Last Report!

The season that promised so,so,much, is finally over and we have nothing to show for it, except six wins on the trot, against lower league sides it should be said. But if truth be told, any season that we finish above the Coleraine scum, isn't all bad, in fact its fairly good. In the process we won six games in a row, for the first time since the first half of the '69 season and I remember in that season we beat the scum away 6-1 and in the return match at the Showgrounds 5-0 and finished below them in the league table, damn and blast, exit stage left.

United manager Spike made four changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday, out went Tall Tim, JT, Gawley and Tippers. In came Dwayne, Cookie, Maca and Captain Jenks. On his last appearance for the club Cookie, was made team Captain and he won the toss and decreed we should play our 'favourite way' in the first half, attacking the Farm Lodge end and having the advantage of the strong breeze in the first half to boot. We lined up for a 4,4,2, formation, with Captain Jenks upfront with Darboy, I admit I was surprised to see Tippers missing.

United took a long time to come to grips with the strong wind in their favour and despite winning several free-kicks in the first half, they invariably drifted harmlessly to Swifts keeper Coleman, who plucked them out of the air. But Darboy was unlucky not to give us the lead with the first real effort on goal, when he lobbed Coleman, only for a defender to get back and nod the ball over from a seemingly impossible angle. Cush was elected to take the corner and he delivered a gem and United took the lead with a goal accredited to our Captain.

When the ball came across, Tony appeared to flick it goalwards and it ended up in the back of the net, but who got the final touch I couldn't say, but Jenks got the credit and who am I to say different. United almost increased the lead soon after this, when a Coleman clearance ricocheted of Darboy, but unfortunately for the ex-Coleraine man it cleared the bar, but only just. Little was seen of the visitors in the first half, but they did come close, when a header beat Dwayne, but the crossbar saved us and ended up by being a goal-kick.

Then it was United's turn again when Darboy chased a long clearance by Dwayne, got the better of his marker and with the goal at his mercy, he shot wide, a horrendous miss, it should have been 2-0. Then on the stroke of halftime, Cush delivered another gem of a corner, and Cookie's header was brilliantly saved by Coleman at the expense of a corner. This corner was taken by Maca, but it wasn't as good as Cush's and the Swifts were able to clear.

There was an unsavoury incident involving Sanusi earlier, when he went in high on Cush, but referee Ross Dunlop merely talked to the Swifts player and Omar mused that the ref hadn't brought any cards with him or he was intent of not issuing any, in view of it being the last game of this season. Cookie, who seemed to dislocated his finger, gave us all a few laughs and drew our sympathy at the same time, when he purposely looked away, with the doctor trying to relocate his finger, a sore finger is a sore thing, but a sore thing.......I digress.

2nd half
The Swifts let their intentions be known in the second half with a shoot on sight policy early on, but despite a few anxious moments the United defence, ably led by Jimer once again, held firm. Dwayne had to react quickly when a shot, clipped the heel of a Swifts player and looked to be going in, but luckily Dwayne got back to save it and prevent a goal. The Swifts had another shot just wide and Cush saw a volley finish the wrong side of the post.

Then we had another funny incident when after a collision between Captain Jenks and Coleman, the keeper's boot came off and Alan replaced it and tied his laces in the process, versatile or what our Captain, proving if proof be needed, that's he's definitely fit to tie anybody's laces.

Maca was struggling to make an impact and Omar remarked that Spike needed to make a change, but his opposite number Darren Murphy, who played for both clubs, acted first by bring on Douglas and Glacken and taking off McMaster and Sanusi. Douglas nearly repaid his managers faith in him, when Dwayne was at full-stretch, to punch his free-kick over the bar. At last Spike acted but in a surprise move he took off Darboy and brought on youth team player, Stewart Nixon. Four mins later he brought on Gawley for Maca and we started to look menacing.

Young Nixon didn't disgrace himself and he nearly got on the score-sheet in one flowing move, but he was foiled by a handball, but no penalty was given. At the other end Ruddy picked up a booking for a heavy challenge, but it wasn't as vicious as Sanusi's earlier in the game and it went unpunished. This time the free-kick sailed harmlessly over the bar, much to the relief of our defenders. With Gawley and Tony combining down our right flank, to carve out openings we looked dangerous. From one cross despite Cush having his first effort charged down, he got to the rebound, but it was straight at Coleman.

With United manger Spike, getting Kyley McVey ready to replace Cookie, United delayed the process when we won a free-kick, courtesy of young Nixon. Cush's curling free-kick was brilliantly saved by Coleman. In added time we got a few long throws and Davey had to be up for them and he collided with Coleman in the Swifts goal. Much as Captain Jenks had done in the earlier in the  half, but this time Coleman's boot didn't come off and he was able to clear the ball.

At last Spike brought on Kyley to replace Cookie and he came off to a standing ovation, well deserved I think for a man who had scored our goal in the County Antrim Shield final and scored the goal that took us to the league cup final. But he was a man that gave his all to the cause, he made mistakes, but he strove to rectify them and he didn't let the bad times rule his life, he concentrated on the good things, no quarter asked or given, an old style defender, he'll be sadly missed, in my opinion.

The Swifts won a corner deep in added time, but luckily we survived and when Ruddy cleared the ball the ref blew his final whistle and brought the curtain down on our season. I wondered how many of the players in that team would be there next season, for our manager was saying that some of them wouldn't be there come August. Is it the end of the line for the versatile Sparky and the long serving Archie? Watch this space and we will endeavour to keep you up to date and for the last time this season, come on Sky Blues!

Dwayne (8), Tony (8), Ruddy (8), Jimer (8), Cookie (8) (Sub: Kyley 7,), Maca (6) (Sub: Gawley 7,), Sparky (6), Thommo (7), Cush (8), Darboy (6) (Sub: Nixon (7), Jenks (7)

Man of the match: Davey 'Cookie' Munster

Five Alive!

The Sky Blues kept their winning streak going against the Ducks, without ever really dominating the game, just doing enough to get the three points. But football is a results orientating business, nice football is entertaining, but it doesn't necessarily keep managers in a job. United manager Spike, made three changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday's victory over Institute. Out went Steeky, Ally and Captain Jenks and they didn't even make the bench.

In came Ruddy, Sparky and Gawley and the bench was made up of , Kyley, Maca and three reserve players, Gardiner, McNeil and Harris, a bold move from Spike I thought. Our own Sammy Patterson, missed his fifth game in a row, some sort of a record I would have thought and BBC red button told us that the last time United had won five games in a row, was back in 2008. No pressure on us then in our last game against Dungannon Swifts next Saturday, a 2pm kick-off.

United started at a whirlwind pace and were undone by a Lino's flag, when Tony and Gawley exchanged passes and the latters cross found its way to Tippers, only to have the Lino raise his flag. I couldn't see that Tippers was offside, but it later turned out that the Lino had flagged for Gawley being offside, which I doubt, but I haven't the benefit of hindsight, or indeed TV action replay and will have to abide by the Lino's decision..

United Captain Jimer, had presumably lost the toss and we were facing the strong breeze in the first-half, attacking our favourite goals at the Fisherwick end. The Lino continues to flag our boys offside and on one occasion Darboy seemed to run from deep, but the Lino flagged anyway. The Ducks came close when a free-kick drifted inches wide of the post and then United should have gone ahead, when Gawley and Tony combined once again and Tony's crossed to Cush.

It was a gem of a cross and Cush chested it down and as we all waited to see the net bulging, he miskicked and the ball went harmlessly wide. Then Sparky found Darboy, but the striker messed up with the ball at his feet, another chance gone begging. Despite having the wind advantage, the Ducks didn't trouble our defenders much, ably led by Captain Jimer. It was United who broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark and was local man Sparky, whose persistence created the opening.

It seemed to be little danger when Sparky chased a seemingly lost cause on the left, but his left-foot cross fell nicely for Gawley, who had time to control the ball and drive it into the net past the despairing dive of Ducks keeper Murphy, to give the Sky Blues a 1-0 lead. The Ducks tried to come back but found the home rearguard in an uncompromising mood. The ref Evan Boyce, had a quiet game and he seemed to be loath to issue any cards as the game unfolded with questionable tackles.

Just before halftime, the Ducks rightback, was allowed space on the Sky Blues right flank and when he crossed to Campbell, Jimer blocked the striker's shot and it went out for a corner. When the corner came over, Campbell's was allowed an overhead kick and it just shaved the post with Tall struggling to get across to make sure it was wide. Cush seemed to be in the wars as he was constantly falling and seemingly wanting the physio on but he and us, survived to halftime.

2nd half
United manager Spike made one change at halftime, with Maca replacing the Barber (Gawley), rumours had it that our Chairman wanted a short back and sides, but he is nearly baldy, so I don't subscribe to that notion. Five mins after the restart, Tony fiound Cush with a wonderful pass and United's talisman drove his cross across the penalty box and Darboy screwed his shot wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy, yet another chance missed.

Mike Ruddy then had a chance, but his looping shot just grazed the post with Murphy beaten. Ducks continued to be dangerous and after United had given the ball away, Ruddy had to block a shot from Noble and JT had to block the rebound. United missed another glorious chance to seal the points, when Tony got to the byline and crossed for Tippers who looked odds on to score but his weak header was parried by Murphy, who gathered the rebound before any home player could react.

That was Tippers last chance to extend his goalscoring record, 19 goals with one match remaining, not bad for an old stager, as he came off to be replaced by sub Gardiner. Gardiner moved to leftback, with Ruddy moving up to left-midfield and Cush going upfront with Darboy. Then United won a free-kick, on the left about 25 yards from goal and in a well worked routine, Cush fed the ball to Tony and his shot ricocheted off a Ducks player and Maca was on hand to steer the ball into the net.

Fergie made his last bold change taking off Ruddy and replacing him with McNeil and I think this had an unsettlingly effect on our defence. The Ducks got a lifeline with with 3 mins to go, when from a free-kick the United defence failed to clear their lines and Beacom fired home to reduce the leeway and leave the score, 2-1 in the Sky Blues favour. Would the home teams benevolence in front of goal come back to haunt them I thought and they were some anxious moments.

But we held out to claim the three points, just about deserved I think, but as usual the Sky Blues had to put us through the wringer. We were all looking for that comprehensive victory and not getting it. The Lino at the end the Sky Blues were defending in the 2nd half, had continued on his merry way, by ignoring blatant offsides by Ducks player, in contrast, to putting his flag up at every opportunity in the first period, but luckily he didn't influence the result, bring on the Swifts!


Tall (7), Tony (7), Ruddy (8) (Sub: McNeil 6,), JT (7), Jimer (8), Gawley (7) (Sub: Maca 7,), Sparky (7), Thommo (7), Cush (7), Tippers (7) (Sub: Gardiner 6,), Darboy (7)

Man of the match: Mike Ruddy

Stute Downed!

There 's an old saying, 'it never rains but it pours' and I think that adage could be used to sum up Institutes's feeling about United's victory, by the score of 2-1. Both United's goals were a tad fortunate, to say the least and the only goal scored by the home side, was a cracker. For the second game in a row, Glenn made five changes to his starting line-up and one positional change. Out went Ruddy, Paddy Mac, Gawley, Sparky and Maca. In came Tony, Steeky, Thommo, Ally and Cush and Jimer switched to sweeper and Tony switched to rightback.

Our bench was made up of Sparky, Maca, Matty, Gawley and the returning Kyley McVey, back from a long spell of injury, welcome back Kyley. The Sky Blues (playing in Black because 'Stute play in Sky Blue also), started off like an express train and I thought they we had won a penalty, with barely a minute gone as Thommo, on a typical run, had been chopped down by defender Crown. It looked well inside the box, but ref Stephen Hughes adjudged it was outside.

In a well rehearsed move, Tony teed up the ball for Cush and his left-foot shot just grazed the crossbar, a lucky let-off for  the home team. I thought the keeper had got a hand to it, but it was ruled a goal-kick, by the officials and they were in a better position to judge than me. Our manager had again tried Captain Jenks and Thommo as his central midfield pairing and the home team started to get inroads into our last line of defence.

But they could not fashion an opening, with our defence being led by example of Jimer, who really looks at home as sweeper and he managed to get a run up field and a shot midway through the half, versatile or what. United nearly broke the deadlock from a corner taken by Ally, as a clearing header was returned by JT, but straight into the arms of keeper Wilson. Cush had another free kick, diverted for a corner and then Darboy challenged the keeper to a high ball and he fumbled the ball but was able to recover before United could take advantage of his mistake.

With less than five minutes of the first-half remaining the deadlock was finally broken, when from a corner taken by Tony, the ref awarded a penalty, for push on United's top scorer, Tippers. Penalty King Ally, stepped up to bury the ball in the back of net, to the keepers left and give United a deserved lead but a fortuitous one in my book. United have scored a penalty in each of the four meetings with Stute this season, surely must be a record I would have thought.

United's lead didn't last long and on the stroke of halftime, the home team managed to get in a telling cross in. I think Tony was caught out of position and winger Young, found a bit of space and his cross was headed towards goal by the unmarked Curry, despite Tall Tim's full stretch efforts to keep it out, it went into the net off the inside of the post. This goal seemed to rock United back on their heels, but luckily there was only a minute to go before halftime and they held out to go in level at one apiece.

2nd half

United regained the lead five minutes after the restart, when a great bit of play by Darboy, saw him lob the ball up over a Stute defender with his back to goal and he then managed to get a cross in and Captain Jenks header seemed to take a deflection off a defender and end up in the back of net. I thought that Jenks had fouled the Stute defender, but ref Hughes gave the goal and it gave United the lead by 2-1.

I thought rather foolishly, that our manager would make some changes and pack the midfield area, in a 'what we have we hold' type of situation but he continued with his bold attacking formation of Jenks and Thommo in centre-midfield.  Stute seized the opportunity and started to get inroads into the United defence and Jimer had to be alert to head one effort for a corner. Then a Curry shot from a tight angle was saved by Tall, as Stute stepped up the pace.

With 16 mins gone in the second period, United got a lucky break when a header by Curry I think, bounced off the inside of the post with United's defenders at sixes and sevens. Surely our manager would now act and get on some cover, but in 71 mins Cush came off to be replaced by Maca, like for like. As luck would have it, exactly a minute later United got a free kick in the centre-field, just outside the 'D' and in the absence of Cush, Tony was elected to take the kick.

Tony's fierce free-kick was beaten out by keeper Wilson, but Tippers was on hand to knock in the rebound, only to be adjudged offside and the score remained 2-1 in United's favour. That was more or less Tippers last part in the game as he was subbed two mins later with young Matty Shevlin taking his place. It didn't take long for Matty to make an impact and keeper Wilson was able to parry the young strikers attempt when he looked clean through.

Maca managed to get a cross in a few mins later, but with the goal at his mercy, Matty blazed over the bar from inside the six-yard box. Then with less than ten mins left, Matty missed again when he latched onto a pass, but he volleyed wide, instead of working the keeper. The United manger finally woke up and took off Thommo and brought on Sparky to see us through to the end of game.

In the 90th minute Matty,  went down injured and as he we had used our three permitted substitutes we finished the game with ten men. United managed to hold out in added time although there were some nervous moments, but justice was done in the end I think, but Stute will no doubt feel aggrieved, with the manner of which it was achieved. So next up for United is a home game to the Ducks where we hope to continue on our winning ways,COSB!


Tall (7), Tony (7), Steeky (7), Jimer (8), JT (7), Cush (6) (Sub: Maca7,), Thommo (7) (Sub: Sparky 6,), Jenks (7), Ally (7), Tippers (6) (Sub: Matty 6,), Darboy (8)

Man of the match: Jimer

Point(s) Taken!

For the second game in a row we committed daylight robbery, well basically it was night-time robbery to be precise, but you know what I mean. We should have been dead and buried by halftime, but despite several openings and a Lino that looked blinded by the setting sun, missing several blatant offsides, including their goal, the teams were level at halftime. Our manager discarded his policy of never changing a winning team by making, five changes and one positional change.

Out went Tony, Steeky, Thommo, Ally and Cush, in came Ruddy, Paddy Mac, Maca, Captain Jenks and top scorer Tippers. Jimer moved from sweeper to rightback in place of Tony who dropped to the bench, alongside, Ally, Steeky, Thommo and Matty. United lost the toss, but I think they would have wanted to play defending our favourite goals at the Fisherwick end in the first half anyway. Point showed they meant business by attacking the hesitant Sky Blue defence from the off.

The game was 4 mins late of getting under-way, whether that was to do with referee Raymond 'Dick head' Crangle, losing his make-up, is anybody's guess. As I say the Point started on the attack and their pacey right-winger (number 19, hereafter known as Teen), exposed Mike Ruddy's lack of pace, but out sprinting him and getting in an a cross that the United defence stood and looked at. He repeated the dose five mins later and it should have led to the first goal, but the ace predator Daniel Hughes, hereafter called Dingo, missed with a free header.

Little was seen of United in attack as they couldn't string two passes together and Point defenders won every high ball that we punted up field. We were 'backs to the wall' defending and when we got the ball, we gave it away again, like a hot potato. The no-nonsense defending by the visitors didn't help our cause and when we won a free kick about 25 yards from goal, Crangle showed his bias, by counting out 9 and a half paces for the Point defensive wall.

Gawley took the free, but it bounced off the wall and fell to Maca but his cross was behind the goal. The speedy players in the Point side meant United fullbacks Jimer and Ruddy, were being exposed time and time again. I was amazed we held out as long, but in 29 mins our defence was breached. We were on the attack and we lost possession and the ball was played on to Dingo clearly offside, but the Lino was obviously blinded by the sun and his flag stayed down.

As Hughes advanced on goal, Tall spread himself and despite getting a touch to the ball, it found the back of net to give the visitors a deserved lead. Tall was called into action again, when the United defence was breached for a second time as the Lino's flag stayed down and Tall dived at the feet of Teen and recovered to grab the ball before Dingo could get a touch. A minute later United got a lifeline with a well worked goal of their own.

From a nice bit of play in midfield, between Maca and Jimer, Sparky found acres of space on the right wing and from his low cross, Tippers slotted the ball past the Point keeper, to tie the scores at one apiece. The Point almost restored their lead when a snap shot by Dingo, was palmed away by Tall for a corner, but thankfully United held out to halftime and the teams went in level for their halftime cuppa and I'm sure the United manager was pleased with the score, even if the performance was not good.

2nd half
The second was a near carbon copy of the first half with United repeatedly giving the ball away as if they were inviting the visitors to score. This can be summed up with several free kicks the Sky Blues won near the halfway line. JT, played the ball to Jenks he played back to JT, who promptly gave it away to the the visitors. I know its not pretty to hump the ball up field, but its better than surrendering possession to the other team. Tall was called on time and time again and he got a little bit of luck when he parried the ball after a shot by Dingo, but Jimer was on hand to clear it off the goal-line.

In a breakaway attack United won a free kick after a deliberate handball by a Point player (no booking by Dick head Crangle, surprise, surprise), on the right wing. From Gawley's superb free kick, Paddy Mac was unlucky not to break his United scoring duck, as his header came off the bar with the Point keeper nowhere. Tippers couldn't get the rebound on target as he shot harmlessly over the bar. This was almost Paddy Mac's last involvement in the game as he succumbed to injury and had to come off to be replaced by Tony.

The game changed at this point when the visitors made a substitution also, replacing the tricky Devlin with Smith. Tony, who had taken up the rightback position when Jimer moved to the centre of defence, began to dictate the United attacks, with winger Gawley. From an Incisive pass by Tony, the Barber took the ball in and crossed rather than shot, but nobody could get on the end of it. Sparky came off to be replaced by Thommo and we were in full attacking mode then.

Spike made his last sub with Steeky replacing Ruddy, who looked displeased and United continued to attack up the right wing. With time running out the United strikers fashioned a goal to break the Point's players hearts, when Tippers found room on the right wing and from his cross, Darboy glanced a header past the Point keeper to give United a lucky 2-1 lead. To their credit the visitors tried to get back on terms, but despite United continuing to give the ball away, they couldn't find a way past Tall Tim, who took the 'man of match' plaudits yet again.

Despite Dick head Crangle adding on at least 4 mins , United held out for victory, a victory that would seemingly mean that the Point are going to have to play the runners-up in the Championship, as they seem doomed to finish in 11th position in the league table. United not only got the win, but they moved up to seventh in the league table as our dear friends down the A26, lost to Dungannon and the win keeps United focused on the magic 50 points mark, with 3 games to go!


Tall (8), Jimer (6), Ruddy (5) (Steeky 6,),JT (5), Paddy Mac (6) (Sub: Tony 8,), Gawley (7), Sparky (7) (Sub: Thommo 6,), Jenks (6), Maca (7), Tippers (8), Darboy (7)

Man of the match: Tall

Darboy Delivers!

All you can ask of a striker is, if by chance he's in the right place at the right time, he does the business and Darboy certainly did the business against his former club at the scum's ground yesterday. The ramshackle ground not only has limited viewing facilities for spectators, but the pitch resembles a field where a farmer has done the groundwork for a ploughing match, definitely not for a  football game.

The surprising number of Sky Blue fans who turned up for this match, saw their team win for the third time this season against their derby rivals, but it was not by any means a classic. I don't know whether it was the pitch, but we couldn't string two passes together for 90% of the game, but we did take an early lead. Our manager, named an unchanged team, the only changes were in the subs bench with Ruddy and Shevlin, replacing the released Cutch and Brian Mack.

Barely two mins were on the clock when United mounted an attack down the left-wing and won a corner, which was taking by the Barber. His in-swinger, found Darboy, in acres of space and he planted his free header in the back of the net to send the Sky Blues fans into raptures. We all sat back and waited for the floodgates to open, but we were disappointed, we didn't have another shot on target until another hour had passed at least.

Unlike his counterpart Spike, the scum manager, had rang the changes from the team that succumbed to league leaders Crues, last week.  Andy Finlay, reportedly only 16 years-old in goals, was beaten by his Darboy's first effort, but thereafter kept a good goal, though in all fairness he didn't have a lot to do as United forwards were shot-shy. The home team shrugged off the disappointment of being an early goal down and starting to get inroads into the United defence.

They may have played all the football, on this glue pot of a pitch, but their shooting did leave a lot to be desired. The Lino, at the end where United's main crowd of fans were situated, started off well by holding up his flag for a close decision, but he only flattered to deceive. After 20 mins McGonigle, who was at least 15 yards offside collected a through pass and the Lino didn't even threaten to raise his flag.

He looked certain certain to score but Tall Tim, had other ideas and he managed to divert the ball away from goal and not let the scum forward get a cross in until our defence had recovered. There followed a bit of pressure, with our defence struggling to clear their lines, but luckily the scum weren't able to take advantage of this. Watt had already missed a chance after 8 mins when JT's weak header fell to him, but Tall saved, a golden chance gone.

Then Watt screwed another shot wide when well placed and Higgins missed the target with a free header from a corner. United did mange to fashion a chance with a neat bit of football, down the scum's left flank when Tony and the Barber, combined and the Barber found Thommo at the edge of the box, but he shot over the bar, not even working the keeper, what a waste.

There was an unsavoury incident when the scum played on with United player Cush lying injured which upset our manager. It all started with a brutal foul on Cush, not given, right in front of the Lino at the stand side and continued on into our box with the ref playing on. We struggled to clear our lines, when we eventually we did get it into touch our manager showed his frustration, by kicking the ball away and got a ticking off from KK (Keith Kennedy).

From the restart, KK added insult to injury, by awarding the scum a free for an alleged foul on a scum player, but he was only bluffing as it turned out. United almost paid the penalty for their earlier benevolence in front of goal, with two mins to go to the break, when Parkhill was adjudged offside, when converting a Lyons through ball. In my opinion he was offside, but it was a close decision and given the Lino's earlier clanger, I thought he had missed this one too, but justice was done in the end.

2nd half
I was hoping for a better 2nd period but alas I was disappointed, as the two teams struggled to play football on the sticky surface. The only two incidences of note came when first, JT foolishly picked up a booking for fisting the ball away, enabling us to waste to waste a few seconds. Secondly when Tall Tim, rushed from his goal to close down sub Harkin, when he broke through the United rearguard and looked odds on to score.

But Tall Tim had other ideas, he not only closed him down, he took the ball off him and passed to a United player. Tall was struggling with his kicking and I thought that Jimer or Tony could have taken the weight of his shoulders and took some their-selves, but it didn't happen and he continued to struggle. Fergie rung the changes in this half, bringing on his Captain, Jenks and top scorer Tippers, for the tiring Cush and the injured Sparky, who was getting no protection from KK.

The biggest cheer of the 2nd half was afforded to Darboy when he was replaced by youngster, Matty Shevlin. Matty almost repeated the dose, as he had done on his debut, by scoring from his first touch as he chased a through ball but he was beaten to it by Finlay, but only just. Shevlin was not to be outdone and when he latched on to a through ball from Tippers we all held our breath but this time, Finlay saved with his legs.

Tall Tim was booked by KK, for time-wasting I think, but I thought it was harsh, given the state of the pitch and his struggling with his dead ball kicks, but that's refereeing in our small country. The ref had added on the requisite 3 mins, but the scum were a spent force and United held out for a victory, not a deserved victory, but a victory nonetheless.  The look on the faces of the 3 stoogies Curly, Larry & Mo, in BT, as Darboy scored the only goal of game sums up derbies for me.

They are either filled with elation or depression, there's no in-between and luckily yesterday turned out to be elation for us, it was not a classic by any means, but it felt good nonetheless. Next up for United is an Easter Tuesday night game at home to the Point. It will be a tough encounter for they are fighting to avoid the play-off scenario, we look fairly safe, but three points would make sure and we are at home for a change, so its all systems go for 50 points, well I can dream, can't I?

Tall (8), Tony (7), Steeky (7). JT (6), Jimer (8), Barber (7), Sparky (7) (Sub: Jenks 6,), Thommo (6), Ally (6), Cush (6) (Sub: Tippers 6,), Darboy (8) (Sub: Matty 6,).

Man of the match: Tall Tim