No Shield!

United definitely had the sword in last night's game at Chickenville, but alas they had no shield as their defence was full of cracks. United manager Glenn Ferguson, wielded the big axe, as he made six changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday.  Out went both fullbacks, Marky and Steeky, replaced by Tony and Archie and Darboy replaced top scorer, Cush. But it was midfield where we saw the biggest change, out went both wingers Ally and Gawley as well as Alan D and in came Captain Jenks, Mike Ruddy and Owen Kane.

There was a surprise on the bench when teenage sensation Matthew Shevlin was named along with Aaron Harris, Cush, Ally and Alan D. No place for Sparky and no place for the injured JT, who must be rated a doubt for Saturday's encounter v Glentoran at the Oval. Chickenville, defending the city end, put us under pressure right away and Dwayne came to our rescue after 5 mins, as we struggled to clear our lines. In another spell of pressure from the home team, a Garret shot was deflected for a corner and then we got our first opportunity, but Darboy was unable to get the ball before the convict Devlin in the Reds goal.

But with 10 mins gone we took a shock lead, when I thought Darboy was trying a pass, but instead he lobbed the convict from fully 35 yards to give us the lead 1-0. As the home team doubled their efforts to get back on terms, Archie was harshly booked for a foul on Garret, near the home dugout and the Reds management team were 'up in arms' and the ref succumbed to pressure and flourished the yellow card. That was just the start of referee McNabb controversies, which was to cost United dear as the game went on. Dwayne, came to our rescue with a timely intervention when Mulvenna threatened and Cookie headed over after a Tony Kane free-kick.

In a spell of pressure by the home team, the United defence held firm but they got a bit of luck when Dwayne missed his punch at a corner, but the ball sailed harmlessly over the touchline for a goal kick. Not much was seen of United in attack, but Tony drove the ball over the bar when well placed. United seemed to be weak on right flank and Tony seemed to have two men to deal with, nearly every time the home team mounted an attack. The Reds got a penalty 9 mins before halftime when Knowles 'took a dive', but ref McNabb pointed to the spot and McMullan duly scored to tie the scores up at one-apiece.

United spurned a glorious chance to get back in the lead, when Captain Jenks shot wide and the Reds missed too, first when Mulvenna fired over from 8 yards and then Garret failed to punish Kyley's mistake, shooting wide. It had been a pulsating  first half and when we heard the news from the other matches, we were anticipating a great  push from our side as we knew there was every chance that Bangor would dump the Glens and we would have only one senior team to beat to win the trophy, but alas the Reds had other ideas, the best laid plans of mice and men, eh!.

2nd half
Just 3 mins was on the clock when Gormley broke away on goal and Dwayne tried to stop him and collided with him, but the ref surprisingly didn't give the penalty. It looked more clear-cut than the penalty he gave in the first half, although in saying that, I was a 100 yards away from the incident, a real jaundiced view, Dwayne maybe got a touch of the ball and Cookie was there to clear. We were under pressure and we had no outlet and I for one was urging Spike to bring on Ally or Cush for us to have an outlet, but there was no activity on the United bench.

It seemed only a matter of time until the the home team scored and when Dwayne and his defenders got in a mix-up from a Gormely cross, Garret was on hand to score to give the Reds a 2-1 lead. The Reds were rampant at this time and the United bench was devoid of ideas and it seemed as if the game was slipping away from us. With 14 mins gone our midfield let Murray have space and he gave Dwayne no chance from the edge of the box, to give the Reds a 3-1 lead. Surely Fergie woukld have to act now, like Nero, he had fiddled while the Reds burned our defence.

We got a lifeline when Tippers found Caption Jenks a min later and he blasted the ball past the big fat convict Devlin from 6 yards to make the score 3-2 in the home teams favour. Darboy then missed a glorious chance when he headed wide from a Tony cross, when it looked easier to get it on target.  United finally made their sub with first Ally coming on to replace Ruddy and Cush coming on to replace Owen Kane mins later. But it was the home team who looked like extending their lead and sub McMurray, who replaced Gormley, came close on two occasions, but luckily United survived.

Dwayne came to our rescue when he made a point blank save from someone, I think it was Garret, but I was so far away I couldn't be sure. He came to our rescue once again, diving at the feet of McMurray and the Reds manager made a telling sub when he brought on McDaid for Mulvenna. With 10 mins to go go Archie and Garret had a clash of heads and the ref astounded the United supporters when he flourished a second yellow card for Archie which meant a sending-off. With United down to 10 men our manager took off Gavin, our only tackler in midfield and brought on Alan D, which meant we weren't going to get a look at young Shevlin, what a waste.

United went on the attack and they conjured up an equaliser with a minute to go in normal time as Ally was on hand to thump the ball home following a six man move. It was no more than United deserved and in the five mins of added time, they should have won it. Cush found himself with only the keeper to beat, but the fat convict managed divert the ball for a corner and Cookie couldn't get enough on his header to force it home from the corner. But the best chance came a min or so later when Darboy was found by Tippers, but the ex-Coleraine man, blasted the ball wider, with the goal at his mercy.

That proved to be the final nail in United's coffin, as the Reds broke and another ex-Coleraine striker, McDaid, showed how it should be done when he blasted the Reds into the semi-final by scoring their fourth goal to break United hearts. One min later the ref blew his final whistle and United had bowed out of the County Antrim Shield, but not without a fight. The old story bears true, if you don't take your chances. you can't expect to win games and we didn't take them. It will be interesting to see the team Fergie selects for our next game away to the Glens, I can hardly wait, COSB!

Dwayne (8), Tony (7), Archie (7), Cookie (7), Kyley (6), Owen Kane (6) (Sub: Cush 6,), Gavin (7) (Sub: Alan D 6,), Jenks (7), Ruddy (7) (Sub: Ally 7,), Darboy (6), Tippers (7)

Man of the match: Dwayne

The Fall!

British summertime ended yesterday and with it United's bright start to the season, when they were thumped 4-1 by their Irish cup conquerors, Glenavon. Our manager Spike had been true to his word and made four changes in all to his starting line-up, as well as the unavailable JT and Thommo, he also dropped Tony and Captain Jenks. Captain Jenks at least made the bench, but no sign of Tony, was he playing for the reserves, I honestly don't know. The four players taking their place, were Cookie, Marky, Gavin and that enigma that is, Alan D.

I said to whoever would listen, if I had saw the team Fergie had selected before leaving home, I would've stayed at home. Alan D was a virtual passenger, he wanted too much time on the ball and when we had a chance of a quick break, he dithered and the chance was lost. United playing against the stiff breeze were well in the game and despite the height advantage of the Glenavon players, there was not many anxious moments in the Sky Blues defence. Ballymena had forced a corner after 5 mins, but nothing came of it.

Alan D was played was in but his feeble shot with his left-foot was easily dealt with by Blaney. Then with a quarter an hour gone all 'hell broke loose', when Cush stretched for a ball and caught Braniff and despite the ref blowing for the foul, Glenavon players reacted angrily to this and McCabe was seen to throw a punch in the meelee. When the dust settled, Cush and McCabe were booked and I thought referee Tim 'nice but dim' Marshall, had bottled it, but what's new? United then won a free-kick on the right and from Cushley's whipped cross no-one in a Sky Blue shirt could get on the end of it.

Gawley became the second United  player to be booked, when he seemed to win a 50/50 ball, but Tim flourished the yellow card, which I thought was especially harsh. From the resultant free-kick  the wind carried the ball near the top corner of the net and Dwayne pushed it over the bar for a corner. Then Ally went past his man on the left and drove over a superb cross, but Tippers just failed to get a touch, a chance gone begging. Two mins later United should have taken the lead, when Alan D found Gawley, who slipped by his marker and with only Blaney in the visitors goal to beat, he blasted the ball over the bar.

Bradley was booked for an elbow on Cookie, spotted by the lino, but a yellow for an elbow was adding insult to injury. United paid dearly for their earlier benevolence in from of goal, when Bradley was not closed down and from his superb cross, Kyle Neill stole in to put the visitors one up. It was in fact reminiscent of the chance United had missed, from Ally's cross at the other end and was clinically despatched leaving Nelson beaten all ends up. United had once again paid the penalty on two counts, (1) not taking their chances and (2), letting crosses in, the second was a schoolboy error in my book..

2nd half
United took the field for the 2nd half with no changes but they started brightly and Cush  almost levelled it straight away when he chased a through ball, but Blayney just beat him to it. Then from a Gawley cross, Cush could only head straight at Blaney. At the other end end, Steeky, under pressure managed to to steer the ball away at the expense of a corner. United came within inches of getting back on terms, when in a goalmouth scramble, Blayney seemed to drag the ball back, but the lino was adamant there was no goal.

This proved to be United's last chance, as straight away our defence went to sleep as Bradley waltzed through it from a pass by Braniff and beat Dwayne with a left-foot shot to make the score 2-0 for the visitors. Spike's response was to make a double substitution, taking off Steeky and Alan D and bringing on Captain Jenks and the 'out of form' Darboy. Ally had a shot from distance well saved with Blayney and Gavin became the third United player to be yellow-carded when he seemed to win the ball with another 50/50 tackle, that's obviously not allowed in Tim's book of rules.

Spike's last throw of the dice was to take off Gavin and bring on Mac (Brian McCaul), who looks definitely unfit, with a big belly and an ego to match. Darboy missed a good chance when he failed to control the ball and then disaster struck for United when Dwayne's attempted clearance, ricocheted off Marshall and ended up up in the air. When Dwayne attempted to grab the ball, he only succeeded in dropping it at Marshall's feet and he walked the ball into the net, to give a scoreline of 3-0 to the visitors.

Player-manager Gary Hamilton had replaced Bradley and with ten minutes to go he got booked and scored, you could almost say he made decisive impact. Before this Kyley had two chances to reduce the leeway, but was thwarted by the alert Blaney. United managed to grab a consolation goal when Captain Jenks nodded in a left-wing cross from Tippers with a minute to go, but it was too little too late and United had surrendered their unbeaten home record rather meekly when Glenavon won 4-1. I console myself knowing that the Sky Blues will set the record straight, when they put Chickenville to the sword on Tuesday night, i can hardly wait,lol!

Dwayne (6), Marky (6), Steeky (7) (Sub: Jenks 6,), Cookie (6), Kyley (6), Gawley (6), Alan D (5) (Sub: Darboy 5,), Gavin (7) (Sub: Mac 5,), Ally (6), Tippers (6), Cush (5)

Man of the match: Gavin

Card Happy!

I honestly didn't know how referee Keith Kennedy was going to conduct himself at Shamrock Park yesterday, but he turned out to be card happy. On 12 mins he booked Redman of Ports for a clumsy foul on Gawley,  I've seen players get away with worse and then on 28mins he booked United Captain Jenks, for an aerial challenge and when he booked Ports player Garret for a 'run of the mill tackle', I was worried I can tell you. Subsequently I was proved right, when he sent JT off for a tackle on the halfway line and he booked Garret again for a foul, with United fans baying for his blood, but really it was not a 'too bad' foul, we just wanted to see the balance restored.

Spike ignored all our requests and started the game with the same centre-midfield pairing, of Captain Jenks and Thommo and our defenders were under pressure right form the start. Spike had dropped Archie and Darboy and continued with the 'out of form', Cush, partnering Tippers. Taking Archie and Darboy's place was Kyley and Ally. United had the first real chance, when a Gawley free-kick went straight into the arms of Ports keeper, Miskelly. I vaguely saw this, as Ports like Chickenville and now even Linfield, herd opposing fans in a stand at the back of one of the goals. Its a toss up for the worst view, at Solitude you're closer to the action, but the stand isn't banked enough.

At Shamrock Park and Windsor, its banked enough, but you're a good 40 yards away from the pitch. There was an incident yesterday late on when Darboy, who had come on as a sub, was flagged for offside, even though he ran after the ball was played, but we had to give the lino the benefit of the doubt, for we couldn't be sure from our jaundiced view of proceedings. Redman fouled Gawley and Cush took a free, not a good free I thought, but it was met on the volley by Kyley, he drove a sweet shot past the startled Miskelly in the Ports goal, to give United a 1-0 lead.

Ports almost got back on level terms when Mackle tore through our non-tackling midfield and tricked Tony Kane and sent over a dangerous cross, but Twigg's header rebounded off JT and was cleared to safety. Then we had a yellow card for United's Captain Jenks for a clash of heads. Thommo surged forward with 34 mins gone and his looping shot crashed off the crossbar with Miskelly motionless. Then we had our third booking, when Garret found his way into the refs notebook, but it was not a 'dirty game', far from it, we just had a card happy referee. There was no further scoring and we went in at halftime leading by the scoreline of 1-0.

2nd half
Seven mins into the 2nd half disaster struck for United when JT and Murray exchanged greetings and Murray took a dive in the centre circle. JT seemed to claim Murray had elbowed him, but from my jaundiced viewpoint I couldn't say, I only saw Murray going down. The ref astounded me and every United supporter by issuing a straight red, but it was only to be expected, taking account of everything that had gone on before. Spike moved his Captain back to fill the hole temporarily and United started to  get a sub ready to come on. During this time the Ports tried to get a foothold in the match, but we had Dwayne's  steadying influence, as he plucked balls out of the air.

Ally spurned a great chance to set the 'cat among the pigeons' , when bursting through in the penalty box, he tried to pass to Thommo, other than trying a shot himself and the chance was lost. Finally we made our substitution with half an hour left to play, with Archie and Marky, replacing Gawley and Ally. Three mins later the equilibrium (that's a big word), was restored when Garret was somewhat harshly shown a second yellow card. Surely we would go on and win the game I foolishly thought as Tony had moved into midfield, but nothing could have been further from the truth.

United continued to create chances and Captain Jenks should have done better when he found himself with a route to goal, but he decided to pass rather than shoot, a bit like Ally before him, but unlike Ally, there was no United players in the box. Then disaster struck when United failed to clear their lines and McMahon was on hand to score with a cross shot, despite Dwayne getting a hand to the ball, to tie the scores up at one apiece. Tippers had a chance to restore United's advantage but his lob from the right finished the wrong side of the crossbar and at the other end Dwayne managed to get a hand to the ball when 'one-on-one with Murray and the danger was cleared.

Spike took off Cush and brought Darboy but I for one couldn't see the benefit of this, surely we wanted to win, therefore we should take the struggling Thommo off,  or Steeky and go 3,3,3. I fully realise Cush has lost form, but he's still a match winner and unless he was injured, he should have stayed on until the bitter end. Just when it seemed that both managers would be happy with point, for McFall had took off Murray and replaced him with Mouncey, Ports struck. Marky and Archie got in a tangle dealing with a high ball and the unmarked Twigg was on hand to head the ball into the net and give his team a 2-1 lead.

We looked a beaten team but we got a lifeline when Darboy found himself with the only the keeper to beat but Miskelly was equally to the task and snuffed out the chance. Steeky became our third player to be booked by the card happy Kennedy who saw fit to add 4 mins of added time, but in truth we were a beaten team, the Ports had won ugly and we let them them dictate the play. In added time mostly played in our half with Ports killing the game off, Tony became our 4th player to be yellow carded, letting his frustration boil over. When referee Kennedy blew his final whistle, we all tramped off  known that we blown our chance big time, bring on the Glenavon!

Dwayne (7), Tony (6), Steeky (6), JT (6), Kyley (7), Gawley (6) (Sub: Marky 6,), Jenks (6), Thommo (6), Ally (6) (Sub: Archie 6), Cush (6) (Sub: Darboy 6), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Kyley

Complacent United!

United turned in a dispirited performance today against basement club Dungannon Swifts and they rescued an undeserved point, as substitute Ally Teggart's cross,  took a wicked deflection of a Swifts defender and into the net. United manager Spike, had ignored 'Sports advice and the advice proffered to him by all in sundry and started Jenks and Thommo as his midfield pairing. This proved to be a recipe for disaster as the Swifts gained confidence in the 2nd half and started to dominate the midfield exchanges.

Spike had made Tony his only change from the side that started last Saturday and the unfortunate Marky (McCullagh), didn't even make the bench.. United started in lethargic fashion and it wasn't until 18 mins that we had our first effort on goal, a JT header, easily grabbed by Swifts keeper Neil Coleman. At the other end end Sanussi should have done better when through on goal, but Dwayne was off his line fast to deflect the ball away from goal. This seemed to awaken United and Cush played Darboy in with a clever free-kick, but the ex-Swifts loanee, shot feebly at Coleman.

How Swifts number 10 Harpur, had escaped a booking after some tasty tackles, i don't know and then to add insult to injury, he kicked Cush in the head and the ref let him off free again. Cush, for his part, had to come off to get stitched up. Harper continued on his merry way, sure referee Deighan had given him free reign to go on fouling. Cush came back two mins later and we started to up the pace, but our final pass was found wanting, Then Ryan Harper fouled Thommo near the halfway line and the referee finally flourished the yellow card.

From the resultant free-kick taken by Archie, JT found Tippers in space and he back-heeled to his Captain Jenks who chested the ball down and beat Coleman from close range, to give the Sky Blues a 1-0 lead. As the match was going into added time, Harper, was again involved in a tasty tackle and the ref warned him, that anymore of that and he was off. But Sky Blues supporters ,including me, thought that he should have been giving his marching orders, for the foul on Cush, but the ref thought different. There were no further incidents and the ref blew his whistle for halftime and was barracked by United supporters as he made his way for his halftime cuppa and rightly so.

2nd half
United are slow starters after halftime usually and they were made to pay for this sluggishness a minute after the restart. Swifts manager Darren Murphy  had replaced Ryan Harper with Glacken at halftime and pushed Sanussi into a more forward role. When Sanussi got the ball in space he wasn't closed down and hit a sweet half volley that swerved past the outstretched arms of Nelson and found the net to tie the scores at one apiece. The Swifts were rampant at this time and they twice almost took the lead, firstly when Sanussi muscled his way through but Dwayne managed to parry his shot with Steeky completing the clearance at the expense of a corner.

Then Steeky was on hand to make a goal-line clearance, when Sanussi shot looked to have stole through. Moments later the bold Sanussi showed his darker side with brutal tackle on JT when he had no chance of winning the ball. A Swifts player faced up to JT in the ensuing melee and took a blatant dive which angered the United players, in an attempt to get JT sent off. Luckily referee Deighan saw through this subterfuge and booked Sanussi and gave JT and the Swifts player who took a dive, a stern talking to.

United tried to up the pace after this and despite forcing a few corners and long throw-ins, the closest they came was when JT headed narrowly wide, when it looked easier to hit the target. Cush, out of sorts, tried a few long range shots but never hit the target. It was obvious a change would have to be made and Fergies hand was forced when his opposite number, Murphy, brought on former United player Liggie, in an obvious attempt to seal the game. Spike took off Thommo and brought on Gavin to add a bit of steel in midfield.

But it was the Swifts who took the lead with less than fifteen mins to go when the ref adjudged that Gavin was guilty of a foul, even though Gavin's path was blocked by a Swifts player, as Gavin tried to bring the ball out of defence, a ridiculous decision in my eyes anyway. From the resultant free-kick the ball was partially cleared, but it found its way to Sanussi, with United players claiming he had come back from an offside position, he fired a cross shot and found Liggie lurking at the far post and he found the net to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

That goal came in the 77th minute and Glacken, who had only come on a sub for Swifts at halftime, went down injured and had to come off in the 80th minute and Spike took this opportunity to make an inspired sub of his own. He took off Steeky and brought on Ally and we went three at the back, which meant an all-out attack for the last ten mins of the match. Three mins later JT strode forward and we saw the dark side of Sanussi once more, when he cleaned JT, with not a hope of getting the ball and ref Deighan flourished the yellow card and then the red card, sending him off.

A minute later United fashioned an equalising goal, when Ally was on hand to get a knock-down from a high ball into the box and his cross shot took a deflection off a Swifts player and ended up in the back of the net to tie the scores at 2-2. Surely United could make the extra man count and go on and claim all three points, undeservedly it has to be said, but that's football. But the Swifts held out and Tony got a tonguing from his manager, for shooting wide, instead of finding a man in scoring position, another chance gone abegging.

United did carve a great opening near the end when Tippers, found Darboy, with a great cross, but the ex- Coleraine striker muffed his lines and the chance was lost. United almost paid dearly for this benevolence in front of goal, when Liggie broke free, but Dwayne managed to divert his shot, a great stop and a point saver as well, well done Dwayne. Referee Deighan brought the match to a close and some Swifts players seemed not to want to shake hands, unsporting or what, but maybe somebody said something out of place. As luck would have it, we drew them in the next round of the league cup, should be a humdinger, bring on the Ports!

Dwayne (7), Tony (6), Steeky (7) (Sub: Ally 7,), Archie (7), JT (6),  Gawley (7), Thommo (5) (Sub: Gavin 7,), Jenks (6), Cush (5), Darboy (5), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Dwayne

Don't Know!

It may seem a strange headline to start my match report with, but it sums my view of the game between Linfield and United today. Like all every other United fan, I was stuck behind the goals at the Boucher Road end of Windsor Park. Anything that happened over the halfway line, 70yards from my position, I had to rely on the tannoy or eagle eye fans, for that other end of the ground, was a blur to me, I might as well been sat at home. In future I think I may as well stay at home, there's no enjoyment in being at a game you can't see anyway.

For the record, our manager Spike didn't heed the many warnings dished out to him by fans and named a centre-midfield pairing ,of Captain Jenks and Thommo. In my opinion and the vast majority of informed opinion, this was just asking for trouble and we got it in abundance in the first half. But all looked rosy with 8 mins gone when JT headed into the net from a Gawley corner. But it wasn't to last. It took Linfield just 9 mins to draw level, when I'm told Dwayne came for a corner and didn't get anything of the ball and Heggarty of Linfield headed home team level at 1-1.

No doubt Dwayne dropped a defensive clanger, but where was our defenders, there was no-one covering the post, maybe they like me, were wishing they had stayed at home. Five mins later Cush was adjudged to have fouled a Blues player near the edge of the penalty box and from the resultant free-kick the ball rebounded off the post and Heggarty was on hand to head past the stranded Dwayne, for his and Linfield's second goal, at least that's what I was told. United spurned a great chance to draw level, when from Gawley free-kick, Jenks and JT seemed to get in each others way, with the home defenders nowhere.

This was to prove a costly miss for United, as a minute later, midfielder Aaron Burns was allowed to run into our box, with Thommo in his wake and he beat Dwayne with a toe poke, to give the home team a 3-1 lead. Surely Spike would see the error of his ways and take off either Jenks or Thommo and bring on Sparky or Tony.  But he didn't and we managed to cling until halftime, with the ref letting the home team away with some questionable tackles and once as we were trying to clear the ball, a Linfield player led with his shoulder in an off the ball challenge, but ref McNabb merely talked to the culprit.

2nd half
Spike made a change at halftime, bring on Tony and taking off Marky, but leaving our non-tackling midfield duo on. But we started to play a bit, at least that what I'm told we started to do, as I was at least 100 yards off in the distance. With 19 mins gone in this half we got a lifeline as a JT header from a Gawley corner was adjudged to have crossed the goal-line, making the score 3-2 in the home teams favour. We weren't sure whether to applaud this goal, which nobody was sure had crossed the line, but the referee and lino gave it and so it counted.

Its true to say that the Linfield goal led a charmed life after this turn of events and referee McNabb showed where his loyalties lay with a yellow card for United's Tony, for a late tackle near the halfway line, while letting Linfield players away with deliberate hand-balls and kicking the ball away when United won free-kicks. Darboy missed a glorious chance to give United a share of the spoils when he shot weakly at Tuffey in the Linfield goal. Spike had seen enough and took Darboy off with Ally taking his place and pushing Cush up front with Tippers.

Four mins later, Spike withdrew Thommo and put Sparky on, which I thought. was too little, too late. The United players tried to get an equaliser but despite hitting the post on one raid, they couldn't get a decisive shot on goal. Linfield had chances to put the game beyond us and in one of these, they were thwarted by a good save from Dwayne, injuring himself in the process. Despite 4 mins of added time, United couldn't get back on level terms, but when the ref finally blew his whistle, they were applauded warmly off the pitch by their loyal fans.

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

Man of the match: JT