Dodgy Keeper!

A big thank-you to the 'diving bird, alias Oran Kearney, for installing Michael Doherty as his first choice keeper. There seemed little danger yesterday as Allys cross was destined for the keepers grasp, but inadvertently, Ally, done a 'Susan Bap' on Doherty and the ball squirmed through his legs and United Captain Jenks was on hand to score the easiest of goals. That goal gave United a 3-2 lead and they were denied a goal 14 mins later, when the Lino at the Fisherwick end (a blind man if ever I ever saw one), failed to signal for a goal when the ball was clearly in the net.

As expected Spike's only change in his line-up was  Marky, for the suspended JT. Mike Ruddy and Brian McCaul were on the bench along with, Owen Kane, Jack Graham and Spike's son Matthew and no place for Shevlin. United, in front of a big home support, took the match to the scum in the opening stages and Ally's looping header, from a cross by Tony, just missed the post with Doherty scrambling. Then it was the scum's turn, when a  McGinty shot flashed wide with Addis flat-footed.

Tony again, after a nice bit of play flashed a swerving shot at Doherty's goal and the keeper just managed to get a touch on it and diverted it for a corner. That corner by Gawley came to nothing, but I  knew, it was only a sighter. Darboy, managed to get his head to another Tony cross, but he was stretching and it didn't trouble the scum keeper, Doherty. As so often happens in games, the scum took an undeserved lead two mins later and the United defence were at sixes and sevens, no organisation in their defensive tactics.

Not for the first time this season United let a cross come in and Stuarty Addis came to punch the ball, but it was a weak punch and it fell to a scum player on the edge of the box, he shot at goal but the ball rebounded to him again and his next shot took a deflection and fell to the unmarked Gary Browne and from an acute angle, his shot found the net despite Addis getting a hand to it. This goal rocked United back onto their heels and the meagre scum support estimated at 1,000 ,more like 700, but these things are always exaggerated, were cock'a hoop.

United managed to draw level 9 mins later with a header from Darboy, from a right-wing corner by Gawley. The former scum player scored his first goal against his former club and didn't he celebrate with the Sky Blue fans. Surely United would go on and win I foolishly thought, they were attacking Coleraine at will, but 5 mins later the scum got another goal, from another cross. This time it was Tony who was outfoxed on the left-wing and the cross flicked off Marky's head and Parkhill of the scum, reacted quicker than United's slip-shod defenders, to score with a diving header to make the score 2-1 in the visitors favour.

They was a cameo performance going on throughout the game, involving the United defence and their keeper, Stuarty Addis. The defenders were imploring Addis to come for balls, but he flatly refused and pandemonium reigned throughout the match, its a miracle we didn't concede more goals as a result of this indecision. Despite United upping the pace, they couldn't get back on level terms and ref Colin 'the blind man' Burns, in common with most referee's nowadays, seem to be reluctant to flourish yellow cards in the first half  and scum players were getting away with hard and foul tackles.

Sparky, must have decided that 'if its good for the goose, its good for the gander', as he fouled a scum player down on the touchline and got away with it. I was dubious, for knowing the 'blind man' of old, he never surprises me, when you just think you know what he's going to do, he does the opposite. Take the United goal as an example. Everybody in the ground knew it was a corner, but the 'blind man' signalled for a goal-kick and then changed his mind and gave the corner, from which United scored. The Lino at the Fisherwick end, that United were defending in the first half, had already missed three blatant offsides, but he finally woke up near halftime.

2nd half
Before this half started, we were treated to a pantomime, when a Coleraine coach, came out and threw down eight or so blue discs and several scum players came out and danced around them. I immediately thought that they were practising for Mother Goose or some such panto, but Sammy informed me they were practising for the Morris Dancing championships, which is coming up soon, a bunch of fairies if you ask me?

If this was supposed to unsettle United it didn't work and they started where they left-off when the 'blind man' blew his whistle for the resumption. On the scum first attack, Steeky committed his first foul and promptly got booked, the blind man had found his cards. From the resultant free-kick, taken by the otherwise anonymous McCafferty, Addis got down to his left to push the ball out and United cleared the danger.

United renewed their efforts to get back on terms  and they were rewarded when we won another corner on the right. Gawley took it as usual and it eventually fell to Darboy and his shot was tapped into the net by the unmarked Tippers. The scum players claimed Tippers was offside, but the Lino at the Fisherwick end was adamant that Tippers was on-side. It was the turn of the United fans to be cock a' hoop and the chorus 'stand-up if you hate Coleraine' could be heard ringing out in the home stand and we actually stood up, old fools that we are.

Tony and Gawley were tormenting the scum left flank at will, but in a rare scum attack, Parkhill was booked for a deliberate hand-ball, a despicable act if ever I saw one, no doubt the 'diving bird' taught him that one. Then United played their trump card, when after a neat bit of play the ball came to Ally and his cross eluded the wide open legs of Doherty in the scum goal, a perfect Susan Bap, if I ever saw one and United Captain Jenks was on hand to score and give United the lead 3-2. The diving bird started to ring the changes, taking off McCafferty and bringing on Heggarty.

United continued to look dangerous and the visitors were restricted to hoof-ball tactics and Parkhill went off to be replaced with Miskimmon. Two mins after this United were denied a goal by the Lino at the Fisherwick end, when Marky header was well over the goal-line, but the Lino failed to signal a goal. Doherty, the scum keeper's arse was over the line ant ball hit his waist, conclusive proof that it was a goal. As luck would have it the United defence seemed to lose concentration and Ally was beaten at the halfway line and but luckily Steeky was on hand to divert the ball for a corner.

From this corner, the United defence under pressure, half cleared the ball and Ogilby of all people was on hand to volley the ball into the net to tie the the scores at 3-3. A scum fan ran onto the pitch, as if they had scored the winner, but was all to no avail, they couldn't halt the Sky Blues juggernaut. A minute later Sparky became the 2nd United player to be booked, when Ogilby went down like a ton of bricks when Sparky was dribbling through the hesitant scum defence. Does Oran do a master class in bluffing the ref, or are the scum players all ballet dancers?

When United mounted another attack, they got a corner down their left flank and this time Gawley's corner was met by Marky and his downward header found the unmarked Tippers who gleefully headed the winner. Immediately Spike, started to ring the changes and first off was our dead-ball expert Neal Gawley, who had a hand in at least three of our goals, if not all four. He was replaced by Mack (Brian McCaul) and 3 mins later Ally went off to be replaced by Ruddy. The scum tried to get back on level terms, but the United defence were outstanding epitomised by Tony Kane, who seemed to be everywhere.

As we entered three mins of added time, Spike made his final substitution, replacing my man of the match, Darboy, by Owen Kane. When the blind man finally blew his whistle, it was a relief and we waved the scum supporters out of the ground, I imagined they were sort of shell-shocked, they thought they had to just turn-up, but United were in the ascendency for long periods in the game and justice was done by the scoreline in United favour, 4-3, who could ask for anything more. Happy New year to everybody and all I got to say is, bring on the Point, there's a blue moon rising, a Sky Blue moon!


Addis (6), Tony (8), Steeky (7), Marky (8), Cookie (7), Gawley (8) (Sub: Mack 7,), Sparky (7), Jenks (8), Ally (7) (Sub: Ruddy 7,), Darboy (9) (Sub; O. Kane 7), Tippers (8)

Man of the match: Darboy

Double Cookie!

You may be surprised by my headline, 'double Cookie', no its got nothing to do with a new flavour of chip cookies, but it is to do with United veteran stopper, Davy 'Cookie' Munster, scoring his second goal this season and coming a game after his first on Tuesday past in the league cup success over the Ducks. Cookie comes up for nearly every set-piece, long throw-ins, corners and free kick and its usually his heading ability that's called for. So its somewhat ironic that his two goals in as many games, were actually shots and good shots to boot.

United started with the same eleven  that broke our 'duck' at Ferney Park (in no uncertain manner), on the 'Stute pitch which looked as if it hadn't seen a roller since god knows when. I was slightly worried when me and Sammy Patterson, compared our first goal times, he had 1 min and I had 2 mins. Now as United are invariable slow starters, our only hope was of the home team scoring first and truth be told we didn't want that. So our hearts were in our mouths, when in the first minute 'Stute won a dubious free-kick out on our left flank.

When the ball eventually come over, Stuarty managed to punch it and we somehow survived. A minute or so later Stute won a corner on the left and it was taken low and hard (obviously a move that was worked out in training) and when Toland found the unmarked Hume on the edge of the box, his shot took a wicked deflection off Steeky and ended up in the back of the net. There were four mins on the clock officially, just a couple minutes over Sammy and my times and we breathed a sigh of relief, but were sobered by the thought that United were losing 1-0.

Referee, Keith Kennedy, looking remarkably like Tim 'nice but dim' Marshall, seemed to be trying to emulate Bangor ref, Andrew Davy, going through the 1st half without booking anybody. As United tried to gain a foothold in the match, they were subjected to some tasty tackles, gone unpunished except for free-kicks by referee Kennedy. Gawley, the barber took his 'man on' out on the right with 11 mins gone and his superb cross was met by Darboy and his powerful header was brilliantly saved by Stute keeper Gallagher at the expense of a corner.

Three mins later Darboy beat his man and his goal-bound shot, was headed off the line by a defender, from the resultant corner the keeper saved Cookie's header.  But United weren't to be denied for long and from another corner, Cookie was on hand to shoot United level leaving the keeper no chance. The goal was no more than United deserved and some of the football they were playing had to admired. Stute continued to have some success down United's left flank and some confusion reigned when a ball came into the United box, when JT and Stuarty left it to each other, before JT cleared the danger.

Straight away United went up the other end and from a neat bit of play they won a corner on the right. The barber took this one and it went for another corner on left. The barber trotted over to take this one, but before he could deliver, JT was pulled to the ground by Stute defender McLaughlin and the ref awarded United a penalty. They were protests from the home team (usually in these situations the ref calls the two parties together and has a stern word with them), but in this case he seemed to think it warranted stronger action and after all, he is the man in charge.

How McLaughlin escaped a booking, is beyond me and when Ally placed the ball on the penalty spot, Gallagher, the Stute keeper stood over it and the ref took a lot of time to get him to back off. A yellow card for the keeper, would have soon sorted it out or one for McLaughlin, but ref Kennedy, was letting them get away with their gamesmanship. I was sort of worried about the effect this was having on Ally, but I needn't have worried for the when the ref gave the signal, he drove the ball with his left-foot into the corner of the net, leaving the keeper clutching at air, to make the score 2-1 in United's favour.

United turned up the heat on the Stute defence and Ally had hard luck when his shot beat Gallagher, but came back off the post and into the grateful arms of the keeper. In a rare attack by Stute, the lino on the far side, failed to flag a Stute player, that appeared to be 20 yards offside but luckily this didn't lead to anything. The lino seemed to get his act together, for moments later in a promising Stute move he flagged for offside. With United in the ascendency as the half drew to a close I was wondering if Spike thought we needed fresh legs or would he wait and see.

2nd half
We took the field with same eleven as started the match, but the home team changed their keeper with Ferris, the former scum keeper taking over from Gallagher. Ally messed up, when put in the clear by Tippers, blasting the ball harmlessly wide, but United fans encouraged him to keep trying. It was obvious to me that United were feeling the pinch of having played on Tuesday night, but they were still searching for that clinching goal. The barber should have done better with a chance when Ally found him with a neat pass, but he blasted the ball over the bar from 20 yards.

Then it was Captain Jenks turn and he worked keeper Ferris with a good shot on target. Halfway through this half, Spike started to ring the changes, taking off the tiring barber and bringing on young Spike and United went into defensive mode, leaving Tippers and Darboy isolated up front. Despite loads of possession, the home team couldn't get any clear-cut chances, but I was worried in case they got past our tiring defenders.

Ally got a cheer when, he chased a seemingly lost cause, much as Captain Jenks did on Tuesday night, in front of the small band of United supporters, blocking a clearance from a Stute defender. The lino on the far side wrongly flagged for an offside against Tippers, when he was clearly on-side when the ball was played and he was bursting through on goal. With less than four mins to go, Darboy was replaced by Marky and this in turn released Tony to right midfield and we looked more balanced as a result, but leaving only one up front, Tippers.

Stuarty came to our rescue sort of Pat Jennings like, when he cleared the ball with his feet. A United supporter questioned this method but our Sammy retorted, 'he did save it and that's all that matters' and so say all of us. Ally, my 'man of match' became the third United player to go off and was replaced by Owen Kane and United went into lock-down. This signalled a period of 'killing time', one of my pet hates, as Tony Kane and Tippers tried to waste time at the corner flag before eventually losing possession, a waste of energy in my way of thinking.

Just when I thought that Ref KK (Keith Kennedy), was going to play all night, there had been no blatant time-wasting by United, he blew his final whistle and we started to make our way from the ground. For anybody that hasn't been to Stute of late, they have changed the entrance to the ground for visitors, making them walk the guts of half a mile to get to their end, which has changed to the Riverside stand, which used to be the home stand. Talk about a '3 mile camel hike' and the car parking is another thing, be sure and read Sammy's away view, coming out soon!

Addis (7), Tony (7), Steeky (6), Cookie (8), JT (7), Barber (7) (Sub: Ferguson 6,), Sparky (6), Jenks (6), Ally (8) (Sub: O. Kane 6), Darboy (8) (Sub; Marky 7,), Tippers (7)

Man of the match: Ally

Captain Invincible!

The Sky Blues laid their 'bogey' to rest at Ferney Park last night by scoring their first goal and later on winning for the first time at the Ducks ground. There was another 'first' last night, when Cookie Munster, scored his first goal of the season and in the process sent the Sky Blue fans home happy United showing only one charge from their starting line-up of last Saturday, Darboy for Spike's son Matthew, lost the toss and had to defend the end where most of the Ducks fans were situated.

The Mallards started out at a whirlwind pace, on a glorious Ferney Park surface, making incisive passes and exposing the Sky Blues defence time and time again. It seemed only a matter of time until  they opened the scoring and Ballymena had a few anxious moments in defence. Little was seen of United in attacking mode, as the Ducks defenders dealt capably with all our high balls and too many times we had 2 against 4.

The only glimmer of hope for Ballymena was Ducks keeper McCusker, who was struggling with back-passes but he only had to field a few, we didn't pressure the ducks defence enough.Just when it seemed the sky blues had weathered the Ducks storm, disaster struck when JT failed to clear the ball and the ball fell to Campbell and he swivelled and beat Addis with a crisp left-foot shot, to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

The Ducks continued to barrage our goal after this and Addis was relieved to see the ball finding the side-netting after a Martin shot. The Ducks were in a no nonsense mode and ref Heth let things go a bit, no yellow cards after some tasty tackles. The Mallards were running the show, dominating us in midfield, but about halfway through the half the tide began to turn somewhat. Ally, was getting a lot of stick  from people who should have known better.

I reasoned that Ally was following orders, giving Steeky some cover, but he couldn't be in two places at once, because he was lying deep. We started getting some inroads into the match on our right wing, with Gawley and Tony combining well, but it generally ended with a high ball and this was wee buns for the Ducks defence. Cometh the the hour cometh the man and this man was United Captain Alan Jenkins. The big Stranraer man started chasing seemingly lost causes and he gave us some hope when he blocked a clearance form a Ducks defender, right beside us fans.

It didn't lead to anything but it served as an example to his players and we started to get some inroads in the match. A minute later Darboy shot for goal but a Ducks  defender seemed to  punch it clear, but Heth was unmoved. This incident seemed to give United some hope, when the opposite sometimes applies and they started to exploit the Ducks left flank. But we couldn't get a telling cross in, despite Neil Gawley having the measure of fullback Hutchinson.

With the halftime whistle getting near, the Ducks don't have a Davy King, to tell what the ref added on at the end of the 45 mins, but we knew it was getting close. United mounted another attack and Gawley's cross fell to Darboy, his initial shot was parried by McCusker and Captain Jenks drove the rebound home to tie the scores at one apiece. We were ecstatic and beside ourselves with joy, for we had laid the bogey, of never having scored at Ferney Park, now all things were possible and the ref blew for half-time immediately after the restart.

2nd half

We continued where we left off in the first period, in this half and me and Sammy moved our places to see if we could get a better view of proceedings, all to little or no avail I might add. About 5 mins into the half Stafford, the Ducks centre-half was booked for a foul and Gawley's free-kick brought a great save form McCusker, with United players unable to take advantage of the rebound. The keeper made another save from Darboy and then the post came to the Ducks rescue before Tippers scored to give the Sky Blues a deserved lead, 2-1.

That goal was scored virtually the hour mark and as United threatened to run riot at this stage, the ducks picked up a spate of bookings. How their number ten stayed on the field, when he fouled JT  beggars belief, he fouled the United player and then when JT tried to get up he pushed him down again. It should have brought a second yellow at least, if not a red one. But Heth being Heth merely talked to the player and in my mind gave him leave to go on fouling which he did.

United were playing with confidence at this stage and it seemed to be little danger when Cookie decided to play the ball out of defence. But disastrously he passed to a Ducks player and they carved open the United defence and it ended up with Campbell slotting the ball past Addis to level the scores at 2 apiece. This rocked us back on our heels momentarily but Tippers found Darboy, but he shot straight at the keeper, a chance gone begging'

Then a spell of Ducks pressure, when they not for the first time, carved open the Sky Blues defence, Addis advanced from his goals to smother the ball, a crucial save. It was nip and tuck after that and the tie could have went either way, but thankfully it went the Sky Blues way. United won a free-kick on the right, with time ebbing away and Gawley's free-kick was headed clear, but we got another free-kick on the left this time. Gawley delivered it into the danger area again and it fell kindly to Cookie and he slotted the ball home from 5 yards to send Sky Blues fans into raptures of delight.

It was no more than the Sky Blues deserved and it was fitting that our oldest player had got the winner and made up for his earlier howler, in gifting the Ducks their equaliser. Fergie made his first substitution taking off Gawley and bringing on Marky to see out the 4 mins of added time that Heth seemed to have added on. When Heth finally blew his whistle, our goal-keeping coach, big Wes Lamont, ran to keeper Addis and climbed on his back, a sure indication of what the victory meant to him and summed it up for the hundreds of Sky Blue fans who made the journey to Fermanagh, it was well worth the trip, bring on the Chickenville in the final, COSB!

Addis (8), Tony (7), Steeky (8), Cookie (7), JT (7), Gawley (8) Sub: Marky 7,), Sparky (7), Jenks (8), Ally (7), Tippers (8), Darboy (7)

Man of the match: Jenks

Same Old!

The Sky Blues suffered the same old fate at home to 4th placed Crusaders, as they succumbed without barely a whimper, losing by two goals to nil, to the Shore Road side. It's true to say United had their chances, if they had shown a wee bit of composure in front of goal, then maybe, they could have made a fight of it, but its also true to say, if the visitors had shown a wee bit of composure in front of goal, it could have been another embarrassing hiding for the beleaguered Sky Blues.

United manager, Spike, made two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday's defeat against Linfield, Marky dropped down to the bench, replacing by the returning Cookie and Thommo was replaced by Sparky, which should have given us a bit of bite in midfield. Spike, in a local paper, said he had a plan to beat the Crues, well it was obvious from the start that plan had come unstuck but as I noticed many times in Spike's short reign, he's not one for changing his tactics.

United Captain Jenks, was playing up front with Tippers and he had the first chance, when he got a glimpse of goal a minute after the kick-off, but he slewed his left-foot shot harmlessly wide, an early chance gone begging. This seemed to wake the Crues and they won a dubious free kick, when Heately, went down under a challenge. Referee, Davey, marched out 12 paces for the United wall, but to no avail as Burns free-kick curled over the bar, without troubling Addis.

The returning Cookie was having a torrid time with Crues striker Owens, missing free headers and giving the striker too much room. Former United player, Craig McClean, was allowed to cross the ball and Owens got a header in, but Addis tipped the ball over the bar. Gavin Whyte, then missed a glorious chance when he broke down United left flank, but his cross cum shot came to nothing, I breathed a sigh of relief, if he had shot at goal, the chances are he would have scored.

I glanced at our bench, surely I thought Spike has to see this is not working and change things, but he dithered and the Crues took over. The Lino on the Fisherwick side seemed reluctant to flag for offsides and he signalled for Crues corner, when Cookie slipped and Owens shot was parried by Addis, even though the ball had seemed to have crossed the goal-line before keeper got his hand to it. United seemed to wake from their slumbers and they had a good spell of pressure after this.

Steeky, the former Crues player, linked up with Tippers, but he didn't trouble former United keeper, Ogre, yet another chance gone. There's was little or no atmosphere in the ground and the home supporters seemed to waiting for United to concede a goal and midway through the half, they weren't disappointed. From a corner on the right, Coates of Crues was allowed a free header and his goal-bound effort was made sure by Robinson.

United tried to gain a foothold in the match but they were frustrated by the no nonsense tackling from the Crues defence, they weren't afraid give up free-kicks for they knew they could withstand anything in the air that United threw at them. Referee Davey, had already let Coates away with a tasty tackle, no yellow card and when United Captain Jenks sprinted clear down the left-wing, he was chopped down by Crues Captain Coates.

As Coates was the last defender, it was surely a yellow card, if not a red one, but Davey didn't flourish either. Jenks had already been foiled with Ogre, when he shot straight at the keeper, but with halftime approaching, the post came to the visitors rescue when a Jenks volley cannoned back off it with Ogre beaten. The 4th officials electronic board seems to not work at Ballymena and we have to rely on our announcer Davy 'the' King, to tell what time the ref has added on at the end of each half.

So it was yesterday, when Davy announced that there would be one minute of additional time this half, but ref Davey seemed to have a mind of his own and added on about two mins from this point. united mounted an attack and from a Gawley corner the ball was cleared and I expected the ref to blow his halftime whistle, but he didn't and the Crues mounted an attack and with the United defence at sixes and sevens, Caddell found himself one-on-one with keeper Addis.

Caddell tried to thread the ball round Addis but it wasn't going anywhere near the goal and Addis collided with him and the ref gave a penalty. Like the Coates challenge on Jenks, Addis deserved a yellow card, there were covering defenders and the ball rolled harmlessly over the goal line anyway, so not a red card, but the ref mustn't have brought any out with him and Addis escaped a booking. I have since watched on the TV highlights and seems a clear-cut penalty, but no red card.

Addis made a brilliant save to his right, pushing O'Carroll's spot kick away for a corner, to prove he is the penalty king as he showed in United's County Antrim Shield victory over the mighty Linfield, in December 2012. The resultant corner came to nothing and the ref finally blew his whistle for halftime. United were not out of it by any means, but they need a change of personnel or a change of tactics, thumping high ball at the Crues defence wasn't working, surely Spike had to see that.

2nd half
With United attacking their favourite Fisherwick end in this half, I was optimistic that Fergie would see the error of his ways and change the style of our play, but we just continued in the same vein. The ref must have got his cards at halftime and finally booked Coates for a foul, too little too late by my reckoning. Ally had a chance to reduce the arrears but his shot was blocked and then Spike's son Matthew, dribbled through the Crues defence, but couldn't get enough power on his shot.

Just when I thought we were getting a foothold in the match, the Crues struck again and Whyte who had a couple of chances in the first half, was on hand to rifle the ball into the net, past the bemused United defenders. The ball came into the United box and a United defender's header went straight to Whyte, yet another defensive clanger to add to the many that has gone on over the last few games. Fergie's master-stroke, was to take off his son and bring on Darboy.

We went back to trying to play the Crues at their own game, long passes up front, but they were bread and butter for the Crues defence. McClean became the 2nd player to be booked with a foul on Gawley, there was no stopping Davey now that he had got a taste for it, I idly thought. The resultant free-kick was put out for a corner, but JT headed this over when well placed. When Crues manager Baxter, brought on Timmy Adamson, Fergie seemed at a loss and did nothing to counteract this move.

Ally spurned a great chance to give us hope, but he blasted the ball over with Ogre off his line, when a subtle chip was called for. From a corner, taken by Gawley, the ball was played back to the wingers feet and he crossed again but it seemed that it was too close to the goalie and it appeared to be a lost cause. However Darboy challenged the keeper and he appeared to throw the ball into the net, but the ref allowed he was fouled, I'm not so sure myself, but the ref made the decision.

Crues missed a great chance to seal the points, when Heately's shot was parried by Addis and Declan Caddel missed from two yards, with the United defence at sixes and sevens yet again. With less than 15 mins left Spike, brought on, Brian Mack (who was supposed to be out for the season with an injury), for the tired Gawley, no doubt saving him with Tuesday's league cup semi in mind. With 5 mins of normal time being played JT was booked for an innocuous foul on halfway.

Crues player, Heately, who has to been known to take a 'dive', was trying to win free-kicks yesterday again and ref Davey let him off with it. United got a lifeline near the end of the game, when they won a free-kick near the 'D' but Tony's free kick bounced off the the Crues wall and he ballooned the rebound over the crossbar. The referee added the requisite 3 mins, but they had only been 3 subs in total used, but Crues were wasting time at every opportunity and who could blame them.

When Heately dived again deep in injury time, the ref ignored him but eventually had to call the physio on and Heately had to go off with Emmett Friars, replacing him. Coates must have thought Sparky was the culprit in Heatley's having to go off and when the ball was played out of defence he used his head in the United's man neck without a chance of getting the ball. This should have been a straight red card, but ref Davey took the easy way out, a second yellow and the Crues were down to ten men.

United had one last chance from this free-kick taken by Addis, but the Crues defence held firm and the ref finally blew his whistle and United had lost their tenth league game and taken a mere five points from the 2nd round of matches, ironically ten games and only five points, if that's not relegation form I don't what is. United have one chance to restore a bit of pride this Tuesday when they take on the Ducks, in the league cup semi-final, lose that and they might as well close the gates, in my opinion!

Addis (7), Tony (6), Cookie (5), JT (7), Steeky (7), Gawley (6) (Sub: Darboy 6,), Ferguson (6) (Sub: Mack  6,), Sparky (6), Ally (6), Jenks (7), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Stuarty Addis

Ostrich Glenn!

Glenn decided to dig his head in the sand yet again and I don't think he learned anything from last weeks trouncing at Solitude. Admittedly we are terribly short on fit bodies at the moment, but going with a midfield with no tacklers in it, is complete madness against any team, but especially against a team in the top four. Glenn made five changes, one enforced by the dismissal of Cookie last week, I don't know whether Dwayne was injured or he was just dropped, but Addis came in for him. Marky took over from Cookie, Thommo for Ruddy. Spike's son Matthew for Sparky and Ally for Darboy.

This meant Captain Jenks playing up front with Tippers and in my mind invited Linfield to attack at will, which they did. We had a minutes silence for former IFA/Linfield secretary (no pretence in our league, the two are as one, but that's another story), who died this past week. We started brightly and Ally showed some promise by skipping down the left wing and crossing for Jenks to head over the bar with barely 3 mins on the clock. Then it was JT's turn but his effort didn't trouble the keeper either a minute later, blasting the ball well over the bar.

Little was seen of the IFA at this stage and United spurned another chance with 7 mins gone, when a back heel by Tippers saw a Jenks shot blocked. United were made to pay heavily for this benevolence in front of goal, when Linfield took the lead almost immediately. It lookrd like a hopeful punt up-field, but JT waited on it and his Linfield counterpart nipped in and sent Waterworth through on the left. Marky had a chance to thwart this attack, but he was beaten easily and former scum player (and ex-United player), Lowry, was on hand to slot the ball home.

A minute later it was 2-0, with the United defence at sixes and sevens, Morrow of Linfield was left with the easy task of slotting the ball home. Surely Fergie had to see the error of his ways and getting Sparky on, or at least drop Jenks back to defence, but we continued with the same vein.. A dangerous cross from the left wing, was calmly headed back by JT to his keeper, Addis.  United managed to break away but Thommo's shot from the edge of box was powder puff. Then we forced two corners in succession, but nothing came off either of them.

Then in a bizarre incident, ref Ross Dunlop, gave a free-kick to Linfield, when it seemed to be United's Steeky who was fouled. United had a let-off on 18 mins when, Waterworth scored with a header, but the linesman had his flag up for offside. Ross Dunlop must have given the Lino a good ticking off, for later with Waterworth standing a good ten yards off-side, he was reluctant to flag, but eventually his conscience got the better of him and he stuck the flag up. The ref decided he would have to book somebody and he surprised me by booking Haughey of Linfield for a foul on Tippers.

From the free-kick taken by the Barber, Gawley, Jenks headed wide, another chance gone begging. A minute later JT picked up a yellow card and I think it was his first foul, if indeed it was a foul.  United were struggling to clear their lines and Waterworth could only strike the side-netting, what a let-off for United. After a few niggly fouls, the ref talked to several IFA players, I don't know what he said, but after that they were no niggly fouls, just hard tackles and the IFA got the benefit of the doubt, well I say doubt, but their wasn't any doubt in ref Ross's mind.

Then United got a lifeline with a goal for their Captain, when he was found by a lob from Tippers and Jenks kept his cool and calmly lifted ball over the advancing Glendenning in the IFA goal, to make the 2-1 to the IFA. Then we had the incident when Waterworth was miles offside and the lino took so long to flag him, no Xmas box from the IFA board for him.  Addis,  who had made a hash of a back-pass, came to United rescue when he tipped a point blank shot over the bar and then from the resultant corner managed to punch it, but it was a weak punch and we scrambled it away.

The IFA extended their lead in the 37 mins when Waterworth, looking suspiciously off-side,no flag from the lino this time, calmly stroked the ball past Addis to make the score 3-1 in the IFA favour. United were under the cosh for the remainder of the half and we survived mainly due to good luck and the IFA's bad finishing. Steeky, came to our rescue with a goal-line clearance as we looked likely to concede another goal. Thommo cleared another one and it was backs to the wall as we couldn't take a chance on the lino, who at that stage was giving the IFA all that he could.

The ref added one minute of added time and I was hoping that we could hold out to halftime and then Fergie would deliver his master-stroke, some hope. But surely he had to make changes, for we were getting swamped, if he didn't want to sacrifice a striker, he had to take take the ineffectual Ally off and bring Sparky on to get some bite in midfield.

2nd half
We took the field with no changes and the IFA seemed to be content with their 2 goal lead and retreated into their shell somewhat. I expected to see United bombard the IFA goal as they were attacking their favourite goals, but the first two chances fell to Spike's, son, with a shot over the bar an overhead-kick which didn't trouble the keeper. We won a free-kick when the Barber was fouled, but we didn't take advantage of it. The IFA had their first attack but a shot clipped the top of the bar with the United defence looking on.

Tippers fed Tony down the right-wing, but his hard and low cross found no United player on hand. Then ref  Dunlop decided to ignore the rules, when a IFA player clutched the ball between his legs and punished United for a foul, when it should been the other way. Fergie made his first change taking off his son and bringing on Sparky but I thought that this was too little too late and young Matthew wasn't the worst player in a Sky Blue jersey. Tippers was adjudged to foul, when he was fouled himslef, but no use protesting to Dunlop.

Linfied player-manager, Feeney, was allowed to run up and down the touch-line warming up, instead of the back of the goals as should be, but the 4th official went to have a word with him but decided against it and he was allowed to get away with it. Spike made his second sub with Ally being replaced Darboy, surely we would see an all-out attack now. A free-kick by Gawley was cleared for a corner and from this corner, Thommo was manhandled to the ground and the ref awarded United a penalty and no booking for the culprit, surprise, surprise.

In the absence of Ally, Tippers got the job but his weak effort was easily saved by Glendenning. But the IFA players had encroached and the ref made Tippers take it again, much to the annoyance of Feeney and his players. Tippers this time rifled the ball into the net to make the score 3-2 and leave us a glimmer of hope. This awoke the IFA from their slumbers and Addis came to United's rescue tipping the ball over for a corner. Just after he had been booked for a clumsy foul, Thommo was replaced by Owen Kane.Addis  then made a hash of another back-pass, a lucky let-off again.

The IFA started to fritter away time and there was not much United could do about that and the ref ignored it. We saw the biased nature of the referee when Feeney went in hard on Steeky, no card and then Waterworth didn't retreat for the free-kick, no card again. About a minute later Waterworth fouled Gawley in midfield and also escaped a booking, but what did I expect. From a corner taken by Gawley, Owen Kane shot  wide from the edge of the box, must hit the target from this distance.  Despite two or three long-throws, United couldn't find the leveller that they so desired.

When we won a free-kick in the 2nd minute of added time, the Barber took the free and was unlucky to see Glendenning punch the ball for a corner, a three point save if I ever did see one. From the resultant corner a IFA player was on hand to head clear and Darboy ballooned the the ball over the bar and United had missed their chance. The ref finally blew the whistle and United not for the first time had come up short, but after last weeks humiliation, it was a good response and the crowd appreciated it, but I think the manager must rethink his tactics or it will be a long hard winter!


Addis (6), Tony (6), Steeky (7), Marky (5), JT (6), Gawley (7), Thommo (5) (Sub: O. Kane 6), Ferguson (6) (Sub: Darboy 5,), Ally (5) (Sub: Sparky 6), Tippers (7), Jenks (7)

Man of the match: Steeky