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!
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!
posted by SkyBlueSport @ 6:52 pm
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