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