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