Speedy Shevlin!

Dwayne (8), Tony (8), JT (7), Captain Jimer (8), Ruddy (8) (Sub: Kyley 82mins, 7,), Faulkner (7) (Sub: Thommo 81 mins 7,), O. Kane (8), Jenks (7), Cush (8), Matty (8), Tippers (8) (Sub: Darhen 86mins 7,),. Subs (not used): Ferguson, Magennis.

Man of the match: Matty Shevlin

Referee: Tim Marshall 7

I can't remember the last time we scored six goals in a League game, let alone against a top team like Chickenville. I had a look at the TV highlights and the only one of the three penalty decisions that was doubtful was the last one, the other two were stonewall penalties and how former United player Johnny Flynn, escaped a booking I don't know, when he manhandled Matty to the ground, surely a yellow card was mandatory if not a red. United Captain Jimer, got sent off twice this season for less, but maybe Tim 'nice but dim' Marshall, thought the penalty was punishment enough.

The United manager made one change from his starting line-up of last Saturday, the restored Tony, for the injured Rodger. Tony fitted right in, as if he never been away and Captain Jimer, slotted in at sweeper alongside JT. Honours were pretty even during the opening exchanges and a Cush shot from 30 yards fizzed past keeper Burke's left post. After 15 mins, the speedy Shevlin, surprised Burke, by shooting rather than crossing, but his effort struck the post and bounced away for a goal-kick, a lucky let-off for the visitors.

Ten mins later it was the visitors turn to be unlucky, when after Dwayne had parried a shot from Garret, two mins later Donnelly's header came back of the bar. As so often happens in football and five mins after Bonner of Chickenville had been booked for a heavy challenge, Owen's Kane's forceful run and shot was blocked, the rebound fell to Matty and he was rugby tackled by Flynn, who miraculously escaped a booking, but rightfully conceded a penalty.

The Chickenville players surrounded the referee and when all the commotion died down, Tippers, stepped up and his hesitation in his run up fooled Burke and he dived to his right and Tippers gratefully put his shot in the left corner of Burke's goal to give United a one goal lead. McDaid was booked for a late tackle, three mins later and Curran four mins after that. With the Reds trying to get back on level terms, I was disappointed to see the ref had added on 3 mins of stoppage time, but it proved to be Chickenville's undoing in the end.

They had been taking chances, playing the ball back to their keeper and hadn't learnt from a several close shaves but they learned to their cost when the 3 mins was almost up. Fullback Bonner chose to play the ball back to his keeper when under pressure from Matty, instead of hitting it into touch which would have been the sensible thing. Quick as a flash, Matty chased the ball and robbed the keeper, who scythed him down leaving the ref no option but to wield the red card and to award United their second penalty of the game.

The Chickenville players were up in arms at this turn of events, all of their own making it has to said and how Tim didn't book more of them beggars belief. Defender Seydak, took on the keepers mantle and although he guessed the right way he couldn't stop Tippers fiercely hit shot and his first task was to pick the ball out of the net. Seconds later the ref blew his whistle and the teams went off to rapturous applause from the home support. I literally couldn't wait for the 2nd half, as I was anticipating a first league victory  over Chickenville for about four seasons.

2nd half
United came out for the 2nd half, as if they thought the job was done, but the Reds had other ideas and they conjured up a goal 4 mins after the restart, when we were chasing shadows. There seemed little danger as Garret was forced wide, but he managed to get a cross in to the far post and Curran stole in to head past the stranded Dwayne and reduce the leeway and set the cat among the pigeons, so to speak. Seven mins later, Cush chested the ball down and beat the stand-in keeper, Seydak, with a crisp left-foot shot from fully 25 yards, to restore United's two goal advantage.

Three mins later, Kieran Murray, ex-Larne player who had been on Spike's, radar came on and he was involved in an unsavoury incident with Mike Ruddy, when he dived in the box trying to win a penalty, when he was not touched and Tim booked him for his trouble. We had, had a lucky let-off, players like that we don't need, that has no part in the game and the sooner it is stamped out the better in my view. Captain Jimer, had been booked for his first foul in the first half and Faulkner, had followed into the book after 52 mins.

Mike Ruddy became United's third player to be booked when he went down under challenge from, Donnelly, who was also booked, during a break in play. I don't honestly know what happened, but I could see Mike, protesting his innocence, but he got booked anyway. But he didn't let it affect him and he proved this when he spotted Seydak off his line and scored with aplomb to make the score 4-1. United had missed further chances to run up a big score, through firstly Jenks and through Matty, as he headed a gem of cross from Cush, past with the goal at his mercy.

Our manager decided to ring the changes and Faulkner was replaced by Thommo and then Ruddy came off to a standing ovation, led by Omar, to be replaced by Kyley, with Jimer moving to leftback. A minute later. Jimer was on hand when Seydak, parried a shot from Matty and Jimer scored with a shot from six-yards to make the score 5-1 to the Sky Blues. The scoring was complete, when Bonner was adjudged to have fouled Matty, before getting a touch to the ball and Tippers, stepped up to send Seydak, the wrong way and complete his hat-trick.

That was Tippers, last action in the game and Darhen, replaced him with 4 mins of normal time to go and Tippers, came off to a standing ovation and rightly so in my book. i can't remember anyone scoring a hat-trick of penalties, it's unique and fully deserved for a man in the twilight of his career, long may he continue. United spurned further chances to add to their score, but we decided to settle for six and it was nice to see the Chickenville supporters sneaking out of the ground and we enjoyed the moment of pure joy when the final whistle sounded. Bring on the Ducks, we've slaughtered the Chickens, its the Ducks turn next week!