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