Biased Keith!

Nelson (8), Ervin (6), Rodger (7), Kyley (7), Ruddy (8) (Sub: Millar, 80 mins, 6), Ferguson (6) (Sub: Hanley, 62 mins, 7), Cush (7), Faulkner (6) Jenks (8) Matty (7), Tippers (7) (Sub: Darhen, 75 mins, 7),

Man of the match: Mike Ruddy

Referee: Keith (Biased) Kennedy: 2



Its easy to blame the ref for all your troubles, but in this case he's totally to blame. Firstly he gives a penalty for a foul outside the box and TV replays suggest there was minimal contact between United Captain Jimer and Chines of Carrick, in short the Carrick man took a dive. Then he adds insult to injury by sending Jimer off and awarding a penalty, with only 35 seconds on the clock. It was never a penalty, it was a free-kick in the 'D' if was anything and it was never a sending-off.

The ref showed his biased nature 14 mins later when young United striker Matty, was tripped, when he outsmarted his marker in the box as he bore down on goal and incredulously Keith, booked the United striker for 'diving', a complete travesty of justice. As if this wasn't enough, he ruled a perfectly headed goal from the young striker out for a foul that only he saw. In the 2nd half, he had to change his mind when he ruled that Gary Rodger, had been guilty of a back-pass , when he clearly used his knee, the only decision he got right on the night.

United's penchant for conceding early goals was evident last night, when a hopeful punt out of defence, caught Kyley off-balance and striker Chines ran through unopposed. As he neared the box, United captain Jimer challenged him and as the ball run loose, ref Keith Kennedy, an avowed Linfield fan, red carded Jimer and gave a penalty to boot. Chines, defied gravity by springing to his feet and beat Dwayne easily from the spot-kick. United had to withstand an onslaught as Carrick sought to another goal, using their superior numbers, 11 against 10.

Or as Sammy said, 10 against 12, for the ref was really biased in Carrick's favour and he proved it throughout the game. I couldn't believe it when he booked young Matty, when he was clearly tripped trying to get shot off on goal, not going to ground as Chines had done in the first minute. If that wasn't bad enough, he ruled out a perfectly good header from the young striker. when ex-United player, Mark Surgenor, mistimed his jump and the ref gave a foul when no contact was made.

As Chines and Ruddy tussled for the ball, Chines dived hoping to win another penalty and in the aftermath Chines raised his fists, but the referee gave nothing but a free out. He had already booked, Cush and Matty and sent-off Jimer and seemed determined to not book any Carrick men and let them off scot-free. Matty Shevlin, failed to work the keeper, although there appeared to be a bit of short-pulling going on, but unsurprisingly, the ref saw nothing and gave a goal-kick.

The United managers son, young Spike, proved that he hadn't picked up his father's talent for scoring with his head, when he could only head over the bar with a free header from a Cush corner. This benevolence in front of goal almost came to back to haunt United as our defence was guilty of defending too deep and a Carrick player, Kelly, I think it was, headed against a post, when it looked easier to score and United gratefully cleared the ball up-field.

Near halftime  there seemed to bit of argy-bargy in the home stand and I'm indebted to others sitting near the melee, as they told me a group of supporters had a banner, saying 'Spike out', removed by safety stewards and this is what all the trouble was about. A storm in a teacup, no bearing on the game last night, although I don't agree with Spike's comment about supporters, he certainly earned his wages last night and he motivated his team to get in there and fight.

2nd half.

United acme out for the second-half with renewed vigour and referee Keith Kennedy, booked his first Carrick man. McNeil,  with 3 mins on the clock. I foolishly thought he was going to take a grip on the game, but nothing could be further from the truth as he continued to let the visitors away with somewhat tasty tackles and lying down feigning injury, to try to get United players booked. I feel I must praise Mike Ruddy here, he was subjected to some tasty tackles, but he kept his cool.

From a United free-kick, the Carrick keeper Neeson, seemed to get United defender Rodger first as he come for a high ball, Rodger collided with Matty and the ref reluctantly blew his whistle, so that the players could get treatment. The ref didn't consult the Linesman, but its maybe just as well for this official flagged for an offside from a throw-in as United mounted an attack. Rodger had to go off and get a replacement jersey, Tony Kane's old top and United were momentarily down to 9 men.

The ref showed a bit of common sense, by not making young Matty go the touchline, which would have left us with only 8 players on the field. At last Spike acted by taking off young Spike and bring on Hanley. A minute later as Ruddy was guilty of a late tackle, the ref booked the United man, a complete miscarriage of justice if I ever saw one, just a min before Ruddy, had, had his legs clipped form under him and not word said to the culprit.

Fergie, then brought the tiring Tippers off and sent on Darhen in an effort to  inject some new blood into his attack. Nathan Hanley, had taken over the free-kick taking role and the Carrick keeper Neeson, was relieved to see a fumble going round the post from one of these. Spike made his last sub, taking the injured Ruddy and sending on Leroy Millar. From a corner on the left the ball fell nicely to Faulkner, but his shot didn't trouble Neeson in the visitors goal, another chance gone begging I thought.

With 7 mins left, Smyth of Carrick was booked and from the resultant free-kick, the visitors defence, clearly under pressure, was happy to concede a corner, but United couldn't take advantage and the chance was lost. With time edging away, United won a free-kick on the halfway line and the beleaguered Carrick defence  could only edge it on and Jenks was on  hand to volley the ball home from 8 yards.

The players converged on the manager, so much was the relief of finally scoring a goal and setting up our first point, potentially. The crowd were ecstatic, but I was worried about the 4 mins that the ref had added on. Rodger, nearly sold the ranch earlier when he had played a loose ball to a Carrick man but luckily the Carrick man could only shoot wide. The ref gave Carrick a free kick in time added on and the Sky Blues were relieved to see the ball miss the target and winger Roy, ghosting in, could only hit the side-netting.

When the final whistle sounded, I could see hordes of police surrounding the players tunnel, but it was the referee they had come to protect, not our under-fire manager and he needed it as the crowd were baying for his blood and rightly so in my book, he turned out to be a real 'love child', but what else is new. As for United, it doesn't get any easier, as they face a trip  to Moyola, in the league cup on Tuesday night, followed by a trip to the Oval next Saturday, bring them on, I can hardly wait!