Double Helping!

Its getting near Christmas and with that in mind, local Broughshane lad, Mark 'Sparky' Surgenor, helped himself to two goals in United's 3-0 success over the Mallards, hereafter referred to as the 'Ducks'. Unlucky for Sparky, he has to share the limelight with 15 year-old schoolboy Matthew Shevlin, who replaced Tippers with five mins to go and with his first touch (I really don't know whether this was in fact his first touch, but who cares), scored a debut goal.

The 'Sport crew had been imploring our manager to give young Matty some game time, remember he had him in the panel for the Country Antrim Shield defeat at Solitude, but he didn't get on, but what the heck do we know. Omar took in the Reserves game at the Showgrounds last Saturday and young Matty showed his prowess in that game, scoring a strikers goal, as Omar so eloquently put it. He showed his instincts again yesterday, by being in the right place at the right time.

When a Tony Kane free-kick was parried by the Ducks keeper Stefan McCusker, young Matty was on hand to score from close range. It was not the best debut goal I have ever seen, but I think its the first of many and young Matty will need to to be nurtured as he begins, hopefully, a long career, in football, exciting times for the lad. Our manager Spike hinted that JT and Steeky were maybe fit enough to get on the bench, but we at 'Sport saw through his double bluff and it was no surprise to us that the two players started.

We hadn't a presence at Milltown last Saturday, so we don't know the actual line--up but we think our manager made three changes from his starting line-up. The unfortunate injuries to Archie and Brian Mack, meant two of them were forced upon him. As JT and Steeky came in to replace those two, they in turn released Ruddy and Captain Jenks into midfield and Cookie got the nod in central defence and Thommo dropped down to the bench.

Besides Thommo, our bench consisted of Marky (McCullagh), the transfer listed Alan D and Spike's young boy, Matthew and another young Matthew,  Matty Shevlin, who says we never give young players a chance. United, playing right to left, the way we like to do, attacking the Farm Lodge end in the first half, began the game with a 'shoot on sight' policy. They was barely one minute on the clock, when Tippers found himself in the clear, but he shot hurriedly and wildly.

Two mins later Tippers had another chance, but his shot failed to find the target again but it was closer. A minute or so later, great build up play, saw a Ruddy shot just miss the target as well, three shots in the first 5 mins, what was going on. Maybe they were all worried about Matty Shevlin, being on the bench and so they should've been. Not much was seen of the Ducks at this stage, but they were without top scorer, Tony Elding, who's injured at the moment and the United defence dealt with their attacks without too much panic.

United Captain Jenks should have given us the lead with 8 mins gone, when from a Tony cross he headed  straight at McCusker and with the keepers parry, with the goal at his mercy, his next header came back off the post. He nearly redeemed himself, three mins later, but his shot from the edge of the box was 'bread and butter' for McCusker. The Ducks nearly made us pay fro this benevolence in front of goal, when a Lafferty shot for goal, was deflected round the post for a corner.

As United keeper Dwayne claimed the header he was fouled by Ducks player Campbell and Colin Burns, done his job and flashed the yellow card, has he being brushing up on the rules I thought, but it proved to be only a flash in the pan. Its not that had he a terrible influence on the game, he was letting the Ducks steal 10 or 15 yards every-time they had a free-kick or throw-in, basic infringements that get spectators riled up, maybe that's the way he gets his kicks, or is he just incompetent, I think the latter.

United deservedly went in front, when Tony found Sparky with a 40yard pass (reminiscent of one ex-player Albert Watson played all those years ago), Sparky steadied himself, before shooting into the net to give the Sky Blues the lead 1-0. I'm sure Albert, who was in the stand, appreciated the role that Tony's pass played in United's first goal. The visitors almost fashioned an equalised two mins later when Lafferty and McCartney combined, but Lafferty's shot from a tight angle, although beating Nelson was cleared away by Steeky another warning for United.

Eight mins later, Gawley, who was having a quiet game, beat his man and from his cross, Tippers seemed to get underneath the ball and only succeeded in helping it on, not scoring another chance gone begging. As I was just lamenting our benevolence in front of goal, we increased our lead and it was that man Sparky again. Our two strikers played their part in this strike, as Tippers held the ball up and laid off to Darboy, who in turn set up Sparky and he rifled the ball into the net to give the Sky Blues a 2-0 lead.

Sparky, had become the 13th outfield player to score for us this season, a remarkable record, but we need to stop letting them in at the other end. The Ducks tried to counter attack and United retreated into their shell and soaked up the pressure and it worked as such, but these were nervous times in the home section of the stand. Lafferty went on a jinking run beating at least three United players, but when he was blocked by Steeky, ref Burns allowed it was a foul and promptly booked Steeky, no doubt fooled by the histrionics of Lafferty who looked like a candidate for the hospital.

Lafferty, surprisingly, got myself up and from resulting free kick United managed to clear the lines, but it was obvious to me we needed an insurance goal but we were ahead. Its always amazed how the 4th officials board doesn't seem to work at Ballymena and our announcer, Davy King, announced that the 4th official would be adding one minute of additional time this half. We duly held out to halftime leading by 2-0 and there was a bonus, we had not got any men injured as such, a miracle by our standards.

2nd half
Tippers, our leading goal getter with 9 goals, had a chance to get into double figures early in the 2nd period, when found by a pass from Steeky. But with his strike partner, Darboy, getting into space expecting a pass, Tippers shot for goal, but McCusker was able to save. The Ducks responded and Dwayne made a smart save tipping a McCartney shot round the post for a corner to the visitors. From the resultant corner a volley by a Ducks player flashed wide. Spike had seen enough and he replaced the struggling Gawley, with the fresh legs of Thommo.

Then it was Darboy's turn, when Tippers found him with a great pass, he headed over when it looked easier to score. United were nearly undone with 20 mins gone in the half when Dwayne, who was having his best game, inexplicitly dropped a simple cross at the feet of Ducks defender Stafford, but with the goal at his mercy he missed the target completely. At the other end, Tippers had a chance to redeem himself, but McCusker beat away his fierce shot, at least he worked the keeper. from the rebound Captain Jenks chose to pass, rather than going for goal and the chance was lost.

Ruddy went down injured and had to come off and was replaced by young Spike. I have to think of name for him if he's going to be a feature in out team, I can't go on referring to him as young Spike. JT,  picked up a booking, but I have no complaints about this, it was a foul and on another day it could have been a red card, as he was the last man. Thommo was making forceful runs into the Ducks penalty area and from one of these he was cynically brought down, but no yellow card from the inconsistent  Burns.

Then is was the turn of lady luck when, Spike took off Tippers, who had missed numerous chance to score and brought on young Matty Shevlin. The youngster was barely on the field, when United won a free-kick about level from where I sit in row A, at the edge of the 'D'. Tony's, exquisite free-kick brought a marvellous save from McCusker and as the ball escaped the keeper's grasp, young Matty was on hand to score, his first senior goal for the club on his debut and make the score 3-0 to the home team.

The United fans, me included, applauded a good three mins, with a sense of relief that the game was truly over and young Matty was the hero of the hour (well in truth 5 mins, but who's counting). Davy King announced there were to be three added mins and we held out to record our first win in eight league games and our first clean sheet from way back in August. No doubt the day belongs to young Matty, but Sparky's  two goals were magic and Tony was involved in every good thing that we did. In all the tweets I got last night, I like Cookie's the best, he finishes with, I'm old enough to be your dad!


Dwayne (8), Tony (8), Steeky (7), JT (7), Cookie (8), Gawley (6) (Sub: Thommo 8,), Sparky (8), Jenks (7), Ruddy (7) (Sub: Ferguson 7,), Tippers (7) (Sub: Shevlin 8,), Darboy (7)

Man of the match: Sparky

Only Just!

United crawled into the semi-finals of the Wasp Solutions league cup at the Showgrounds last night, eventually beating Dungannon Swifts 3-1.  United were somewhat flattered by the scoreline, in that they were outplayed nearly all of the second-half, by the slick passing Swifts. Omar, posed a question to our manager, Glenn Ferguson, at the AGM two years ago, saying that United were vulnerable to a team playing football. Fergie dismissed these comments, saying that only Chickenville played football, but we were given a football lesson last night and 'not' by Chickenville.

In fact, before last night we suffered 5 straight defeats and in all but one, we were given a football lesson, I still don't know how Portadown beat us, they were hardly in the game, but that's another story. It all started so well for United, two goals up inside 30 mins and it could've been more, except for the heroics of Swifts keeper Coleman and his beleaguered defence. United manger Spike, dropped Marky down to the bench and taking his place was Tony, Gawley came in for the Injured Ally.

Captain Jenks filled in at central defence in place of the injured Ruddy, alongside Cookie who had replaced Kyley on Saturday, Kyley's injury was confirmed as a broken ankle. Taking Jenks place in midfield, was Sparky, making a rare appearance and United continued with their 4,5,1 formation. The first real chance fell to the Swifts, from a mistake by Cookie, making hash of header, but he managed to block the follow-up shot.

United spurned a great chance with 5 mins gone, as Thommo and Gawley combined to set up Tippers, but the striker could only find the side-netting. Then it was the Swifts turn as Sanussi was foiled by Tony, at the expense of a corner. With about ten mins gone, a Mack pass nearly played in Cush, but Coleman beat him to it, but only just. Referee Crangle, was being especially lenient with one or two tasty tackles coming from the visitors and after one such, he chose to lecture the player when it was obvious it was a bookable offence.

In a spell of Swifts pressure Cookie, cleared the ball only for a Swifts forward to deliberately hand it, but Crangle merely gave the free-kick to United, no yellow card for a deliberate handball. With a nearly a third of the half gone, United fashioned a chance from a Gawley long-throw and as the ball came back to him, the winger saw his shot blocked. Another Cookie clearance was deliberately handled again, but Crangle did not issue a yellow card, I thought maybe he had forgotten them.

United took the lead on 20 mins through Tony, as he latched onto a Tippers pass and beat Coleman all ends up. This goal livened things up and Cush was denied by Coleman and Douglas was on hand to make a goal-line clearance.  The ball fell to Gawley and his cross was headed goalwards from Tippers but Coleman saved. But United weren't to be denied for long and Jenks played a sublime pass to Tony in acres of space on the right and he found Gawley and the barber found the net to give United a two goal cushion with just over 30 mins gone.

Did we think that this was it, for we let the Swifts dictate the play from there on in, a foolishly decision if ever I saw one. The Swifts continued with their policy of getting stuck in and even Crangle was forced to flourish the yellow card after one tasty tackle on Mack. Mack didn't seem to like that much and a minute later he fouled a Swifts player and promptly got yellow carded by Crangle. United were letting the Swifts dictate the pace and they paid the penalty literally, when after a tumble Crangle amazed me by awarding the Swifts a penalty.

I thought Cookie had won the ball fairly and squarely, but Crangle was adamant it was a penalty and up stepped Harpur to drive the ball past Dwayne, who guessed the right way for a change, but could do nothing about it. That goal set the cat among the pigeons, so to speak, coming as it did in 39 mins and the United defence looked nervy in the remainder of the half. United managed to hold out to halftime, but it was obvious changes would have to made if they were to get back into the game and march on into the semi-final.

2nd half
United made no changes in personnel and the Swifts continued where they laid off in the first half. they were attacking the Farm Lodge end and United conceded a corner after one minute of the second period starting. When the corner came over, Dwayne plucked it out of the air and two mins later he was on hand to save from a Swifts player.  Archie, filling in at left-back, was having a torrid time and it seemed only a matter of time until the Swifts equalised. Dwayne saved yet again when Hazley broke through, diving at the player's feet.

The United bench acted and brought on Darboy for Cush, it seemed a strange move for we were  getting over-run in midfield, where Sparky and Thommo were both struggling, but maybe it was made with Saturday in mind. United managed to force a corner taken by Tony, which led to confusion in the visiting defence, but no-one could take advantage of it. It was eventually cleared for another corner and this time Captain Jenks, was adjudged to have fouled Coleman, I thought the ball was there to be won and the keeper dropped it, but Crangle gave the keeper the benefit.

Dwayne came to our rescue once again as a Cookie clearance took a deflection off a Swifts player and Dwayne parried the ball and a Swifts forward was flagged for offside during the follow-up. Hazley became the third player to be booked, for a hard foul on Thommo, but that was a rare United moment in attack. Archie, got himself in a bit of a mess and it nearly led to bizarre goal. We were trying to play our way out of defence, when a a pass from Jenks was just too close for comfort and Archie in turn played a short-pass to Dwayne and his kick ricocheted off Mitchell, but cleared the United goal, a close shave.

The ball was played in again by Mitchell and found Hazley, but his shot was blocked by Cookie and the United crowd was holding their collective breath. Jenks and Harpur were involved in a clash of heads and both had to have treatment and Jenks was able to continue, whereas Harpur had to come off. Jenks was involved a min later, when he handled the ball about 25 yards from goal and Crangle couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough, nobody could accuse Crangle of being consistent. Tony headed the free-kick away and eventually it found its way to Dwayne.

Thommo was subbed, not before time I thought, with 15 mins remaining and the man coming on was youngster Owen Kane.  The Swifts then forced a corner off Jenks and Armstrong rose unchallenged, to head against the crossbar. The Swifts did eventually get the ball in the net, but as the ref had already blown for offside, this should have brought a booking for the culprit, but Crangle took no action, what else is new I hear you ask? The Swifts were rampant at this time and United couldn't get out of their own half and Tony was content to give away a corner to relieve the pressure.

Glacken escaped a booking, when he ignored the refs whistle, to hammer the ball into the net when Crangle had blown for a foul on Jenks.  Against the run of play, United got their third goal, when Tony found Tippers, who had been maligned by United supporters for not holding the ball up as he was the lone striker, but he showed his worth by controlling the ball and passing to Darboy, 15 yards from goal and he hammered the ball on the half-volley into the net to make the scoreline a respectable 3-1 to United.

It should have been four two mins later as Darboy played in Tippers, but his weak shot was easily gathered by Coleman. Owen Kane, then went on a run but he was fouled by a Swifts player, but Crangle gave the foul, no yellow card. The ref seen fit to add 4 mins of added time, but i don't see why as there was no blatant time-wasting on our part and they'd only been 5 subs used. Dungannon, continued to fight on, but there was no purpose in the play and eventually Crangle brought proceedings to halt and United had won 3-1, but only just!

Dwayne (7), Tony (7), Archie (5), Jenks (6), Cookie (7), Gawley (7), Mack (6), Sparky (5), Thommo (5) (Sub: Owen Kane 6), Cush (6) (Sub: Darboy 7,), Tippers (7)

Man of the match: Tony

Shamed Again!

I'm convinced, Fergie, for all his prowess, a Irish league legendary striker, doesn't have a clue when it comes to tactics. In our column on Friday night on Sky Blue Sport News page, we were urging him to try and stem the tide of our leaky defence. Urging him to play a 5,4,1, formation or a 4,5,1, formation, with the emphasises on defence. In the end he played a 4,5,1, formation, but there wasn't a tackler in sight in his midfield 5. Added to this, for some reason. Mike Ruddy, was deployed at centre defence and Archie at leftback.

Archie has a play anywhere mindset, but his best position is central defence, he can fill in at leftback and has done so on numerous occasions, or he can play in front of a defence 4, adding a bit of spice to midfield, but his natural position is central defence. So too with Ruddy, his natural position is leftback, but like Archie, he has a play anywhere attitude and has played centre-half before, as well as wing-back and left midfield, but his natural position is leftback. So we had two players, playing in unnatural positions, a recipe for disaster if I ever saw one.

Then Fergie in his wisdom, picked an attacking midfield that comprised the out of form Cush, he's been struggled for form since last February, Ally, who only plays in fits and starts and he was a virtual passenger yesterday. Then we come to our centre-midfield three, Captain Jenks, Thommo and Brian Mack, not a tackler in sight, which leads me to the conclusion that Fergie hasn't a clue. He was singing the praises of Cookie, in the programme and in his interview with the Ballymena Times, yet he didn't start him yesterday.

Admittedly we were a bit short on numbers, with JT and Tony suspended yesterday, we really need to stop these silly bookings, four more yesterday, its having an affect as we are short on numbers. But and emphasis the word 'but', we had Sparky on the bench and Cookie, surely those two had to start, but no Fergie went with the 'gung-ho' approach and we paid the price for his bravado. The much maligned Dwayne Nelson, vindicated his critics (I'm not one of them), with a butterfingered display, reminiscent of United keepers in the Tommy Wright era .

United fans were rightly calling for Dwayne's head, but I fear, we will have to put with him as he's better than Addis and Macauley Cairns, the only alternatives. The game itself was over as a contest in ten minutes. United, this season, have been missing numerous chances to score. I'm not talking about half-chances, I mean 'clear-cut it's easier to score than miss' chances and these things have habit of coming back to haunt you and so it proved yesterday. Fergie, in the close season signed Matthew Tipton (Tippers), to get us some goals as he had a pedigree as a goal-scorer.

He fell flat on his face yesterday, as he blazed the ball over from ten yards, with the goal at his mercy and there was a barely two mins on the clock. The move began with a forceful run by Thommo and Captain Jenks had a shot blocked and it fell kindly to Tippers, but with the goal at his mercy, he blazed the ball over the bar. The sizeable crowd in the home stand, the scum only brought measly 500 to the proceedings, miserable gets, could hardly believe it and worse was to happen two mins later.

The scum won a dubious free kick about 20 yards from our goal and referee Heth, was seen to count out eleven and a half paces for our defensive wall (I foolish thought it was only ten paces, but the rules must have changed). Up stepped McCaffrerty and he had no trouble getting his free-kick over the wall and Dwayne seemed to have it covered, but he let the ball squirm through his grasp and into the net to give the scum a fortuitous lead to say the least. Five mins later our midfield seemed to think it was good idea, to let Rory Harkin have a free shot at goal from just outside the box.

This proved to be a disastrous idea when Harkin's shot for goal and I'll give Dwayne the benefit of the doubt here, for it was a tremendous shot, but Dwayne was beaten for the second time on his left post. There was just ten mins on the clock and the game was over as a contest, Fergie's game plan had been undone, but he continued on with his tactics. It has to be said we came more into the game, but we never looked like pegging the scum back and the closest we came was from a well worked  free-kick, which saw Mack find Thommo in space, but his shot was blocked at the expense of a corner.

In the absence of Gawley (on the bench) and Tony suspended, the corner-kicking duties fell to Cush and I was telling the United players to get somebody on the opposite corner flag, knowing Cush just hits them as hard as he can and god guides them. This one was no exception as he drove the ball beyond the far post and Archie only managed to help on his way over the goal-line. I said to Sammy Patterson, if we could see Cush was no good at taking corners, why doesn't our management team see it, they have enough experience between the three of them, but he still takes them.

Disaster struck for United, when Kyley went down under a challenge and had to be stretchered off, with a suspected broken ankle, we wish him well. Cookie had to come on to see out the remainder of the half. The match had started with a minutes silence for remembrance day and it was only fitting for the team to be greeted with silence as they came off for their halftime cuppa, they had died a death and let us down in the process. What was Fergie and his management team going to say at their halftime talk I wondered idly, it was obvious that our tactics weren't working, we need a change.

2nd half
United took the field for the second-half with Darboy, replacing Ally and I think we went 4,4,2, but who was on the right-side of midfield, I honestly don't know. I can only remember one clear-cut chance in this half for us and as usual we messed it up. Tippers was fed by Mack and he drove forward and found Cush in space on the edge of the penalty box, but he screwed his shot wide, when he had at least work the keeper. I can't remember any clear-cut chances in the rest of the game. We forced some corners, but all to no avail.

Disaster struck for the second time, midway through the half when Ruddy limped off, leaving us short of defenders for our match on Tuesday night against Dungannon in the league cup. Sparky, at last got some game time and Jenks moved in alongside Cookie in defence. But it was too little too late as far as United were concerned and the scum looked the likelier to score and Dwayne saved well from a Miskimmon header. Archie got a slice of luck when he looked to have upended a scum player in the box, but Heth gave him the benefit of the doubt.

United were denied what seemed a cast iron penalty, when a Scum defender handled in the box, but the lino wasn't having none of it and Heth ignored our pleas. Cush had a free-kick go off the scum wall for a corner and although we piled players into the box we couldn't get a telling touch on the ball. The game was summed up for me with about two mins of normal time remaining and Sparky wanted to take a quick throw-in level with the scum penalty box, but not one of our forwards or midfield players were willing to go into to space to receive it, they just stood there like mutton dummies.

Sparky became our third player to be cautioned, but it was not a bad foul, but it was a foul. In added time Darboy found his name in the referee's book, making it four United players booked, Ruddy had been booked before he was injured and Cush for a clumsy tackle in the first-half, no fair play points for us this season. Mack, our best player by a long chalk, had blocked what seemed like a certain goal and at the other end had a couple shots from long-range, which never troubled the scum keeper.

When the final whistle sounded I couldn't wait to get out of the ground, our team had let us down once again, we had been beaten for the fifth game running, four league games and there seemed no light at the end of the tunnel. It has since been reported that Kyley had indeed broken his ankle, adding to our defensive causalities, Fergie and his team have a real crises on their hands, it'll be interesting to see how they go about resolving it, I can hardly wait for Tuesday night, lol!


Dwayne (5), Marky (5), Archie (5), Kyley (5) (Sub: Cookie 6,), Ruddy (5) (Sub: Sparky 6,), Ally (Sub: Darboy 5,), Cush (5), Mack (7), Jenks (5), Thommo (6), Tippers (5)

Man of the match: Brian Mack

Falling Skies!

United like a holey bucket, continued to leak goals against Glentoran at the Oval yesterday. Long gone are the days when United used to look forward to this fixture with something approaching anticipation, now in its place, is trepidation. Make no mistake, United were well beaten yesterday by  a Glens team, smarting from a defeat in midweek by Championship side Bangor and but for the heroics of United keeper Dwayne Nelson, we could have got really thumped.

Spike must have thought we played well at Chickenville, for he he made just one change from his starting line-up of Tuesday, Ally for the suspended Archie. I was worried when I saw the players selected for I thought here we go again with no obvious player on our right flank, like Tuesday, but Spike changed his formation to a 3,5,2 with Mike Ruddy making up a defensive 3 with Cookie and Kyley and Tony and Ally as the wing-backs.

Now call me old-fashioned if you like, but I think this system only works if you have two fullbacks as your wing-backs and they need to be prepared to run their hearts out. Tony worked on the right, but Ally on the left, was like a fish out of water. He didn't know what position he should be taking up  and as a result the home team got some inroads on our left flank. I'm not blaming Ally for this, I just think it was the wrong formation to use and it left us exposed at times.

The much maligned Dwayne Nelson (not by me), came to our rescue time and time again but even he could nothing when Curtis Allen outpaced our defenders, but luckily his fierce shot came back off the crossbar. United had lost the toss and were defending the Sydenham end, against the prevailing wind, which was strong and little was seen of us in attack in the early stages of the match. When eventually we did get going, Tony drove a cross in the six-yard area but a Glens defender wanted it, not our attackers and he conceded a corner, which came to nothing.

The Glens were trying to get us to come out and leave space, but it generally ended up with their keeper, Morris, hitting a long ball and our midfield not dealing with it properly. The only man that seemed to know what he was doing was Gavin and he was playing with a broken nose, subject of an injury he received last Tuesday at Solitude. We were indebted to Dwayne for making saves and the Glens forwards for missing gilt-edged chances, but it seemed only a matter of time before our defences were breached.

United won a corner but it was cleared and from this the Glens won a throw-in level with the halfway-line. A Glens forward picked up the ball, stole a good 15 yards and Tony handled the ball and got himself booked because of referee Davy's incompetence. Our Captain Alan Jenks remonstrated with the ref to no avail, rules is rules, as they say. A minute later Davey had to book Allen of the Glens when he handled, tit for tat as they say.

Referee Davey was called into serious action, when Henderson chopped down United's Captain, Jenks in midfield and he received a merited yellow card this time. As the half drew to a close, Allen was denied by a marvellous save from Dwayne, turning his fierce shot round the post for a corner. As the ref blew his whistle for halftime I was thinking positive thoughts, surely Spike would see the error of his ways and revert to a flat back four and get some his five midfielders on the bench on for Owen Kane, who was one of our many weak links.

2nd half
We took the field with the same personnel and the same formation and the Glens started where they had laid off in the first half, by taking the game to us. Dwayne was called into to action,. in the first min, saving a downward header from Allen. Two mins into the half, Spike made a sub, taking off Gavin and bring on Cush and we reverted to a flat back four. Whether this was tactical or whether it was a result of Gavin aforementioned injury, I don't honestly know, but it left us bereft of our one tackler in midfield.

Despite our having the wind in our favour, it was the home team who continued to attack and Dwayne saved again from Jordan Stewart's cross shot. At the other end, Cush set Ally on his way and when Morris came out, Ally decided to bend the ball round him, rather than trying to beat him. But there was no pace on the ball and a Glens defender was on hand to clear the danger and we had missed a great chance to 'set the cat among the pigeons' for it was against the run of play.

We were to pay heavily for this benevolence in front of goal, when Tony messed up, not seeing a hopeful ball cleared for a throw-in and allowed Stewart to dispossess him near the goal-line and when the ball eventually came across, O'Halloran was on hand to steer the ball past Dwayne to give the Glens the lead,1-0. Surely I thought to myself, Spike has to see we're getting over-run in midfield and get Sparky on, our only player on the subs bench who has any idea about tackling, but he dithered.

The Glens increased the lead on 70 mins and it was that man Allen, the best player on the field, who got his just rewards, when he was on hand to poke the ball past Nelson, despite the attentions of Tony. Fergie then acted but I thought he's taking 'the piss', bringing on Alan D for Owen Kane, but he did it. This was the last straw as far I was concerned, he had lost the plot and the Glens were riding roughshod over us and it was a damage limitation time.

Our tackling ability was reduced even further as Fergie took off Tony and brought on Gawley and we reverted to 3,5,2 but it was really 3,4,3. The Glens saw their opportunity now and attacked us at will and we were indebted to their poor finishing as much as our beleaguered defence for their failure to turn their superiority into more goals. Kyley picked up a booking in this spell of Glentoran pressure as we were under the cosh

It was no surprise when Stewart increased the Glens lead with less than three mins remaining and as if to add to insult to injury, he got another in the two mins of added time. We had been comprehensively beaten, our tactics were all wrong and we had not had the foresight to change them when things were going bad, yet another abject performance, to add to the pile, of abject performances!

Dwayne (8), Tony (5) (Sub: Gawley 5,), Ruddy (6),  Cookie (6), Kyley (6), Owen Kane (5) (Sub: Alan D 5,), Gavin (7) (Sub: Cush 5,), Jenks (6), Ally (5), Tippers (5), Darboy (5)

Man of the match: Dwayne