Beautiful Timing

Dwayne (8), Tony (8), Kyley (8), JT (8), Jimer (7), Faulkner (5) (Sub: Ruddy 61mins 7,), Thommo (6) (Sub Taggart 35mins 7), Jenks (6), Cush (8), Tippers (7), Shevlin (6) (Sub Darhen 74mins 6). Subs (not used): Maggers, Barber.

Man of the match: Dwayne

Referee: Evan Boyce 3


Let me make one thing clear about my headline, its not anything to do with Cush, popping up to score the winner yesterday. It's to do with the clock and scoreboard that made its debut yesterday, situated where the old Chicken stand used to be. Our Sammy, was in his element, asking 'how long to go to halftime' and getting amusement out of Omar, who continued to consult his wrist watch. The only thing that is needed now is the time added on at the end of the 45, but that needs the referee's co-operation, to get that final piece in the jigsaw, so to speak.

Ref Evan Boyce, was a busy man yesterday, he awarded United a soft penalty when Tippers was impeded in the box and he ignored a brutal tackle by Harpur of the Swifts, on United's Tony Kane, which should brought at least a yellow card, if not a red one. In the same move, Cush, fouled a Swifts player in retaliation and Evan couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough. When Tippers lunged at Harpur in the second-half, who made a meal of the tackle, Evan showed the red card to United's leading goalscorer, without hesitation.

But in spite of Evan's biased performance, United somehow got through to claim the three points although it has to be said it was dire stuff. Conditions played their part, there was a swirling wind and the match balls, not for the first time I may add, seemed to be soft, somebody needs to get their fingers out and ensure this doesn't happen again. United were attacking their favourite end in the first-half, with the wind assisting them for the most part, but it was blowing from the far corner, at the Warden Street end to the near corner, Fisherwick end.

As forecast in Sky Blue Sport, our manager Spike, selected the same eleven as lost at Mourneview Park last Saturday. United started at a whirlwind pace (pardon the pun) and Tony flashed a ball across the box, but young Matty just failed to get his head to it. With barely ten mins gone, Dwayne, used the wind to perfection and his long clearance found Tippers, in the opposition's box. Tippers went down under a challenge, but amazingly ref Boyce, gave a penalty. Not one of the usual culprits seemed intent on taking the spot-kick and Captain Jimer stepped up to the mark.

But his weak penalty was easily saved by Coleman in the Swifts goal, making it the third penalty in four games the Sky Blues had failed to convert. Omar, so quiet usually (that's a laugh), was bemoaning the fact that Ally (Teggart), who had been our ace penalty-kick taker since Cutch left, was among the subs, but for the wrong team, the Swifts. Surely our coaches have to make finding a reliable penalty-kick taker, their main objective before we face the hatchet men at Seaview, next Tuesday, in the Toals County Antrim Shield, quarter-final.

The penalty miss seemed to spur the Swifts on and they came close with two efforts, the second one  saw Dwayne, scurrying across his goal, but it missed the target. Matty, shrugged off his marker and crossed for Tippers, but Coleman got down to save and the chance was lost. Then we had the horrendous tackle on Tony, right below the Lino eyes, that went unpunished and the booking for Cush. Five mins later, Thommo, fell heavily in making a tackle and had to be replaced, with Gavin, taking his place. Despite a series of corners, United failed to beat the first man as usual, yet another waste.

The clock was counting down, but we never saw the 4th officials holding up his board for the added time and I was surprised to hear the referees whistle and the added time never appeared on the scoreboard. Maybe you need the NIPL permission to show what time the ref has added on to proceedings, or maybe when the time is showing as elapsed you have to revert back to your wristwatch. As long as they don't bring back the egg-timer or the sun dial, I think we should be alright, we'll just have to wait on the referees interpretation of how long is left, as always.

2nd half

United could have taken the lead 8 mins into this half, but despite getting a shot in Jenks, couldn't find the target. A minute later disaster struck for United, when Tippers, went in with studs showing on Harpur (the ace villain) and was promptly sent-off  as the Swifts player seemed to be writhing in agony, but it was all bluff. United were under a bit of pressure after this and were indebted to their goalie Dwayne, who pulled the 'best save' I have ever seen, when Lowe of Swifts seemed certain to score.

Dwayne, had looked beaten, going the wrong way, but he swivelled his body sideways and produced a wonder save to keep the scores level at 0-0. That save was worth the admission price alone and kept United in the game. On the hour mark Glenn, took off Faulkner and brought on Ruddy, who slotted in at leftback, therefore releasing Captain Jimer, to rightback and Tony to right-midfield. That change heralded a new belief in United and they started to make inroads on the Swifts defence. With 15 mins left, Matty made way for Darhen and we continued to probe.

Dwayne, fumbled a cross and the Lino decided it was a corner, but we survived that scare, surely we wouldn't succumb to a late goal now. With the scoreboard time ticking away, Cush got on the end of a Ruddy, cross but could only head over the bar. With 90 mins elapsed, Tony, took a long throw-in and the ball was half cleared to Gavin and his pass was headed down by Kyley and Cush's scuffed shot found the back of the net, which brought rapturous applause from the United faithful, me included, what a relief, it was almost palatable, whatever that means, lol.

Despite the 4th official not showing us the time added on by the ref, we survived what seemed an eternity and when the ref blew his whistle everybody stood and applauded for a full three minutes or more. It was as if  we had won something, not just the three points, we had defied the odds, going down to ten men and missing  a penalty and come through with grit and determination. But no time to rest on our laurels, we have a game on Tuesday night against the reigning NIFL champions, Crues, in the Toals County Antrim Shield , I can hardly wait for it, come on Sky Blues!