things and we'll never know how things might have turned out.

I counselled myself with the thought that ref was 'on the ball' and he would not shirk to do his duty, nothing could be further from the truth as it turned out. Our manager, Spike, made three changes from his starting line-up of a week ago. Out went the injured duo, of Cush and Cookie and Tony Kane dropped to the subs bench. That meant a rare starts for Archie and Darboy for the injured duo and Gawley replaced Tony. The game got off to a whirlwind start, thanks mainly to a linesman who didn't seem to grasp the meaning of the offside-side rule.

Within a minute of the start of the game and with United defending the Fisherwick end, the Lino missed a blatant offside but United managed to divert it for a corner. Dwayne came to our rescue, punching the ball out and then it was our turn to put the Glens under pressure, when from a Gawley corner, half cleared by Glens defence, Tippers was found by a powerful header from Gavin and with only Glens keeper Hogg to beat, he screwed his shot wide, a dreadful miss, he didn't even work the keeper.

United paid dearly for this benevolence in front of goal, when in a bit of sustained pressure, ref Hunter allowed that Jenks deliberately wrestled Scullion, the former scum player, to the ground and not only awarded the penalty, he sent, Jenks off for good measure. Dwayne got hurt as well in this collision and had to receive treatment on an injured knee which restricted his movements in the rest of the game. I remain adamant that I don't think it was a penalty, but even if it was, there was no malice in Jenks tackle, at worst it was clumsy, but Hunter decided he had to go.

Dwayne was okay to continue after treatment, but he was well beaten with the resultant spot-kick, despite diving the right way. United were fighting a rearguard battle for a few minutes and the Glens looked like adding to the score, but somehow we survived, despite the lino missing two more blatant offsides. We were starting to get inroads into the match and Gavin was leading by example, aided and abetted by Gawley and Ally. JT, was having a solid game in defence against his former team, but one thing usually lets him down when he breaks out of defence, his final pass, but not yesterday.

With 33mins on the clock, JT picked up the ball outside the box, strode forward to near the halfway line and found Darboy with an inch perfect pass. The ex-Glens player didn't need in any further bidding and he struck a sweet half-volley with his left-foot, which left Hogg helpless and drew the Sky Blues deservedly level at 1-1. United and their fans were deliriously and a minute later, the alert Gavin robbed Glens defender Birney, only to be scythed down  by Birney, when he was clean through, surely a red card offence, but Hunter merely issued a yellow.

From the resultant free-kick, Birney appeared to hand the ball and the ref  pointed to the spot, but I couldn't believe he didn't caution Birney, who in my opinion should have been sent-off for the tackle on Gavin, but his handball deserved a yellow card, but Hunter, being Hunter, thought otherwise. The normally reliable Ally, took a long time placing the ball and Sammy remarked that he looked less than confident and this turned out to be so true. Hogg, in the Glens goal moved early and was able to divert Ally's weak effort, but it should have been taken again for the keeper moved but ref Hunter let it stand.

United spurned another chance to go in at the break with a 2-1 lead, when JT sent a free header over the bar from Gawley's pin-point corner. The 4th official added 2 mins of stoppage time and the teams came in at halftime with game evenly balanced at 1-1. But it could have and should have been more one-sided than 10 playing 11 as the 10 men of United missed three glorious chances to be leading but in the end had to settle for a draw at halftime. The Sky Blues came off to rapturous applause, fully deserved but the ref came off to boos, also fully deserved I think.

2nd half
United continued to take the game to the Glens at the start of the second period and JT, popped up on the left-wing and delivered another defence splitting pass to Tippers and with the goal at his mercy, Tippers tried to control the ball and the chance was lost. Surely he had to hit first time, we could have forgiven him for blasting it wide, but not to get a shot in was unforgivable in my eyes. I was hoping for Spike to take Tippers off at this stage, but we have a dearth of strikers and we had nobody on the bench save for the versatile Sparky, but Spike didn't act.

Twenty mins into the half, Gawley made way for the fit again, Thommo, no doubt the barber was feeling the pace a wee bit, for he had run his socks off. Tippers had another chance, when he was found by Darboy, but he screwed his shot wide, a feeble effort if ever I saw one. Even Fergie had seen enough of his mis-hitting striker and Sparky came on to replace him. Referee Hunter decided to take a hand in proceedings and gave the Glens a corner, when it was clearly a goal-kick, but he disallowed Curtis Allen's header from the set-piece, so justice was done.

Sparky had moved into midfield and Ally had gone upfront with Darboy, but I think we handed the ascendency to the visitors and they renewed their efforts to get the winner. The visitors spurned chances galore and United were clinging on for dear life and I was hoping against hope that we could survive. Fergie played his last trump card, taking off Gavin, the man of the match and bringing Kane on. With Tony's fresh legs and we started to get something going in attack, but it was oh so laboured, we had lost our fluency.

Referee Hunter wasn't done with us yet and after Thommo had been scythed by a Glens player, no card flourished he booked two of our players within two minutes. First he booked JT, for a late tackle and from the free-kick we struggled to clear our lines and sub Jordan Stewart, forced the ball in at the near post to give the Glens a 2-1 lead, with United claiming that Nelson saved it. I 've looked at the camera angle and its inconclusive but the lino at that end of the ground was more than generous to us throughout the game and I'll give the benefit of the doubt.

Darboy had a shot deflected for a corner, but Tony made a mess of the dead ball and then in his haste to cover fouled a Glens player, his first foul I might add and Hunter couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough, biased or what. United were still trying to get on even terms and when the 4th official held up the added time of four mins, I was wondering if we had enough time to do it. When Sparky challenged the Glens defenders for the ball, there seemed little danger.but he got through and Hogg managed to parry his shot.

But the local man Sparky, wasn't done and he managed to get a pass off to Thommo and Thommo showed Tippers how it should be done, firing United level through a ruck of Glens defenders and sending the fans into raptures in the process. Sure it was no more than we deserved, but we left it late, but better late than never. Despite having a biased referee, in Andy Hunter, we had come good at the last minute, but oh how we missed our chance to record a rare victory over the Glens at our home ground, that wait, will have to go on!

Dwayne (8), Marky (7), Steeky (7), Archie (7), JT (8), Gawley (7) (Sub: Thommo 8). Jenks (6), Gavin (8) (Sub: Tony 6), Ally (6), Darboy (8), Tippers (5) (Sub; Sparky 8,),

Man of the match: Gavin

Ducks Alive!

I've been musing over what went wrong yesterday that led to our 3-0 defeat against the Mallards, fully deserved I must say, it really could have been more. I've come to the conclusion that we were blinded by our position in the league and we thought it was going to be fairly easy. The Sky Blue Sport crew knew it was going to be a very difficult game, sure we have yet to score a goal down there and yesterday we had at least one gilt-edged chance, but we didn't take it.

Our manager Spike, as expected made one change from his starting line-up of last Tuesday night, Sparky made way for Captain Jenks, but the ferry journey and then the journey to Fermanagh must have taken a lot out of our Captain, as he was a shadow of himself. Admittedly he wasn't alone in that respect, its hard to pick a United player who rose above the depths of mediocrity (surprisingly I've spelt that correctly). To make matters worse the Sky Blue crew were late getting to the match but listening to the radio we were under the cosh until we got there.

The less said about why were late, the better, it has a lot to do with vintage tractors and detours and not leaving enough time for any eventualities. Suffice to say we only came in to the ground when Tippers had his shot charged down and I felt that he should have done better with the rebound. The Ducks seemed to able to attack with ease and could've taken the lead when Martin missed from a Currie cross, with the United defence nowhere. Then United were thrown a lifeline with neat bit of play, involving Dwayne, Kaner, Tippers and Ally.

Dwayne picked up the ball in his penalty box, threw the ball to Kaner, who made some ground and fed Tippers near the right touchline. The ex-Linfield man shrugged off a tackle and crossed for unmarked Ally to head over the bar, a dreadful miss and one that I reckon contributed to our downfall yesterday. Surely Ally had to find the target, as he rose unchallenged and with time to pick his spot, I could have forgiven him if he had headed at the keeper, but he messed up and with it went our best chance to score a goal at Fernery Park for the first time.

The home team were soon on the attack again and Gavin earned a harsh booking from Dick (Crangle), when he stopped an attack building up. Moments later, a Mallards player chopped Cush at the halfway line, Dick merely gave the foul, no yellow card for the culprit, inconsistent or what? But we know Dick from old, just when you think you have him figured out, he reverts to form and does something stupid, luckily he didn't have to do that yesterday. With halftime approaching the Mallards, won a corner on their right and the United defence went asleep, not for the first time it has to be said, but this time it was costly.

The corner was taken short by Beacom to the left-back, unmarked I might add and all was not lost at this stage, for the back delivered the ball to Beacom who was allowed to cross the ball, unbelievable I thought. As the cross came over the United defenders weren't able to cut it out and it fell nicely to the unmarked Elding who scored past the hapless Dwayne to give the Mallards a 1-0 lead, thoroughly deserved I later learned, but I couldn't stop thinking about our missed chance, when Ally, a two goal hero on Tuesday night, missed a sitter and we paid a heavy price for it.

2nd half

United took the field with no changes, but in spite of matching the Mallards and even dominating the play a little bit, I can't remember any clear-cut chance in the first 20 mins of the 2nd half. Then Fergie acted, by withdrawing Ally and Steeky and bringing on Darboy and Gawley and switching to a 3,5,2 formation. I couldn't understand this move to be honest, if Steeky was injured as he later turned out to be, surely Archie or Ruddy would have been the ideal replacement for him and we wouldn't have lost our shape. We were only a one goal down and the tie was balanced on a knife edge.

We almost got back in the match when Kaner headed a Gawley cross wide, with the keeper stranded and Cookie was denied by a goal-line clearance from a Mallards defender. Then disaster struck with 11 mins to go, when Lafferty sprinted down the right and Cush tried to to stop him but wasn't able for the job and Lafferty was allowed to go on, unchecked and he found the unmarked Martin in the box and he curled a shot past the stranded Dwayne, to extend  the Ducks lead to 2-0. Spike made his final substitution taking off the disappointing Kaner and replacing him with Sparky, but he made little or no difference.

Sparky was only on the field a couple of minutes, when Martin, looking suspiciously offside, waltzed round Dwayne, who was unlucky not to gather the ball and had the simple task of finding the empty net to make the final score 3-0 in the Ducks favour, they had done United down (pun intended). United continued to probe the Mallards defence, but we were too predictable, playing high balls, which were 'bread and butter' to the Mallards defence, instead of using a bit of football craft, we were content to fire high balls, like throwing buns to a bear, we really do need a tactical plan, if our current plan is not working, but what do I know!

Dick brought proceedings to a halt and we made our way from Ferney Park, not staying to boo the team, what's the point anyway, better to get head start on the traffic than feeling more miserable when booing our sometimes heroes. The journey home to Belfast was uneventful, no hold-ups as such, we made the big smoke in less than two hours, mores the pity United were like us, late, for the start of the match. We at least had an excuse, they unfortunately will have to look at their collective display and get shot of this lethargy, or they will be many more long journeys home, with nothing to show for it!

Dwayne (6), Marky (5), Steeky (5) (Sub: Gawley 5,), Cookie (6), JT (5), Kaner (5) (Sub: Sparky 5,), Gavin (6), Jenks (5), Ally (5) (Sub: Darboy 5), Cush (5), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Gavin

Doubly Ally!

Ally Teggart, so often the scapegoat when United manager Spike is looking to change things, he usually subs Ally, whether he is playing well or not. But not last night, where the diminutive player, became a two goal hero, one a thunderous shot from just outside the area, which left 'Stute keeper Ferry, clutching at thin air and the other a coolly despatched penalty, despite the histrionics of the Stute players in trying to unsettle him. The small band of Stute fans in the 600 plus crowd, claimed that the penalty was outside, but referee, Kennedy pointed to the spot and I have to take his word for it.

As expected, United had to make a change from their starting line-up of last Friday, when despite referee Heth, admitting he had made a mistake in sending of United Captain Jenks and Glenavon's McCabe, the IFA said they were unable to play, it could only happen in the Irish league, bungling clots that they (the IFA), are. Sparky came in for the United Captain and Kaner replaced Gawley, who was ill. United Captain for the night, was JT, but we missed Jenks for his organising skills and we looked especially vulnerable at set-pieces.

The weight of the Captain's armband seemed to weigh heavily on the normally steady JT and he got caught out as early as the first 2mins, when McFadden eluded him and later shot for goal and despite a parry from Dwayne, O'Flynn, was able to force the ball home at the near post, despite the attention of Steeky, to give Stute the lead at 1-0. Its fair to say that United were shell-shocked, for the second match running, they had conceded an early goal and they spurned a good chance to reply a minute later, when Tippers failed to connect from a Cush cross.

Then it was Sparky turn, but his header was 'bread and butter' for ex-Coleraine keeper Ferry, who saved easily. The normally reliable Cush, had seemingly deserted his 'shoot on sight' policy and he passed up a few chances, so unlike Cush and we need Cush to be himself. United were struggling to get things going and the Stute boys were tackling hard and ref Kennedy was letting them away with it. Despite one crunching tackle , from Walsh, the ref merely spoke to the culprit, who paid not a blind bit of notice to the referee's instructions. United won a free-kick from 25 yards, but the normally reliable Kaner's shot cannoned off the Stute wall.

Marky, on the overlap, sent over an inviting cross, but not one our forwards was prepared to go for it, yet another chance gone begging. Sammy Patterson said to me, he thought it was going to one of those nights, when despite our best efforts, the ball was not going to run for us. I agreed with him and a minute later I had to eat my words, when Ally drew us level with a great strike form just outside the penalty area. From a cross from the right, a Stute defender headed clear and the ball fell to Ally, who beat one man and then unleashed an unstoppable left-foot shot, which had Ferry clutched at thin air, to draw United level at 1-1.

Needless to say the United fans were delighted and Ally had become our ninth individual scorer in the process, with his first goal this term and we were 'cock a hoop', whatever that means. Stute were hanging on at this stage and ref Kennedy, finally had to show a yellow card to Fokker and with halftime approaching, Walsh, who should have been booked earlier, in my opinion. Stute were well in the game and Dwayne was taking no chances, having got no protection at Friday night's game at Lurgan, he was punching corners, instead of trying to catch them. The Stute boys are well coached to fall down at the merest touch and this they did throughout the game and the ref fell for it, but we got to the halftime whistle without incident.

2nd half
United took the field with the same players and Stute were soon into their stride trying to temp United players out and then hoping to catch on the break. But for the most part, United stuck to their plan, which was to let Stute play around at the back and then try to catch them on the back foot when we inevitably broke up play in our half. Kaner rashly committed a foul when there was little need and he became the third player to be booked. Then from a Tippers cross, Cush headed just wide and then Tippers timed his run to perfection but the Lino at our side put up his flag.

We were getting inroads to the visitors defence with good link-up play between Steeky and Ally and from of these Steeky sprinted into the box only to be manhandled to the ground by a defender. Surely I thought it was a sending-off offence, the use of the hands against a player  is prohibited in football and not condoned by any means. But the ref didn't dish out a red card, he merely pointed to the spot. I've looked at the incident on replay and I can't tell whether Steeky was inside the box or not, it was too close to be certain, but the referee has in his power to decide if, in his opinion, the tackle warrants a penalty and despite the Stute players surrounding him, he stuck to his guns.

Despite the histrionics of the Stute players, Ally, didn't get ruffled, he was like an executioner, he stuck to his job and despite a Stute player moving the ball off the penalty spot, Ally didn't complain, he merely went and placed the ball on the spot and when the ref gave the signal, he planted it in the net, with that sweet left-foot of his, to give United a 2-1 lead. Fergie decided to ring the changes and withdrew Kaner to be replaced with Darboy a minute after we had taken the lead, which necessitated Cush dropping to the right-wing.

United, despite loads of possession in the visitors half didn't add to their score, being content to let Stute have control of the game.  In 70 mins Steeky was harshly booked for kicking the ball away, when the referee blew for an offside, but that was a split second earlier, use a bit of common-sense please, refs.  With 17 mins remaining Fergie surprised me  by taking off Sparky, who had run his heart out all night and introducing Mack for his league debut, a bold move I thought, taking off a tackler for an attack minded player.

McFadden raced through beating the offside trap, but quick as a flash, Dwayne, was off his line, to block the strikers shot, a lucky let-of for United. Cush went down injured, clutching his groin and was replaced by Ruddy and it really was backs to wall stuff, with an occasional attack, for the remainder of the match and time seemed to drag. JT, got in a block, from Stute danger man O'Flynn as Stute continued to probe the United back line. It was in this stage of the match that Gavin came into to his own, breaking up play and setting his forwards on the attack with defence splitting passes, which they failed to take advantage of.

From one of these, Tippers raced down the wing and found Darboy about the penalty spot and despite having time, Darboy shot harmlessly wide with his left-foot instead of making sure. After what seemed to be an eternity, Davy King announced that we were to have the requisite 3 mins of added time and Dwayne came to our rescue yet again with a block from a Hume shot, who had come on for McFadden. When referee  Kennedy blew his final whistle, we applauded our heroes off and despite his priceless goals, I have decided to make Dwayne my man of match over Ally, for his two crucial saves in the 2nd half, but it was a close decision, but Dwayne just shaded it in my opinion!

Dwayne (8), Marky (7), Steeky (7), JT (7), Cookie (7), Kaner (7) (Sub: Darboy 6,) Sparky (7), (Sub; Mack 7), Gavin (8), Ally (8), Cush (6) (Sub: Ruddy 6), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson