Worried Glenn!

 Nelson (6), Ervin (6), McVey (6), Rodger (7), Ruddy (7), Thommo (7), Ferguson (6) Sub: Hanley 69 mins 6,), Jenkins (6), Faulkner (5), Shevlin (7) (Sub: Millar 67 mins, 5), Cushley (6)


 Man of the match: Thommo

Referee: Ross Dunlop (4)

How's that old song go, 'It takes a worried man to sing a worried song,etc.etc.', I think our manger was singing it last night, at least he looked worried as he came off at Stangmore Park and so he should be. He gave a debut to new on-loan signing Gary Rodger, from St Johnstone and although he had a good debut, he nevertheless misjudged a high ball with 3 mins to go and Swifts player McElroy ran through unchallenged to beat Dwayne at his far post and condemn United to their fourth defeat in four games.

The first Swifts goal came about when, Glenn, in his wisdom, took off Matty, with a third of the game still remaining and in my opinion did his team no favours and brought on Leroy Millar, who has recently been scoring goals for fun in the reserves. Leroy, got caught in possession and gave the ball away in his own half and Ryan Harpur beat the offside trap and chipped Dwayne from 10 yards.

Harpur, should have been sent to the dressing room in the first-half, when ref Ross Dunlop, let him away with a horrendous tackle on Cush and two mins later, he had to book him for a similar foul on the same player. Contrast this with a booking for Kyley after 15 mins when, a Swifts player feigned injury, as they went for a 50/50 ball, Ross couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough.

Midway through the half he stopped play for an unseen infringement and then changed his mind and gave a bounce ball and instructed United , who were in possession at the time, to play the ball to the Swifts, the mind truly boggles. United manager, Spike, made two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday's capitulation to the scum. Out went young kyle Crawford and veteran Tippers and in came new signing, Rodger and Faulkner.

Darhen, who impressed when he came on last Saturday, didn't even make the panel, but he could have been injured or out of favour. As expected, the Swifts put us under pressure from the start and although they forced several corners, despite having free headers, they couldn't get the breakthrough and we breathed a sigh of relief. The closest that we came during this opening period was a Cush free-kick that was charged down.

We have got to have a different ploy from free-kicks, teams are wise to Cush's blasters and defend them accordingly. United started to get a foothold in the game, but playing Jenks upfront didn't work as far as I was concerned, Matty and him never gelled. Faulkner should have given us the lead when he broke free on the right, but he delayed and Montgomery tackled him and the chance was lost. Dwayne, was called into action when a looping header almost caught him out, but he saved it just short of the goal-line.

Then Jenks had a chance to score, but he was too slow to react and Rodger got a free header at the back post from a Cush corner, but failed to find the target. That was nearly the last action of the half and the players went off the field with the score 0-0, definitely an improvement as far as United were concerned, but could they hold it and get their first point or points, that was $64,000 question and Glenn looked pleased when he came past me.

2nd half
How United didn't turn their superiority into goals in this half beggars belief, it was virtually shooting in, or should I say shooting and missing the target, time and time again. Matty, Cush and Jenks were all guilty of not working the keeper when they were well placed and for good measure, Faulkner, too missed the target, when well placed also. United manager, Spike, made two changes, taking off young Matty and his son and bring on Millar and Hanley.

I couldn't understand his taking off of Matty, if he wanted to bring Millar on, surely Falkner should have been taken off and Jenks moved back into midfield, not taking off our one goalscorer, but it was the manager's decision. As it was Millar, as far as I could see, didn't offer much and he was caught in possession for the first goal, but it could have been anyone, he was just unfortunate and Swifts players surrounded him with no help in sight.

Cush should have scored, when he latched on a weak defensive header, but Coleman in the Swifts goal, made a decisive save. Two seasons ago, Cush would have scored the chance, but he still hasn't regained the sharpness that he had back then. That proved to be the nail in the coffin as far as United was concerned and the Swifts tied up the points, when Rodger, missed with a header and McElroy beat Dwayne with a crisp shot in the far corner.

A goal worthy of winning any game and United had registered their fourth defeat in four, a dismal record for a once proud team. Glenn, came trudging past us and Omar inquired of him 'was he worried now and nodded that he was, but is it too little too late, to save his United tenure of management, or does he get another chance when Carrick come calling next Friday night. The mood wasn't lifted when the draw was made for League cup and United were drawn away to Moyola Park, a banana skin if I ever saw one!