King David!

The United Talisman, David Cushely  (Cush), proved to be United's saviour at Solitude as his two late goals knocked out Chickenville out and set up a quarter-final tie away to H&W Welders. I think the win was no more than United deserved, playing on the unnatural surface, that suits the home team style of play. If they hadn't seen the task through, no doubt we'd be talking about the totally biased display of Colin 'Blind man' Burns, who denied United two cast iron penalties after giving Chickenville a penalty when top scorer Gorman fell over JT.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that Gormely, took a dive and was rewarded by winning a penalty for his side, instead of a booking, which it should have been. United manager Spike, made two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday's defeat at Windsor Park. Out went Ally, to be replaced with the Barber, Gawley and Dwayne in goals, was replaced with new signing Tim Allen, hereafter, called Tall. Spike's gambled in -playing Tim and was rewarded by a near faultless performance from the Australian native and was only eclipsed, by my reckoning in the man of match accolades, by Cush and Paddy Mac.

The former Reds defender, Paddy Mac, has already proved an asset to the Sky Blues and his no nonsense approach is breathing fresh air into the lungs of his fellow defenders. When we had a goalmouth scramble after half an hour yesterday, Paddy Mac, proved to be the calming influence and we kept our shape and didn't succumb to pressure. Readers of my column know my views on so called progressive clubs (the two Reds), building a stand behind behind the goals to house opposing fans and getting a pat on the back from the IFA, NIFL etc.etc.

But credit to the Sky Blue fans, they turned up in numbers to witness this match, but like me they were peering about 130 yds, when play was up the other end. I mentioned this on a post in the Irish League supporters forum and near got crucified , by all in sundry, for daring to say Chickenville were not a progressive club, but I still stick with what I said, its my opinion. I am indebted to Stephen Alexander, for filling me in what was happening at the other end of the pitch, as Chickenville were defending that end in the first half. I saw we created chances, but I couldn't be sure who it was on the end of them.

According to Stephen, it was Captain Jenks, who couldn't get a shot in at a corner, but I could barley make him out, it was a man in black. At our end, Tall, received a loud cheer from Sky Blue fans, when he plucked a high cross out of the air. He wasn't afraid to come out either, but boobed when coming out as Gormely chased a ball along the touchline, with JT in attendance, but luckily he didn't get stranded, methinks Big Wes will soon set him straight on that one, only come when you are certain of getting the ball.

Cush had a sighter in the first half, but his shot missed the target, but it was only a sighter. Jay Donnelly, fed his namesake, Marty, but Tall saved his shot, knocking it up into the air and catching it, easy peasy for some. The Barber lost possession in the centre circle and JT's attempted clearance rebounded off Donnelly's legs and he burst through. but Tall, in the United goal stood firm and dived on Jay's shot and we breathed a sigh of relief, a let-off, of our own making. The Barber it has to be said was struggling to make an impact, but he backtracked and got in a tackle in, when the Reds turned up the heat.

His long throw-ins didn't lead to many chances and his corners didn't beat the first man, where has it all gone wrong, in the first half of the season, his dead-ball actions were rewarded with goals, but not so yesterday. Paddy Mac went up for his long throw-ins, but they seemed to drop short, we need to get them right or its no point in doing them, IMO. Blind man Burns brought the half to a close, nothing too controversial, had taken place, so we gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was ruling in the Reds favour, when they went down and ignoring our pleas when Tippers was wrestled to the ground, but he saw nothing, but that's only to be expected.

2nd half
United were caught cold at the start of the second half and we were struggling to clear their lines. JT seemed to fall and Gormely thought it was a game and he dived over JT and the Blind man awarded a penalty to the home team. The United team were shell-shocked by this turn of events, but in truth not surprised for we have experienced the biased refereeing of the Blind man, many times before. McMullan tucked away the penally, despite Tall diving the right way to give the home team a  fortuitous 1-0 lead.

Two mins later United were denied a cast iron penalty when, after Cush's initial shot was saved by Cherrie's legs, McGovern took the legs from Cush when he tried to follow up, not surprisingly the Blind man turned his back. In this Irish cup run, we are experimenting on having two extra officials behind the goals and as far as I can see, they are doing no good. The one behind the goal we were attacking in the second period ignored a blatant hand-ball moments later, when a cross from the Barber was deflected away by a defenders hand.

The Blind added insult to injury by awarding us a corner, but I forgot, hand passes by the Reds are legal, we learnt that from the league cup final. JT was lucky to stay on the field as he reacted strongly to a horrendous tackle by Gormely, they should have both been red carded, but they got away with two yellows. United survived a scare when Jay D raced away, but Steeky got back to avert the danger. Spike made two changes at this point, taking off Gawley and Cutch, both of whom were having an off day and brought on Thommo and Darboy and we reverted to 4,3,3, formation, with Cush moving upfront to support Tippers and Darboy.

But it was the home team who were the first to show and Tall, distinguished himself with two or three cracking saves, which kept us in the match. I'm indebted to Stephen once again, for we were defending the far goals in this half and I couldn't be sure of my facts. First he parried a shot from Jay D and then saved Marty D's follow up header. United mounted an attack at the other end and from Jenks cross, Darboy blasted the ball wide, I wondered idly if that was our last chance gone begging. Two mins later, Tall just managed get his hands to a Jay D shot and diverted it to the inside of the post and away to safety.

After a horrendous tackle by Catney on Thommo, the Blind man waved play on and Tony shot straight into the hands of Cherrie, when play stopped a minute later, Burns merely talked to Catney. A minute so later, Thommo committed a foul and the yellow came out immediately, biased or what? As we approached 90 mins with Cherrie, blatantly wasting time, Cush won a free about 25 yards from goal in a central position. Tony rolled the ball to Cush and his thunderbolt took a slight deflection and found the net to tie the scores at one a piece. It was no more and United deserved and three mins later the fairy tale was completed.

Cush was fouled out on the right, about 30 yards from goal and the Reds only put two men in their defensive wall. Again, Tony rolled the ball to Cush and his Thunderbolt sped into the net past the startled Cherrie, to give United a 2-1 lead in the 92 mins. We were deliriously happy and my scarf got a rare outing I can tell you and we had a marvellous view of the goal, most of the game is still a mystery to me, like looking through the wrong lens of binoculars. I felt sorry for Sammy Patterson, he was sick and couldn't make it, but I know he will hear about it for many long years to come.

We intercepted the ball when they centred it and Darboy sped away down  the left-wing and was fouled near the corner flag, but no card this time and he and Tippers, codded about wasting time, until finally the Blind man had, had enough and blew his final whistle. We were celebrating as if we had won the cup, not got into the next round, but we had laid the Chickenville bogey, bring on the Welders. We cheered our heroes and someone from the Reds stand ran onto the field with an Eire flag  and the stewards were hard pressed to catch him and we were victorious and old Tommy Breslin was dumbfounded, I am so glad to see it, long may it continue!


Tall (8), Jimer (7), Steeky (7), Paddy Mac (8), JT (7), Barber (6) (Sub: Thommo 7,), Tony (7), Jenks (7), Cush (8), Cutch (6) (Darboy 7,), Tippers (7)

Man of the match: Paddy Mac