Another Flop!

United manager Glenn Ferguson, did as we at 'Sport suggested and selected his captain, Alan Jenks, to partner Paddy Mac in central defence. We hold our collective hands up and say we're sorry, but it just didn't work. Jenks made a hash of a routine clearance, which led to a corner early on and two mins later he back-passed to Tall Tim, who inexplicably passed it back to him, then Jenks contrived to play in Crues player Heatley. Jenks managed to recover and got a tackle in and Heatley took a blatant dive.

Tim, 'nice but dim' Marshall, wasn't fooled but didn't book the culprit, in fact he never booked anybody in the entire game and we had at least three head injuries, but no yellow cards. The Lino at the Fisherwick end was diabolical and missed at least three blatant offsides, including Heatley, when he was 2 yards offside, to score the Crues equaliser, prompting our Sammy, to make reference to his patronage. All in all, Fergie made four changes to his starting line-up of last Friday's loss at Dungannon.

Out went Cookie, presumably injured as he was not on the bench and in came Captain Jenks, who was suspended last week. Sparky, replaced the suspended Thommo and Ally replaced Cush, who was also serving a one match suspension. In his wisdom Fergie, dropped Darboy and his replacement was Brian Mack, who was a virtual passenger throughout the match. We had been campaigning for Spike, to get some bite in midfield and when he does, it isn't needed (sods law), for the league leaders don't play in midfield, they just hoof the ball up-field and hope to win possession off it.

They are very good at this, but like us they tend to ride their luck and luck was on their side on Saturday and the ref was too. The Crues juggernaut started brightly and Heatley almost gave them the lead after 7 mins, when his thunderbolt shot was expertly tipped over by Tall Tim. From the resultant corner, Jenks had ample time to clear the ball, but he dithered and let it run out for another corner. Worse was to happen two mins later, when he and Tall played a one-two in our penalty box and Jenks gave the ball away to Heately.

Heatley, who had been in offside position, seemed confused by this turn of events, he hesitated and allowed Jenks to get a tackle in, before regaining his senses and taking a blatant dive. To his credit ref Tim, wasn't fooled by Heatley, but he didn't book him as he should have done. Jenks made the Crues pay for this gamesmanship when United won a corner after 15 mins. Maca, who seems to our corner kick taker now and he is useless IMO, took the corner and didn't get past the first man, but maybe that was the ploy,lol.

The ball came to Tony and he whipped it back in to Mack, his pass ballooned up in the air, but Tippers managed to control it at the far post before finding his Captain lurking in the box. Jenks shot at goal but Adamson got in the way and got the final touch as the ball found the net to give United a fortuitous  one goal lead. United's lead just lasted for a mere 10 mins, when Owens was allowed to pass to Heatley who was at least a yard offside, to side-foot the ball home, but the Lino's flag stayed down and the score was one apiece.

United's ploy of playing one man upfront and leaving the Crues to thump the ball up at every opportunity, meant the match as a spectacle was boring to say the least. But at least there was no further scoring after that and United managed to hold out to halftime, but it was obvious a change of personnel was needed, with Maca struggling to get into the game and I for one, couldn't understand his inclusion, as he is cup-tied next week, better to have Gawley on, who isn't cup-tied, but what do I know.

2nd half
United turned around with the same team as the first half and the game continued on the same vein, with the Crues hoofing the ball up-field and fighting for secondary possession. With youngster Gardiner on the bench could Fergie have taken a chance on him and moved Jenks up to midfield at the expense of either, Maca or Brian Mack, but he dithered. After 15 mins play in this half Fergie acted, withdrawing Maca and bringing on Gawley, like for like, changing nothing.

Tippers was struggling, for he was running his heart and his control had deserted him, but Spike just let him run. Crues had a couple of chances before they took the lead in the 66 mins and like last week it came from a mistake by our keeper. There seemed little danger as he was challenged for a high ball by Owens, but inexplicably he dropped the ball and Adamson was on  hand to side-foot the ball home. Despite the protests of the United defenders, the goal stood and it seemed a good goal to me.

Tall is a wee bit naive and no doubt he will learn that when he comes out for the ball he needs to be commanding, instead of getting bullied. But he needs to learn fast, or no doubt Twigg and Murray will take advantage of him next week. Jimer had to go off 10 mins later with a gashed face and Fergie made a positive sub this time bringing on Darboy and moving Tony back to fullback. But alas it was too little, too late and Crues wrapped up the points with 9 mins to go. Firstly, Colin Coates's header was brilliantly tipped over by Tall, but from the resultant corner, Owens stole a march on Paddy Mac and headed the insurance goal into the back of the net.

United's day was summed late on when they got a free-kick, about 25 yards from goal and Gawley's free-kick bounced off the Crues wall, what a waste. Mack had gone off to be replaced by youngster, Jake McNeil, but like Mack before him I honestly didn't see him make a difference. So its back to the drawing board for Spike ant the three baldies and they better come up with a plan soon, for we look to be on the slippery slope now and then on top of that we have an Irish cup semi-final next week against Portadown, hope our luck holds, we definitely need a lotta luck!

Tall (6), Jimer (6) (Sub: Darboy 6,), Steeky (6), Paddy Mac (6), Jenks (6), Maca (5) (Sub: Gawley 5,), Sparky  (6), Tony (6), Mack (5) (Sub: McNeil 6,), Ally (6), Tippers (7)

Man of the match: Tippers