Spike's Gamble!

United manager Spike took a huge gamble in restoring first choice keeper Dwayne Nelson, for his first appearance since dropping him when the Sky Blues crumbled to a 7-0 defeat, against yesterday's opponents Chickenville, at the end of November. But if I'm accusing Spike in the wrong here and Stuarty Addis got injured in the warm-up, or was not feeling 100%, I apologise, but as he was among the subs, I assume that he was fit.

The United manager made only two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday, Nelson for Addis and Jimer for the cup-tied Cutch. He didn't heed 'Sports suggestion, namely to have a versatile bench, he named four midfielders, Cush, Gawley, Ally and Sparky as well as Addis on his bench. United made a horrible start, when a long ball from Chickenville's, new keeper, Cherrie, hereafter called Fruit, found our defenders wanting.

There seemed little danger as, Cookie went up to challenge Jay Donnelly, to the high ball, but for some reason known only to him, JT, decided to join in, leaving ace Marksman Gormley free. Jay, headed the ball on, Dwayne came out from his goal, but missed the ball and Gormely was left to slot the ball into the empty net, with barely a minute on the clock. The Sky Blue fans in the North stand, were shell-shocked, myself included, a disastrous start.

United needed to come back and quickly to my mind moments later they were denied the chance, when Darboy, was upended as he burst through by Chickenville's Smith. As he was the last defender, surely ref Raymond, Dick-head, Crangle had only one option, a red card, but he added insult to injury, by only flourishing a yellow one. Tony's free kick clattered off the Reds defensive wall and we had missed the chance to level the scores.

Fergie's policy of not changing a winning team was hurting us, as his midfield four, three non-tacklers and Tony, was letting the Reds dictate play and we only survived by the skin of our teeth when they stepped up the pace. Steeky, was getting roasted alive, down our left flank, as he was left with two men to cover most times. When we were under pressure, we added to our own downfall, by not getting the ball cleared and when we did mange to clear, it came right back at us again.

The fans have been saying, we need a central defender, but it seems to have fell on deaf ears as our only two signings in this transfer window to date have been a striker, Cutch and a winger, Eamon McAllister, who has yet to kick a ball for us. United did manage to break the Reds stranglehold and Tony found Tippers with a gem of a pass, but he had the touch of an elephant and the chance was lost.

After half an hours play, Thommo chased a pass into the corner and beat two men and crossed to the  unmarked Tippers, who headed wide, another marvellous chance gone begging. Then Darboy was found one-on-one with a Reds defender and instead of taking him on, he ballooned a pass into the box and moments later United paid a heavy price for this benevolence in front of goal. Chickenville won a doubtful free kick near the right corner and from the free-kick taken by Marty Donnelly, the ball flew past the goal area and we breathed a sigh of relief.

But Reds had other ideas and when Seydack, was allowed to cross the ball, the United defence were unable to deal with it and it fell to the unmarked Gormely and he rifled the ball into the net, despite the attentions of two United defenders to make the score 2-0 to the defending champions. The United lads thought Gormely offside, but the Lino on that side kept his flag down and the goal stood. United managed to hang on to halftime without conceding, but it was obvious that changes would have to made, we had far too many passengers.

2nd half
United made a change at halftime, taking off Cookie and bringing on Cush, whether this was purely a tactical switch I don't know or if Cookie was injured, but we lost our only tackler in midfield, as a result of this substitution, as Jimer moved to central defender and Tony moved back to rightback. United  started brightly this half and when we won a corner out on the left, Tony's in-swinger, was headed off the line by Marty Donnelly, who was over the goal-line, but Crangle waved play on, roll on goal-line technology.

Two mins later Dwayne came to our rescue, when Jay Donnelly was allowed to race clear with the United defence claiming offside, but the flag never came, but as he tried to square the ball to Gormely, Dwayne dived on it to thwart the the goal machine, that is Gorman. United stepped up the pressure and we won another corner on the left and this time Tony's in-swinger, was driven into the net by our talisman, Cush, to make the score 2-1 to the Reds.

Chickenville missed another chance, when Gormely released a pass that split the United defence, but Jay Donnelly missed the target, but I like to think that Dwayne got his angles right. United made the Reds pay for this benevolence in front of goal, when Thommo burst into the Reds penalty area only to be thwarted by McGovern. But to Thommo's credit, he harried  the Reds defender and his clearance fell for Cush, who rifled a right-foot shot into the net, past the startled Fruit.

United were denied a cast iron penalty when Seydack handled the ball in the penalty area as he lay on the ground, but Dick-head Crangle waved play on. Winchester, who had already been booked, tried to con the ref by diving which should brought another yellow, but Dick-head decided against it. Seydack was carried off in with 15 mins to go when he was hurt in a tackle with Cush, Reds fans thought Cush should have been red carded, but it was IMO, a genuine tackle for the ball and United got the throw-in and no foul given.

The Reds players made their feeling known to the ref, but he was adamant that he had made the right decision and this time I have to agree with him. Chickenville made their third sub, with Ronan Scannell coming on, they had taken Joe Gormely off earlier and brought McDaid on, who starts a six game ban on Monday, for a head butt two weeks ago. United succumbed with 10 mins to go when after a spell of Reds pressure, Tony's weak header fell to Marty Donnelly and he rifled a shot at goal and despite Dwayne getting hand to it, it ended up in the net to making score 3-2 to the Reds.

As United tried to get back in the game, McMullan fouled Tippers on the edge of the box, but it only  brought a yellow card, Crangle seemed determined not to repeat his Irish cup final disaster, when he sent 3 players off. Cush took the kick, but it cannoned off the the Reds defensive wall. With two mins to go , Fergie took off Brain McCaul, who was a virtual passenger and brought on Ally, but it was too little too late in  my book. As United attacked looking for an equaliser they left holes at the back and McDaid almost made them pay, but Dwayne saved his two attempts, keeping the game alive.

Fergie made his final sub, taking off Thommo and bringing on Sparky for the four minuted of stoppage time, that Dick-head had added on. But there was to be no United comeback, in truth they struggled to get the ball up into the Reds half of the field and the game petered out and we were beaten once again in  a final, by the odd goal. But to my mind we gave a better account of ourself, but we were no match for the Reds, who controlled the midfield and exploited our defence at will. We're back at Windsor again next week, I hope Fergie has learned his lesson, but I don't think he has!

Dwayne (7), Jimer (6), Steeky (7), JT (6), Cookie (6) (Sub: Cush 8,), Tony (7), Thommo (7) (Sub; Sparky 6), Mack (5) (Sub: Ally 6,), Jenks (6), ( Darboy (6), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Cush

Tippers Brace!

United and their hosts Portadown, played out a 5-5 draw in atrocious conditions yesterday at Shamrock Park. Its a credit to the fitness of both sides, for the way the match was played, with no quarter asked or given. With a more stricter referee than Ian 'Handy Andy' McNabb, who seemed to have forgotten his yellow cards, as Ports especially were guilty of meaty challenges. Indeed he warned Michael Gault and Garret and then proceeded to let them both off with yet another foul.

Not so United's Thommo, his first foul brought a booking and rightly so as according to 'eagle eyed' United fans, it was a bad tackle on Ports fullback, Casement. But surely the blame for this tackle lies firmly at Handy Andy's door, if he had had a grip on the match, Thommo wouldn't have taken the chance, but in my opinion (IMO), the ref didn't allow for the treacherous conditions and Gary was committed to the tackle and he couldn't avoid it.

That portion of the pitch, 80 yards from where I was standing, seemed to be like a skating rink, considering the number of times players lost their footing and the same could be said for the pitch in the other half, about 25 yards from goal where United were attacking in the first half. Our manager, Spike, made one change from his starting line-up, Cookie in for Marky, no midfield tacklers in sight. Ports took advantage of this after only 4 mins, when McMahon was allowed to go unchecked and he crossed to the unmarked Murray who chested down and Twigg gave Addis no chance from 14 yards.

United, to their credit, responded right away through that man Tippers, the ex-Ports striker made it look easy, as he sprinted across the box evading two powder puff tackles, before dispatching a curler into the net, past his old pal, David Miskelly. Five mins later it should have been two, when Tippers, ten yards out blasted the ball straight at the Ports keeper, from Thommo's cross, a great save, but Tippers should have buried the ball in the net, but he went for power instead of placement.

United were made to pay for that missed chance when McMahon, was allowed to waltz through our defence, before drilling a daisy cutter which struck the left post of the United goal and ended up in the net. Our keeper Stuarty Addis was livid, as he had got no backing from his non-tackling team-mates and Ports took an undeserved 2-1 lead. The United defence led a charmed life after this score, when the Ports had their tails up, but we survived and Tippers should have restored parity, when he found himself unmarked from a Thommo square pass, but with the goal at his mercy he volleyed over.

United's defence capitulated again when Twigg, was allowed to go unchecked into our box, before dispatching a shot past Addis, to make the score 3-1 in the hosts favour. As United tried to get back in the game they were subjected to a series of foul tackles by the Ports midfield pair of Garret and Gault, only getting warnings from the ref, which in my mind gave them leave to keep on fouling. Cutch, playing behind our front two strikers, Darboy and Tippers, looked a shadow of himself and he got a bad tackle himself and it didn't help his play any.

But he combined with Tippers near halftime out on the left and Jenks was denied by the keeper from Tippers cross, but Darboy was on hand to plant the rebound firmly in the Ports net. I thought that Darboy was offside, but no flag came and United had reduced the leeway to 3-2.. Then on the stroke of halftime Thommo, fouled Casement in front of the main stand and the Ports, players and fans were up in arms about this tackle and ref McNabb, bowed to this pressure and booked Thommo. Bearing in mind what the ref had let go before and the conditions underfoot, I thought this booking harsh.

2nd half
United made no changes to their starting line-up in the 2nd half and not surprisingly the hosts were in the ascendency during the early part of this half. First Garret, seemed to get the ball stuck between his legs and the United defence managed to clear and Addis came to Uniteds rescue, when he saved Breen's header at the expense of a corner and subsequently punched the corner away. Murray was guilty of a bad miss as the United defence waited for a flag which didn't come, when he skied the ball over from close range. But the hosts weren't to be denied for long as JT was claiming offside, Twigg was allowed to run at Addis's goal when Tony slipped and he completed his hat-trick, with a Susan Bap (nutmeg), past the exposed Addis.

Twigg, celebrated in front of United fans and I think the referee should have spoken to him and the Ports player about their provocation of the small band of United fans in  the away stand, but not surprising handy Andy did nothing. At last Fergie acted and brought off Brian Mack and brought on Jimer and Tony moved to midfield. As United tried to get back in the game, Ports were wasting time and feigning injury, to try to hold the game up. But United got another foothold in the game as a Tony free-kick, found the net off JT's head. There seems to be some doubt who scored this goal, as JT and Jenks were together, but our Jackie on the BBC gave it to JT.

Sky Blue fans didn't care, they were celebrating the goal, but their celebrations were short lived, when Murray, who looked yards offside, was allowed to go unchecked before rounding Addis and walking the ball into the net, to restore his team's 2 goal advantage, 5-3. That signalled the end for the disappointing Cutch and he was replaced by Cush (a Cush for a Cutch, you could say).  United didn't lie down and from another free-kick taken by Tony (or was it a kikc), Tippers back header found the net in 84 mins. Now we had a match on our hands and United completed a fantastic comeback with 3 mins to go when Captain Jenks beat Miskelly at his near post when found by another cross from Tony.

Captain Jenks saved Thommo's blushes, when a moment earlier the United midfielder had screwed a shot wide when it seemed easier to score. The Ports nearly wrapped up an undeserved win when first a Gault shot was stopped by Addis and then Mackle, shot feebly at the keeper. The referee brought proceedings to a halt soon after this and United and the Ports had drawn 5-5. I would like to say it was a thrilling match, but because of the jaundiced view that visiting fans are subjected to at Shamrock Park, I could only see definitely only four goals, even though ten were scored in the match. But we got a point, bring on the Chickenville next Saturday and come on Sky Blues!

Addis (8), Tony (8), Steeky (6), Cookie (6), JT (6), Thommo (7), Mack (5) (Sub: Jimer 7,), Jenks (7) , Cutch (6) (Sub: Cush 7,), Tippers (8), Darboy (8)

Man of the match: Tippers

Darboy Double!

When United signed Darboy (Darren Boyce for the uninitiated), he confessed he hadn't scored an Irish cup goal throughout his career. But he soon made short work of that statistic, scoring with a header, when United snatched a draw against Harlan and Wolfe Welders in the first round last January. United fans don't need reminding how crucial that goal was, not only did the Sky Blues win the replay, they went on to reach the Irish cup final. His two goals yesterday weren't as crucial, but they did put the icing on the cake on a  4-0 win over Amateur league side Crumlin Star.

United manager Spike, made one change from his starting line-up, with Marky filling in at central defensive in the absence of Cookie. We don't know whether Cookie was injured, but he didn't even make the bench and got a seat in the stand instead.  Fergie has continually ignored pleas from fans, to bolster his midfield with some tacklers or a tackler and so it was the same yesterday, when his midfield three were Thommo, Captain Jenks and Brian Mack, not a tackler in sight.

When the draw for the next round of the Irish cup, threw up an away tie to reigning Premier league champions Chickenville, I felt a shudder of foreboding, considering United's record against them at Solitude, lately. By a strange quirk of fate, United must play Chickenville 3 times in the next six games, starting with league cup final at Windsor Park on 24 January, the Irish cup sixth round at Solitude on 7 February and a league match, again at Solitude on 21 February. We have already played them three times this year, two at Solitude and one at home, where we snatched a draw from the jaws of victory.

Maybe Fergie was out to fool Chickenville in case they had someone watching us, but I don't think so, I just think he knows only one way to play the game, all-out attack. It worked yesterday against Crumlin Star, but there were signs that against sterner opposition, United could have been embarrassed to say the least, with their slip-shod, non-tackling approach. They got a fortunate break when ref Evan Boyce decided that Captain Jenks was fouled in the penalty box and pointed to the spot after 4 mins play, in my opinion it was a soft penalty.

In the absence of our designated penalty king, Ally, the job fell to leading scorer Tippers and he duly obliged, sending a crisp shot into the keepers right to give United a fortunate one goal lead. The junior team (hereafter called Star), had already given United a fright, when they waltzed through our defence, but luckily we survived conceding a corner in the process. Immediately after we scored they repeated the process and Marky was easily dispossessed, but the forward hurried his shot and it went harmlessly wide, what a relief.

United were trying to play it out at the back and conditions weren't ideal for football, with the heavy pitch and the wind howling and they were a few anxious moments, but we managed somehow. Cutch, playing behind the two strikers had shot deflected for a corner, but mainly United forwards final ball was leaving a lot to be desired, either hit too hard or misplaced. Star, continued to find inroads into our defence, but we managed to keep our goal intact, due a mixture of luck and bad finishing. Cometh the hour cometh the man, or in this case the half-hour.

There seemed little danger when Jenks found his countryman Cutch, 20 yards from goal, but the diminutive striker beat his man and went past a couple of tackles, before finishing with aplomb blasting ball past the startled keeper and into left corner of the net. It was Cutch's second goal, in his second game, proving that there's life in the old legs still. The snow had started to fall at this point and things looked bleak for the Star. Captain Alan Jenks should have increased United's lead when Tippers played him in, but he could only find the side-netting, a chance gone begging.

United were nearly made to pay for this benevolence in front of goal, when Star ripped through our midfield again and Trainor's crisp shot from 20 plus yards, cannoned off the underside of the bar, with Addis completely beaten. United managed to survive to halftime but it was obvious that changes would have to be made, if we were to go on to win the game and get in the draw for the next round. I consoled myself that at least we would have the wind at our backs in the second period, small comfort I know, but we were halfway there I reasoned.

2nd half
With United attacking their favourite Fisherwick end, Darboy had an early chance but he shot wide when well placed. Ten mins into the half, Jimer was brought on to replace Marky, with Tony moving to Marky's position and Jimer taking moving to rightback. I couldn't figure this change, was Marky injured or was Fergie thinking ahead to our forthcoming games and wanted to try Tony at central defence, the mind boggles. United continued to press and after Cutch failed to trouble the keeper with a shot, Tippers was unlucky not to get his second of the match when the keeper saved at his feet.

Steeky, who like Tippers had signed an extension to his contract just this week, flashed a volley wide as United continued to put the Star defence under pressure. Jimer, returned to full fitness, was soon in the thick of things and it was good to see him back and keen as mustard. United got the 'rub of the green', when JT seemed to upend a Star player in the box but ref Boyce decided it was a fair tackle. Almost immediately at the other end, Steeky was unlucky when he went on the overlap and  his effort just missed the goal, with Darboy failingly to get the final touch with the keeper beaten.

United manager Spike made a telling substitution, taking off Tippers and bringing on our Talisman, Cush, who had been missing exactly nine weeks. A minute later, Cush, out on right, provided a curling cross with his trusty left-foot and Darboy headed United's third goal at the back post. Spike made his final sub with Ally, replacing Thommo. Captain Jenks was unlucky to see his effort at the near post diverted for a corner, but the lino signalled for a goal-kick, much Captain Jenks annoyance. Jenks wasn't to be denied for long and a typical forging run ended with him being brought done at the edge of box by defender Berne. The ref played the advantage rule and Darboy slotted home his second and United's fourth.

The referee, in my opinion, harshly sent Berne off, surely a booking would have done or a stern talking to, he had been punished enough with the goal. Five mins later, Cush was unlucky to see his drive from 25 yards come back off the crossbar, but it would been harsh on Star who had battled well. Then Cutch missed with a free header, when it looked easier to score. The ref seemed to add about a minute or at best two and brought the game to a halt with United winning by 4-0. The first clean sheet since we beat the Mallards at home in November, a disgraceful record which needs to be put right.

That's for another day, we need to bask in this victory, which at no point looked easy, except maybe when we got our third goal. The bonus as far as United is concerned, is to see Jimer and Cush restored to full fitness and pushing for a place in our starting line-up next week at Portadown and the league cup final against Chickenville, suddenly things are beginning to look up, but we need to sort out our midfield. It was okay against Star yesterday, but that will never do against the likes of Portadown, Chickenville and the IFA, but spare a thought for our neighbours, the Coleraine scum, their season looks to be over, hell slap it into them is all I can say, come on Sky Blues!

Addis (7), Tony (7), Steeky (7), JT (7), Marky (6) (Sub: Jimer 7), Thommo (7) (Sub: Ally 7,), Jenks (7), Mack (8), Cutch (7), Tippers (7) ( Sub: Cush 8,), Darboy (8)

Man of the match: Brian Mack (McCaul)

Deaf Ears!

United manager Spike, has ignored requests to get some spice in midfield, in short, tacklers, but it has fell on deaf ears so far. He chose to play a 4,3,3, system yesterday with not a tackler in sight in his midfield three, of Thommo, Mack and Captain Jenks. Glenavon couldn't believe their luck and took full advantage of it. In truth some of their goals had looked dodgy, especially the last one, when it looked like an offside as the scorer was on the goal-line, clearly offside, but no flag and referee Stephen Wallace, from stroke city saw nothing wrong, in fact he didn't see anything wrong the whole of the game.

The lino at the Fisherwick end, was atrocious as well and missed numerous offsides by the visitors in the first half and then in the second half, flagged United's Darboy offside, when he was clearly on-side and the score was 1-1 at that stage, talk about a crucial decision. But he evened that up with two mins to go when he didn't spot Cutch in an offside position and the wee man reduced the arrears with a half volley. Alas it was too little too late, 88 mins to be precise, for a minute later Glenavon regained their two goal advantage with a hotly disputed goal and Cutch and Jenks got booked for their protests.

Referee Wallace had a stinker, but he was aided and abetted by his two linesmen and how. Glenavon won a penalty in the first half, when it was clearly outside the box, but justice was done when Bradley dragged his spot-kick wide. Glenavon who hadn't played for 8 days, looked fitter than United and coped well with the conditions of the ploughed up Showgrounds pitch, courtesy of the Stock Cars. Fergie made four changes from his starting line-up from 2 goal loss at Warrenpoint., out went Marky, Sparky, Ally and the Barber and in came Cookie, Thommo, Mack and Cutch.

United started well and Thommo won a corner in the 1st minute, but in the absence of the Barber, Mack took the corner and it wasn't up to the usual standard and it was cleared. Five minutes later, JT found Cutch and the wee striker turned and flashed a shot straight at the Glenavon keeper.McGrath. Bradley came close to giving his side the lead but JT got back to clear the danger, but United committed a sin that led to their downfall, not clearing their lines and Bradley picked up the loose ball and was fouled initially outside the area but made sure he 'dived' in the penalty box.

Despite the protestations of the United defenders and keeper, the ref decided it was a penalty and Bradley stepped up to take it but dragged his spot kick wide and Addis had it covered anyway, I think. Steeky came to United's rescue, with a toe poke that just cleared the bar for a corner when under pressure. Tippers released Darboy, but his heavy first touch went to the keeper, a chance gone begging. United were made to pay for this benevolence in front of goal when Bradley beat JT twice and found Martin unmarked and he shot the visitors into the lead 1-0.

They nearly increased their lead when Marshall rose to nod the ball over the bar from a Kyle Neill corner, a lucky let-off for United. United almost got back on level terms through Cutch, but Marshall got back to block the strikers shot. Then it was Tippers turn to break down the left-wing but his cross was too close to the keeper. Then Cutch and Thommo played a one-two, but it was too close to the keeper. United were well in the game at this stage but they couldn't get the vital breakthrough, from an uncompromising Glenavon defence.

The Lino at the Fisherwick end missed another blatant offside, but O'Brien's shot only found the side-netting. Steeky and Cutch worked well down United's left-flank, but no-one could get on the cross. Then it was Thommo's turn when found by Tippers, but he couldn't get his cross past the keeper. United won a corner and it turned in to a break by the visitors, but Bradley shot wide, another let-off for the United defence. With 3 mins of the half remaining Cutch found Tippers but United's leading goalscorer was denied by a block on the line and Tony's follow up shot was just over the bar.

A minute later, Tony found Darboy, who in turn found Tippers, but his volley was just wide of the target. In the absence of Davy 'the' King, we didn't get to hear how much time the ref had added on for stoppages, but he blew for halftime, with United still well in the game at 1-0 down. Surely I thought Glenn has to see the error of his ways and change the system, by going 4,4,2, it would mean dropping one of the strikers, but needs must and he had three midfielders on his bench in Sparky, Barber and Ally, but he didn't.

2nd half
United were back level within two mins of the restart, when Thommo blocked a clearance and sped down the right to a pass from Cookie and his low cross was side-footed into the net by Darboy, not a classic goal by any means, but they all count. Then Cutch, not to be outdone, found some space nut his shot was just over. United won a corner on the right and Cookie's header was straight at the keeper another chance gone begging. As so often happens, Glenavon, looking stunned at his point fashioned another goal.

Captain Jenks was pulled up for a foul on McCabe, when it looked like the Glenavon player ran into him, but the referee was adamant it was foul. Neill took the kick and the United defence didn't deal with properly and Martin found the unmarked O'Brien, who scored from close range.  United almost got back on level terms a minute after that when Jenks found his fellow Scot, Cutch, but the wee man delayed his shot and Marshall got back to block the effort. Then Cookie picked up a booking for winning the ball, but the Glenavon player and bench made a meal of it and the ref succumbed to their pressure and booked the United stopper. When  a Glenavon player committed a similar foul two mins later, the ref let him away with it, double standards or what.

United almost fashioned an unlikely equaliser when Tippers found Captain Jenks and he was fouled by Murphy but stayed on his feet to round McGrath but his left-foot was cleared off the line by Marshall Then came the turning point in the match when after Bradley had come off to be replaced by Hamilton, the linesman at the far end failed to spot O'Brien offside from Hamilton's header and he ran through to round the keeper and give the visitors a two goal cushion. It was a close decision, but an alert lino has to give those decisions and it proved a crucial goal.

Spike made his first only substitution then taking off Steeky and bringing on Ally. United to their credit kept plugging away and Glenavon brought on fresh legs with Patton replacing Singleton. With time running out, United got a lifeline and it was debut boy Cutch, who gave them it. A through ball found Cush in an offside position, but the lino unsurprisingly allowed him to continue and the wee striker finished with aplomb as his half-volley beat McGrath all ends up. Could United snatch a point from this unlikely  juncture I wondered idly, but a minute later as they failed to clear the lines, they conceded a fourth goal.

Patton, the man who's goal broke United hearts in the Irish cup final last May, had his initial shot blocked by Addis but he lifted the rebound over the keeper and O'Brien on the goal-line was adjudged to be on-side and completed his hat-trick to give the scoreline 4-2 for the visitors. The protests from the United Captain resulted in a booking for him and his fellow Scot Cutch, the rest of our team just accepted it and that's the sad part, just another bad day at the office. The referee, who had let the visitors keeper away with blatant time-wasting much to the annoyance of United fans and not pulled players for kicking the ball away, seen fit to add the requisite 3 mins, adding insult to injury, if that's possible. Next up for United is a home tie against Crumlin Star in the Irish cup first round proper, they had better be up for that one I hope!

Addis (7), Tony (7), Steeky (6) (Sub: Ally 6,), Cookie (7), JT (6), Thommo (6), Mack (6), Jenks (7),
Cutch (8), Darboy (8), Tippers (6)

Man of the match: Cutch