Tippers Brace!

Dwayne (6), Kyley (5) (Sub: Ferguson 60mins 7), Rodger (6), JT (6), Jimer 97), Steeky (6),  Thommo (6), Jenks (6), Maggers (6) (Sub: Faulkner 59mins 6), Cush (8), Tippers (7). Subs not used: Paddy Mac, Darhen and O Kane.

Man of the match: Cush

Referee: Keith Kennedy  1

Veteran striker Tippers, was the villain of the piece last Saturday, when he missed two chances as United drew with the Ports. Today he nearly became a hero, when he was alert, when Cush's two shots, one from a free-kick and the other from open play, left him with an open goal and he buried them both. He later proved he was only human, when he blasted the ball over the bar, instead of working the keeper, Ogre.

United manager Spike, made two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday, with Kyley replacing the suspended Tony and Maggers, replacing the injured Matty. Spike, in his wisdom decided to go with 3 central defenders and this proved to be a disaster from start to finish. The Crues, playing with the wind at their back, were allowed to go through our defence as if it wasn't there and how United only conceded two goals in the first-half, I honestly don't know.

Referee Keith Kennedy, set out his stall from the start, when he clothed himself in a Crusaders kit and he gave them every decision, making no allowance for the conditions, including gale-force winds and a slick surface. United managed to hold out for 13 mins, Owens, was given freedom in our area and he swept the ball home to give his team a 1-0 lead. Little was seen of United in attack and as they seemed content to shoot themselves in the foot, playing the ball back at every opportunity and giving away possession.

When Heatley, was allowed to waltz round our defence, Dwayne rushed from his goal and seemed to get a hand to the ball, but his impetus meant he collided with Heatley and the ref gave a penalty, booking Dwayne to boot. We know to our cost, that is not getting the ball that matters, its what happens after you get the ball, when Kyley was pulled up for a foul at the Loughshore Arena, after cleanly winning the ball. Justice was done on this occasion, when Heatley, ballooned his spot-kick over the bar.

There was no let up in the home teams relentless pressure and Owens missed at least three sitters, the post coming to United's rescue on at least one occasion. The rain was bucketing down at this stage, but after it went off, the breeze seemed to die down a bit and United mounted a couple of attacks. From one of these we won a corner and kyley had a free-header in the six-yard box, which he headed over, a real let-off for the home side and a goal that would have drew United level. The home side stepped up their efforts again and our forwards were guilty of allowing Ogre too much space and he was able to hoist the ball into our box and put pressure on our beleaguered defence.

From a Crues corner, Dwayne was beaten in the flight of the ball and his punch seemed to take the ball goalwards and the Lino indicated that it had crossed the line and Dwayne was accredited with an own goal. Having not watched the TV footage yet, I couldn't say, but I thought we got away with one, ten days ago, that was over the line and missed by the Lino, this week we were punished, swings and roundabouts as they say. Jordan Owens, continued to threaten our defence, but we held out to halftime and it was obvious to everybody except our management, that our system wasn't working and needed to be changed.


2nd half
United took the field with the same personnel and they got a lifeline three mins into the half, when we won a free-kick about 25 yards from goal, almost in the middle of the pitch. Up stepped Cush and his left-foot shot was only parried by Ogre and Tippers was on hand for his 7th goal of the season to reduced the deficit 2-1. Just when we thought, we had got a lifeline, Crues won another penalty, when Kyley, was adjudged to have pushed Owens, when he backed into the United defender. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and booked Kyley in the process.

Crues, having already missed one penalty, through Heatley, changed their penalty kick taker to Burns and he blasted the ball up the middle to restore the Crues, two goal cushion. That goal came at a crucial time, when United were beginning to get a foothold in the match and I thought it would be the death-knell for us.  But the referee decided to take a hand and he decided to book Maggers, but for what for I don't know, he maybe was questioning a decision, or commenting on the refs parentage, we'll maybe never know. The upshot was that Spike decided to make a change and Maggers was replaced by Faulkner and 1 minute later Kyley, was replaced by the manager's son, Matthew.

These two subs seemed to work as United went back to a 4,3,3,, formation with Jenks moving up front. The referee was in booking mode and booked numerous United players, nearly every-time they won the ball and only one Crues player and it was not a dirty game by any means. With over an hour gone, that man Cush, tried a shot from 35 yards and Ogre pushed it on the bar and Tippers was on hand to score his second of the day, to reduce the deficit to 3-2. As the referee was in booking mode, he showed his biased nature, when Heatley went with an over-the-ball tackle on United's JT, but the ref merely talked to him, I thought it merited at least a yellow card.

Ogre and the Crues players were wasting time at every opportunity, but the ref done nothing, he must have been happy with the situation as it was. United continued to pick up bookings with Faulkner, who had a shot well saved earlier and Captain Jimer booked, for an innocuous fouls. The ref called a halt to play, when Cush seemed to be the subject of a block tackle from Magowan and Magowan seemed to come off worst and as United were continuing to attack. I foolishly thought that Cush, had won a free-kick, but the ref merely gave a bounce ball and instructed the Crues player to give the ball back to Dwayne. As it turned out Magowan, was bluffing, but he wasted precious seconds off the match time.

Then Tippers, bleanged the ball over the bar when well placed and despite United mounting several attacks, they couldn't get the vital breakthrough which would have given them a share of the spoils. The referee, added insult to injury, by only adding 3 mins to the proceedings, with the Crues hanging on and played exactly 3 mins. The time-wasting, by the Crues players had went unnoticed by the referee, but nothing strange there. United had come up short, who knows if our manager had started out with the formation he had ended with, we would have got a different result, but that's all for speculation, but we showed fighting spirit and that can't be all bad!

Benevolent Tippers!

Dwayne (7), Jimer (6), JT (7), Rodger (6), Steeky (6), T Kane (6), Jenks (7), Thommo (7), Cush (7), Tippers (6), Matty (5) (Sub: Maggers 66mins 7). Subs (not used): O Kane, Ruddy, Ferguson, Kyley.

Man of the match: Cush

Referee: Raymond Hetherington 4

There was a story doing  the rounds of the rumour mill, that United striker Tippers, was being tipped to be the next manager of Portadown. In truth he played like he was on their side yesterday, missing two sitters and they were sitters, which would have given United the points and moved them up above the Ports in the table and given us some confidence, as we must go to Chickenville and the hatchet men in our next two games, sandwiched in between, is a trip to Larne for the County Antrim Shield semi-final.

As expected Spike made wholesale changes to his starting line-up of last Wednesday's defeat to derby rivals, the Coleraine scum. Out went Kyley and Ruddy from defence and in came JT and Steeky. He went back to his favoured 4,3,3, formation or was that to match the Ports, I'll probably never know. Owen Kane, Faulkner, Maggers and the Barber were replaced by Thommo, Cush, Tippers and young Matty. The Barber and Faulkner didn't even make the bench.

As a result of playing 4,3,3, I thought we were too narrow and bread and butter for the Ports defence aided and abetted with incompetent officials. Referee Heth, is well known to United fans as he makes some funny decisions, especially when you are playing teams from the west of the province. Eight mins into the game, Garret, of Ports went in two-footed on Thommo, a red card offence. Heth, merely talked to him and no cards, it surely deserved a yellow at least.

Not to be outdone Twigg of Ports, elbowed JT and Heth, gave him a good telling off and he was allowed to continue on his merry way, without picking up as much as a yellow card. Tony Kane, obviously thought it was Christmas and he went in late on Casement, of the Ports and to be fair Heth, only lectured him as well. The Lino, on our side of the pitch, the 'home' stand, firstly seemed to be confused with the offside rule in the first-half.

He only flagged for one offside, during the first-half and that was only because somebody in the home stand shouted 'offside', I think. In the second -half, he flagged two times when Tippers didn't even try for the ball and gave two goal-kicks, that were blatant corners. But every cloud has a silver lining and he missed Tippers being offside after 75 mins and we scored from his cross. It was no more than we deserved, but it looked as if we were going to be pointless.

The first-half was a dull affair, both teams struggled on the heavy surface and playing young Matty wide didn't work as he was well below par for most of the game. There was only one real chance of note and that was that man Twigg, who nearly scored with a 30 yard shot which Dwayne diverted for a corner. Two mins previous to this chance, Sammy and me were having a bit a bit of banter, when United won a free-kick about 25 yards from goal.

Sammy said and I had to laugh, that just for a change, Tony, would roll the ball to Cush and Cush, would hit the Ports defensive wall and this is what happened. But the power of the shot took it towards goal and Miskelly (hereafter called Miz), in the Ports goal saved with his legs. Not be to outdone, Tippers set up Jenks with 35 mins gone, but the big Scotsman could only hit the side-netting, a real chance gone begging. 

Captain Jimer, nearly sold the ranch, when he tried a back-pass approaching halftime and played it to the lurking Twigg. Dwayne, rushed from his line and Twigg, tried to back-heel to his strike partner Murray and proved he is no 'Paul Hardy' as he made a mess of it and United survived much Captain Jimer's relief I'm sure. Moments later, after we had the Lino's flag for the first offside at the Fisherwick end, Heth, brought the half to a close and some of us went down for the halftime cuppa.

Those that were left were speculating if Spike, was bringing on Maggers, who seemed to be loosening up as it was obvious there needed to be changes or a different formation as we had created little in the first-half. As I said earlier, there was also the rumour about Tippers and Ports were reportedly asking United to cancel his contract so he could take up duties immediately. Sammy said maybe we could do a swap for Twigg, the most expensive groundsman man in Ireland, but he would have take a massive pay cut and he didn't see that happening!

2nd half

Ten mins into the 2nd half, the Ports broke the deadlock, when Twigg got away from our defence and sidestepped the onrushing Dwayne, who steered him out wide. But Twigg, was not closed down by any of our defenders and he was able to pass to his team-mate, Mackie and he stooped to head into the unguarded net. Was Dwayne, wrong to rush from his goal and try to confront Twigg? I honestly don't know, but he made the decision and he was unlucky in this instance and Ports went into the lead 1-0.

Two mins later it should have been 2-0, when Murray, headed wide when our defenders went asleep yet again, proof if proof were needed, that we need to sign a central defender, pronto. It was obvious that a change would have to be made or changes but Fergie, dithered, until our fans in desperation encouraged him to change 'this s--t' and he acted on this suggestion. He took off young Matty, who was struggling in this formation and brought on Maggers and we started to play a bit and not before time.

A clever bit of play down on right saw Cush, sling over an inch perfect cross to Tippers, at the far post and he could only side-foot ball wide, with Miz, stranded on his goal-line, an awful miss. Then we had two offsides against Tippers, when he made no attempt to go for the ball and the two blatant corners that the Lino gave as goal-kicks. But just when I thought its not going to be United's day, the Lino missed Tippers in an offside position and he when he crossed, Cush, headed it on and Jenks, sent a header into the net past Miz, to draw United level at 1-1.

Could we go on and win it I foolishly thought, but I think Spike was happy with a point and anyway we had no potential match-winner on our bench that was going to come on and grab the game by the 'scruff of the neck' and propel us to victory. In fact it was the Ports, who very nearly grabbed victory when central defender Oman's header bounced on the crossbar. At the other end, Maggers, set up Tippers again and he fluffed his lines once again and he only needed a touch, but he messed up.

The announcement came over the speaker, that the ref had added 3 mins stoppage time and I thought the was up but Sammy, was at pains to point out that the clock said 2 mins 43 seconds, when we won a corner on the right. When this corner was cleared, Heth blew his whistle to end the game and still we had the the clock saying 2 mins and 52 seconds, yet again we didn't get at least the three mins that we were supposed to get, but that's neither here or there, we had missed our chance to go up a place much as we had missed our chances to score!

Another Flop!

Dwayne (7), Jimer (6), Kyley (6), Rodger (5), Ruddy (6) (Sub: Ferguson 77mins 5,), Faulkner (5) (Sub: Matty 69mins 6), T Kane (6), O Kane (5), Barber (5) (Sub Henderson 69mins 6), Maggers (6), Jenks (6). Subs: (not used): McBride, JT.

Man of the match: Dwayne

Referee: D H Crangle 4

Yet again I'm reporting on another United flop, with a semi-final of the JBE league cup beckoning the Sky Blues gave a slip shod performance, reminiscent of former manager Roy Walker's, infamous flops, when the Sky Blues would not turn up for crucial games. The depressing thing about it all, was that was no ordinary game last night, it was a game against our derby rivals the Coleraine scum and their supporters let themselves down once after the game.

I fully appreciate that fans are disappointed when their team have lost, but a minority of scum supporters, think its alright to start trouble when they have won, proof if proof were needed, that they're indeed scum. But I digress, in the absence of the suspended Cush, Faulkner, got the vote, as Leroy was injured, joining Thommo, which meant we are down to the bare bones, having to use untried youngsters as back-up. As young Matty, was away representing Norn Iron under-19 in Russia, he was named on the bench.

Despite the visitors having the find of the season in McLaughlin, in their starting eleven, our manager didn't see the need to have him man-marked and we paid the penalty for this oversight, in spades as they say, when he scored the scum's two goals in a one-sided victory. It could have been more except for the heroics of United keeper Dwayne Nelson, but he was left exposed by our defence when McLaughlin was given the freedom of the park for his two goals last night.

If we had 'goal line technology', I think McLaughlin, would have went home with the match ball, for his shot after 10 mins looked to be in, despite Jimer's  clearance, but we got away with that one. Straight away at the other end, United were denied a penalty for a high challenge, but referee D H Crangle waved play on. A minute later the scum took the lead, when McGonigle, looking miles offside, was allowed to cut into the United box and found the unmarked McLaughlin, whose shot clipped the underside of the bar and crossed the line to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

It has to be said, it was no more than they deserved and the United defence continued to use their gung  ho approach to defending and they continued let crosses in. I could see that something needed to be done about it, but our management team did nothing. Kane of Coleraine was dictating the pace of the game, with his throw-ins and passes, but we never thought to mark him and he continued in the same vein throughout the game.

Our forward play lacked guile, we were so predictable and kept giving the ball away, willy nilly. Our first real effort on goal saw Faulkner, blast the ball over the bar when well placed, what a waste of good possession. When we won a free-kick in added time in the first-half, the Barber delivered a cross, just begging to be put away and our forwards stood like mutton dummies and let the chance go begging. I apologise to any mutton dummies that read this post, but I din't know any other way to describe the frustration I felt last night.

2nd half
Unsurprisingly we took the field with no change of personnel, our management team obviously thought we were doing well and it has to be said we were only 1-0 down. But we had no idea how to break the stubborn Bannsiders defence down, we had no match-winner in our team. Indeed it was the visitors who nearly scored moments after the break, but Dwayne, saved our defenders blushes as he was quickly off his line to thwart the danger.

Nine minutes into this half, Faulkner, had a shot saved by the scum keeper, just after Douglas had blocked a goal-bound shot from Jenks. Jenks, was denied yet again as the scum keeper, got his finger tips to a header at the expense of a corner. The scum keeper had been wasting time since they scored and D H Crangle took scant notice of this merely adding on a minute at the end of the game, instead of flourishing the yellow card and nipping it in the bud. From a free-kick by the Barber, Sammy and me debated whether he would hit the wall with it or over the bar and it was over the bar.

Then disaster struck for United, just after Spike, made a double substitution, taking off the Barber and Faulkner and bringing on young Matty and Darhen. The next move saw Coleraine, feed the ball to McLaughlin, all on his own out the left wing. He looked miles offside, but the Lino never flagged and he sped towards goal and when Dwayne, advanced, he tucked the ball into the empty net to make the score 2-0 to the Coleraine scum.

I feared for United then, a one goal deficit was within our grasp but two goals was beyond comprehension as we had no match-winner to bring on and change the game. The first time young Matty, got the ball he lost his footing and that summed up our chances, but we kept plugging away. Our manager made his final sub with only 13 mins left, taking off Ruddy and bringing on his son Matthew. I thought it would have been better to bring on JT and throw Kyley or Rodger or both, up front to see if we could unsettle Beverland and Douglas.

young Matthew's contribution as far as I could see, was minimal and he had a chance to make a name for himself when well positioned, but he bleanged his shot well over the bar. Maggers, tried his luck from distance, but it was wide of the post with the scum keeper struggling. With a minute to go United got an unlikely life-line, when from another Maggers shot, the scum keeper could only parry the ball and Kyley was on hand to prod the ball home. Then United were denied a penalty, when young Matty appeared to be tripped, but Crangle booked him for simulation.

United continued to attack the wilting scum back-line and D H Crangle had added insult to injury by only adding on 4 mins, despite the visitors wasting time at every opportunity, but the United pressure came to nothing and they had to settle for a 2-1 defeat. We had given it our best shot, but I think young Matty and Darhen should have started, at least they are strikers, but our management team have their own ideas and they are getting paid, but they didn't earn their money last night!

Better Never!

 Dwayne (7), Jimer (7), Kyley (7), Rodger (7), Ruddy (7) (Sub: Maggers 80mins 7,), Faulkner (Thommo 64mins, 7), Tony (6), Gavin (6), Leroy (5) (Sub: Matty 46mins 5,), Jenks (6), Cush (7)

Man of the match: Mike Ruddy

Referee: John Deignan 3

There's an old saying, 'better late than never' and I consoled myself with this thought when I was running late yesterday and I didn't reach my seat until halfway through the first-half. Well I say, 'my seat', but like most United fans I don't have a seat reserved solely for me, but when I'm early, I always sit on the same seat, but yesterday it was taken and Sammy kindly moved up a seat to accommodate me. But given the result, 1-0 loss to the Glens, it was a case of 'better never than late'.

I have not been on the forum of late and I didn't know our manager was missing last week, through illness, so I blamed him in the wrong for making a hash of our substitutions, it was in fact his assistants who got them wrong. But he was back in charge yesterday and he chose to go without a recognised wide player and made only two changes from the side that snatched a draw from the jaws of victory last Saturday. He brought loanee, Gareth Rodger in for JT and Leroy (Millar), in for the Barber.

I completely missed the Cush effort in the first-half that hit the crossbar and Jenks, getting a shot on target this time, not like last week, but its better not to dwell on that sorry incident, it will only start Omar, moaning again. Leroy had a shot blocked and Rodger appeared from nowhere but couldn't find the target with his right-foot. The ref  John Deignan, seemed reluctant to get his cards out and he already talked to McAloreum and Garret of the visitors.

Not so United players, when Leroy and Caldwell, came together and the Glentoran love-child, made a meal out of the tackle, he flourished the yellow card immediately, with Caldwell crying like a stuck pig. Caldwell, was surprisingly able to continue and was on hand to put the Glens into the lead, from an incisive pass from O'Halloran, when United's right flank didn't get a tackle in. Tony was obviously annoyed at this turn of events and in the 4th minute of added time, he in turn lunged at Caldwell and became the second United player to be booked.

2nd half
Not surprisingly, Leroy was subbed at halftime, with young Matty taking his place and the youngster missed an early chance when he sprinted clear of the Glens defence. But he shot hurriedly and the ball went harmlessly across the box and out for a goal-kick. We didn't know it then, but that effort was to sum up young Matty's afternoon. United despite exerting loads of pressure on the Glens defence, couldn't get a telling cross in, not beating the first defender, a waste of time and effort.

Gareth Rodger, became the third United player to be booked and the referee booked Garret, of Glens soon after, for not retreating at a free-kick. When Gavin was dispossessed going forward, his impetus resulted in a clash of heads with McAloreum, but no foul was given and play stopped until they both received treatment and the ref flourished the yellow card to Gavin, but no free-kick to the Glens, I  admit I was baffled. Five mins later McAloreum, finally was booked, but that should have been his second yellow, not his first.

Thommo, had come on for Faulkner and we started to get inroads in the Glens rear-guard. Cush, tried a shot from distance, but Morris, in the Glens goal, parried the shot and recovered the ball before Matty, could get to it. Then from a spell of United pressure Matty, was tripped in the box, but the ref was unmoved and didn't give the penalty. Matty, then missed a sitter when Tony, delivered a gem of a cross, but the young man steered his free header over the bar, with the goal at his mercy.

When Gavin, found space about 30 yards from goal, he tried a snap shot, but it thundered off the crossbar, with Morris, beaten all ends up. Sammy, muttered it was not to be our day and he was proved correct. The ref showed his biased nature, when after McAloreum, had taken the legs from young Matty, he merely talked to him again, instead of flourishing the second yellow card. Moments later, Gavin, took advantage of the refs benevolence and committed a late challenge himself and the ref didn't even bat an eyelid.

The Glens were wasting time at every opportunity and I thought foolishly the ref would add on extra time because of this, some chance. With ten mins to go Spike, took off Ruddy and brought on Maggers. The Lino at the home stand side, the Fisherwick end, gave a goal-kick, when everybody on our side of the ground could see a Glens player heading it past. Matty, then missed another chance when he shot wide and United were denied another penalty when Matty, was impeded in the box, but it seems Rugby tackles are allowed by these officials.

The ref added on 4 mins of added time, there were two mins of injury time at least, never mind the 6 subs being used and he played 3 mins and 40 seconds before sounding his whistle. Sammy, was so incensed with the Lino and he went down to question the officials parentage and forgot he had left his Ballymena United history book, under his seat and had to go up again to retrieve it. That's how much involvement fans of United get in the match, long may it continue, if only the players showed this sort of passion, I think we'd be further up the table, or maybe not, its hard to say!

Ghost Foul!

Dwayne (6), Jimer (6), kyley (7), JT (7), Ruddy (7), Faulkner, (6) Tony (6), Gavin (6) (Sub: Shevlin 83mins 6,), Barber (5) (Sub: Leroy 72mins 5,), Jenks (5), Cush (8). Subs (not used): Steeky, Maggers, O. Kane.

Man of the match: Cush

Referee: Ian McNabb  3

Maybe it was because it was Halloween or maybe he just took pity on Rangers, who had been the most dangerous team throughout the game, but referee Ian McNabb, decided to award them a free-kick just outside the box, when Kyler seemed to win the ball fairly squarely. Despite the protests by the enraged United defenders, led by Captain Jimer, the referee stood his ground. But that was no justification for United to not line-up their defensive wall properly and Kane of Carrick managed to squeeze his free-kick around the ball and into the net, past the diving Dwayne.

United, before this goal, were in the ascendency, against the run of play it has to be said, leading  2-0, but its goals that count and despite lots of pressures, Carrick were shooting blanks. It should have been 3-1, when Faulkner blasted over when well placed, instead of working the keeper and United were made to pay for his benevolence in front of goal and how. Spike, named the same team as that which did duty at Seaview, but there's a vast difference in the playing surfaces between the plastic pitch at Seaview and the Loughshore Bog, laughingly called the Loughshore Arena.

I've seen leveller ploughed fields in my time, than the Taylors Avenue pitch and its not a pitch for good football, but its the same for both teams and Carrick adapted best to the conditions, but they are used to them, but it was foolhardy of Glenn to pick the Barber instead Maggers, who would have revelled in these conditions. He also left young Matty, who is due to go to Glasgow Celtic this incoming week, for a trial, kicking his heels on the bench. Surely it would have been better, to start with a team capably of winning the points, than a team struggling to get anything going with their passing game.

Barely two mins had elapsed when JT, lost his footing in the bog near the halfway line, its usually the goal-mouths that are boggy, but in Carrick's case the whole pitch is boggy and Chines was through on goal. He tried to cut inside as kyley, got back to cover, but the big defender managed to touch the ball off Chines and it ran through to Dwayne. Five minutes later, in the 7th minute to be precise, Faulkner, headed the ball to Jenks, but with the goal at his mercy United's former Captain, blasted the ball wide. Omar was livid at this miss for he had 7 mins on his First goal card and it was a horrendous miss it has to be said.

Cush, then had a chance, saved by Neeson, the Carrick keeper, but what part of his anatomy I couldn't say for sure, but he got a touch to deny Cush. Then Carrick created a chance, but Traynor could only fire over when well placed, a let off for United. Tony, set up Jenks on the right and his cross found Cush, running in and he blasted the ball in typical fashion only for Kane, of Carrick to block a near certain goal. The lino at the end where United were defending, Taylors Avenue end, that I know only too well, had already missed two blatant offsides and from one of these Carrick won a fortuitous, free-kick.

When this free-kick came in, Dwayne, seemed to be fouled but the ref astonishley gave Carrick a corner. There followed a bit of Carrick pressure but luckily United survived this onslaught. The Lino missed a blatant offside near halftime when former United player Sparky, found Chines with a header with the United defenders two yards away, but the flag stayed down. Dwayne, rushed from his goal and Chines decided to lob the keeper, but he missed the target and United survived to halftime.

2nd half
United were out early with no changes their line-up but I expected there would be changes soon. Jenks, had an early chance but he missed the target, claiming that keeper Neeson, had got a touch. But nobody else saw it except Jenks, maybe it was the first appearance of the Carrick Ghost, but I thought it was supposed to haunt the castle, maybe at Halloween its allowed to haunt the bog that is Loughshore Arena and it was to appear later on in the game with disastrous consequences for United.

But I digress, it was the turn of the Lino at the Leisure centre end to miss a blatant offside, when the appropriately Adam Dick  (Dick Turpin),  bore down on goal, maybe the Lino thought the Ghost was playing him on, but he shot straight at Dwayne and Carrick were to pay heavily for this miss. JT, under pressure cleared the ball up-field and over the Carrick defence. Cush held off his marker Kane of Carrick and rifled the ball into to net despite the despairing dive of keeper Nesson, to give United the lead 1-0.

Kane, was beaten once again when he missed a long ball from United Captain Jimer and it fell to the unmarked Faulkner. He unselfishly, passed the ball to Cush, who rounded Neeson and planted a right-foot shot in the back of the net to give United a two goal lead, 2-0. That goal was scored with about 25mins left in the the match and I thought Spike had got to act and get a defender on or a holding midfielder but alas he thought otherwise and we paid the price for this oversight.


With 71 mins gone Kyley, rose highest to a long ball out of defence from keeper Neeson and he was amazed as anybody when the ref awarded a free kick as he won the header fairly and squarely. But the ref was adamant and Kane of Carrick, who had been the last man in United's two goals, curled a delightful free-kick round the United wall to narrow the deficit to 2-1 in United favour. At last Spike, acted bringing off the Barber and bringing on of all people, Leroy Millar. No harm to Leroy, we needed a defender on, or a midfield tackler, not an attacking midfielder-cum-striker.

United spurned another chance, when Cush, played in Faulkner, but he blasted over instead of working the keeper. United were to pay dearly for this miss, when after Jimer, had let a cross come in, Dwayne chose to punch the ball and it fell at Roy's feet and his shot took a deflection, to end up in the back of the net. Three minutes later, Spike, took off Gavin and brought on young Matty, but it was Carrick who were striving for the winner, but luckily we survived but only just.

Despite three mins of added time the match ended in a draw, which left the Sky Blues locked with the Ducks in the league table in joint eight, but the Ducks have a superior goal difference, so we are down in 9th officially. When we were going out of the ground, Sammy said alluding to the Shield draw that was taking place at half five, we didn't want to be drawn away at Carrick or Larne. A home draw would suit us best or an away tie at Windsor, alas we got an away tie at Larne, but that's in a months time, we have some league points to amass in the meantime and a cup tie against our dear neighbours, the Coleraine scum, going be a trying month of November!