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