Better Shape!

United manager, Glenn 'Spike Ferguson, proved at Windsor Park, that is not resistant to change. Out went his 4,3,3. formation, that was swamped in the League cup final by the Reds of Chickenville and we played a 4,4,2, system that was more fluent. But it still didn't arrest United's terrible record at the home of the IFA, they were beaten by 2-1, despite taking an early lead through Cush. United were denied a goal in the 41st minute when, Linfield goalkeeper, Glendenning, clutched the ball and stepped over the goal-line, but the Lino didn't signal for a goal.

That proved to be a crucial point in the game, as the IFA equalised two mins later, through fulltime professional, Grant McCann. I don't know much about this goal, as away fans are stuck in the Alex Russell stand or Spion Kop, as its more familiarly known, behind the Boucher Road goals. It seems our goal hero, Cush, had a chance to clear, but he dithered and McCann nipped in to score. Just watched it on the TV, I don't think Cush had a chance to clear, its was a good opportunist goal from McCann.

Our manager Spike, made four changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday's league cup final. Out went Cookie, Mack, Darboy and Thommo and in came new signing Paddy Mac, to line up alongside JT at the centre of our defence. Ally got a rare start on the left, with Cush on the right and Cutch up front with Tippers. Mack and Darboy, were on the bench with Sparky, Gawley and McAllister. Cookie and Thommo didn't even make the bench, whether injured or not I don't honestly know.

United, attacking the Spion Kop goals, made a bright start, but the IFA's Ross Clarke, fouled Steeky with barely two mins on the clock. Ref Davey, didn't even say he'd done it and he repeated the dose soon after, which should have brought a booking, but the ref merely talked to him. After ten mins or so, when Steeky was shielding the ball back for a goal-kick, Clarke, bundled him over unnecessarily and was booked, not before time I thought.

The game was played in dreadful conditions with a swirling wind, but United missed a great chance, when from Cush corner on the left, the ball flashed over the six-yard box, just begging for a touch, but nobody was there to supply that touch. At the other end Peter Thompson, missed a glorious chance to give his side the lead, as Steeky lost possession, but threw himself at Thompson's feet causing the IFA striker to fire over the bar, when it looked easier to score.

With 17 mins gone United took the lead, when we won a free kick about 30 yards from goal and Tony, rolled the ball to Cush, who strode forward a couple of yards before releasing a thunderbolt, which swerved past the outstretched hands of Glendenning, the IFA keeper. I had a perfect view of this goal going into the net and the keeper had no chance and I and the small band of United supporters were a cock-a-hoop, I can tell you.

Earlier, Glendenning, in the IFA goal, had a bit of a let-off, when he tried to chip the ball over Tippers, but the ball bounced off the United striker's back and into the grateful arms of the keeper. Linfield tried to get back on terms and Waterworth fired over when well placed and then Wards curler flew past Dwayne's left post, with the keeper well beaten. But it was United who had should have taken the lead, but the Lino was at the Boucher Road end was sleeping and missed the action.

It there seemed to be little danger as Captain Jenks chased a ball down the left-wing and his cross seemed to be too near the keeper. The keeper was claiming the ball had gone out, but the Lino seemed to wave play on and Glendenning caught the ball and inadvertently stepped over the goal-line, but the Lino saw nothing and he got away with his mistake, but it looked to be in the net as far as I could see, although I was at least 50 yards behind the goal.

As usually happens in these incidents, two mins later Linfield got an equaliser, when McCann drove the ball home past Nelson, who had no chance. Linfield were back on terms, but in my book they should have been 2-1 down, but no signal from the Lino and Lucky Linfield got away with it, much as Chickenville got away with the handball incident in last weeks league cup final, no justice for country teams in Belfast. There was no further scoring until the halftime whistle sounded and the players trotted off to their halftime cuppa.

2nd half
The talk at halftime was all about how Paddy Mac was having a good debut and our goal which was not given , just our luck I thought. Linfield came out with all guns blazing in the 2nd half and when Ally made a hash of a clearance, it went straight to McCann and he found Waterworth unmarked and he headed into the net only for the Lino's flag to rule the goal out, so the Lino had woken up at halftime. The IFA pressure was relentless and a McCann free-kick beat Nelson, but also beat the crossbar and ended up on the top of the net.

It was obvious a change would have to made and Cush went off to be replaced by new signing Eamon McAllister, making his United debut. United managed to fashion a chance, when Tippers found Ally in the box, but he screwed his right-foot shot wide, from a good position. This was Ally's last meaningful contribution to proceedings as he was replaced by the barber,Gawley. McAllister had a good run out on the right, but his cross was too close to the keeper, who saved easily. Our two strikers, Tippers and Cutch, were struggling and it was obvious a change would have to made.

Clarke, of Linfield, was giving Steeky a torrid time on the right flank and from one of those mazy runs, he got a bit of space and drove the ball into the net despite Nelson getting a hand to it, to give IFA a 2-1 lead. At last Fergie acted and took off Tippers with ten mins remaining, too little too late I thought. Paddy Mac went down with a head injury, when he was fouled, but he was able to resume after treatment from our physio.  After this the game petered out, we won a few throw-ins taken by the barber, but nothing came of them.

When the ref finally blew his whistle, I couldn't help thinking that we had been robbed, on the balance of play maybe the IFA just deserved the three points, but with an alert Lino, we could have at least got a share of the spoils and I think it would have been only fair, but nothings changed, you get nothing but hard luck stories when you play the IFA. Next up for United is an away trip to Solitude, to play Chickenville in the Irish cup, the fourth time this season we have played them at Solitude and we're overdue a win, let be next week and please let us have some alert officials, COSB!

Nelson (7), Jimer (7), Steeky (6), Paddy Mac (7), JT (7), Cush (7) (Sub: Eamon Mac 6,), Tony (6), Jenks (6), Ally (6) (Sub: Barber 6,), Tippers (6) (Sub: Darboy 6,), Cutch (6)

Man of the match: Cush