Sows Ears!

Buckets (8), Jimer (7), Paddy Mac (5)(Sub: Nixon 64mins 6,), Rodger (6), Steeky (7), T Kane (6), Thommo (5)(Sub: Taggart 75 mins 6,), O Kane (5), Cush (7), Jenks (5), Darhen (6)(Sub: Matty 75mins 6,). Subs: (not used): Ferguson, Hanley.

Man of the match: Buckets Blaney

Referee: Ross Dunlop 2

The Sky Blues let themselves and they're loyal supporters down, with this pathetic display at the Coleraine scum's ground. They were beaten to every loose ball and given a football lesson by their greatest rivals and we fans had to sit through it all,it was pure torture. Not even a scorcher of a goal from Cush, could lift the gloom and the 2-1 scoreline flattered United, it should been much more.

Referee Ross Dunlop, who had been showing signs of being a fair referee, blotted his copybook yesterday when he denied United a cast iron penalty, when scum player Harkin, scythed down Steeky, in the box. Admittedly United didn't deserve a lifeline, but 'rules is rules' as they say and in an ironic twist of fate, Harkin supplied the cross from which the scum scored their winner.

Spike, made three chances to his team line-out of last Saturday, with Rodger, coming in for the suspended JT, Steeky, for the injured Ruddy and Darhen, getting a rare start, in place of young Matty. That meant Jenks, playing upfront and its not working, as he was a virtual passenger, a bit like last Saturday against Linfield, we are crying out for a striker and least two central defenders.

I have no doubt when the transfer window opens on Friday, Spike will bring in some new players, but I'll be surprised if they any better than the ones we have at present, which are mediocre at best. The one bright spark, among all the other dullards is Cush and we are losing him at the end of the season. He lit up the scum ground when he scored a scorcher of a goal with a half-volley, but I still think he has to go.

He's only allowing Spike, to paper over the cracks, we could get two players who want to play for the club if we can unload Cush, for the rest of his contract. We have a battle on our hands to avoid being pulled into a relegation/play-off scenario, as we have the second worst defence in the entire league and we need midfielders as well as defenders and a striker wouldn't go amiss too.

Now to the match itself, for the second game in a row United won the toss and chose to attack the town end in the first-half, I think like last Saturday decision to attack the Fisherwick end at the Showgrounds, this was a mistake as the home team always like to attack this end in the second-half and we played into their hands, but what do I know?

The pitch was not in good condition, but it never is so no excuse there for United's slip-shod performance, the players are just not good enough. They played to the best of their ability, but its only bottom of the league form and this is where we will stay in the foreseeable future, unless Fergie, gets his act together and does a bit of coaching to bring his players up to standard.

But there's an old saying 'that you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear' and I'm afraid that too many of our players come into the 'sow ears' category. Coleraine, were down in the dumps last season, but they picked themselves up and are streets ahead of United at this point in time, so it can be done, but our manager needs to weed out the bad apples and he's got plenty of them.

The home team took the game to United and the United defence was put under pressure from the start and scum's leading scorer McLaughlin, headed over when well placed. How he managed to get this space in a crowded penalty area, beggars belief, but he did. United had another let-off when McGonigle collected a pass from McLaughlin and was allowed to cross, but for once Buckets, came off his line to save.

The home team took the lead after 18 mins, when McGonigle, beat the offside trap (or did he), took it round Buckets and shot into the net. TV highlights are inconclusive but I thought he was offside, but the Lino though different and the goal stood. At this stage the home team threatened to run riot, but United's luck held and they weathered the storm.

Darhen, missed a glorious chance to level the scores when he got on the end of a cross by Captain Jimer, but scum keeper Doherty, managed to save with his legs. But United got a lifeline, when a Tony Kane, cross was headed clear and Cush, chested it and struck a sweet right-foot shot, which nestled in the Coleraine net with Doherty getting his finger tips to it but only helping into the net.

Approaching halftime, McGonigle was allowed space, but luckily he headed over the bar and the United defence breathed a sigh of relief. The ref added one minute to the proceedings and I thought surely Spike would have to change things at halftime, but he thought otherwise and he's the manager. The talk at halftime was all about Cush and his cheeky photo in a Crues Jersey last week, gormless or what?

2nd half
The scum nearly took the lead 2 mins after the break but Buckets, got a hand to s drive by that man McGonigle, to tip his effort over the bar. Steeky, had a run into the penalty area, but he blasted the ball high and wide, what a waste. The scum stepped up their efforts to seal the points, but bad finishing let them down and United breathed another sigh of relief.

Ten mins into the second period, Steeky, took up the gauntlet once again, but this time he didn't shoot and went by his man Harkin, only to be scythed down. But ref Dunlop was unmoved, a travesty of justice if I ever saw one. Six mins later, the United defence stood back and allowed Harkin to cross to the unmarked Brown, who headed the ball down for McGonigle to find the and make the score 2-1 to the home side.

Three mins later, Paddy Mac, was injured and was replaced by youngster Stewart Nixon and this meant a reshuffle for United as Jimer moved to central defence and Owen Kane to rightback. The Coleraine keeper Doherty, was booked for a challenge, when he came out of his area and fouled Jenks, but Tony's free-kick came off the defensive wall.

From this rebound, the home team set up a counter attack and McLaughlin dragged his shot wide past the spread-eagled Buckets, yet another let-off for United. Many of the visiting supporters, me included, thought Doherty in the home goal, should already been booked for time wasting, but ref Dunlop thought otherwise and this malaise, that has no place in our beautiful game, goes on.

Spike took off Darhen and Thommo and brought on Gavin and young Matty, but they made no appreciable difference as far as I could see. The youngster, Nixon, made a few intelligent runs up the wing, but they came to nothing and despite loads of pressure United couldn't fashion one clear-cut chance. Nixon, seemed to be fouled when on a run, but ref Dunlop, not for the first time was unmoved.

Buckets came to our rescue once again, with a smart save from Higgins. The ref added insult to injury by only adding on 4 mins at the end of the 90, but United were a beaten team and despite winning a free-kick deep in injury time they couldn't pressurise the home defence. The last real chance fell to Cush, but his drive came off the post and the ref astonishingly gave a goal-kick and the chance was gone.

But in truth it would been an injustice if United had got something from the game, but at the end of the day its goals that count and we have dominated games in the past and come away with nothing, but we're crying for a reliable goal-scorer and we haven't had one of them since Cutch left to join Crues, a well trod route for ex-United players, maybe we're a nursery club for the Crues, lol, bring on the Ports!

Buckets Blayney!

Buckets (6), Jimer (5), JT (6), Paddy Mac (6), Ruddy (6)(Sub: Fergie 21mins (5)), T Kane (5), O Kane (7), Thommo (6), Cush (7)(Sub: Hanley 63mins 6,), Jenks (5), Matty (5)(Sub: Darhen(6), Subs(not used): Kyley and Gavin.

Man of the match: Cush (for that wonder goal)!

Referee: Tim 'nice but dim, Marshall: 2

United keeper Alan 'Buckets' Blayney, seems to do no wrong in his managers eyes, despite dropping at least three clangers, in the four matches he has played in the last 3 weeks, he's still is selected over regular custodian Dwayne Nelson. Moments after United's talisman, Cush, scored a wonder goal, from a goalkeeping error by Linfield's keeper, Glendenning, Alan, tried to even the score when he headed a through ball weakly and got caught flat-footed. Luckily for him and United, Linfield couldn't take advantage of this and spared his blushes on that occasion.

But he wasn't finished there, in the 2nd half he was caught off his line, as Sean Ward of Linfield, was allowed to waltz through the United midfield, he came off his line and allowed Ward, to chip him and get the equaliser. Goalkeeping coaches, are at pains to say in this situation, if you can't come off your line and get the ball, you should make the attacker make the decision, but Alan gave him an out, in my opinion.

That said, United didn't come out in the second-half and they were no great shakes in the first-half either. Our manager Spike made two changes to his starting line-up, with Ruddy, replacing the injured Steeky and Owen Kane, replacing Willie, who is out with a broken elbow. Owen, slotted in to right-wing and had a good game, but he's not a winger, but Spike, as is his form, expects players to play anywhere he has need of them to play.

Captain Jimer, made a foolhardy decision, when he elected that United should play to our favourite goals at the Fisherwick end, in the first-half, normally we attack this end in the second-half, or maybe Spike, dictated which way we should play, we'll probably never know. Linfield, took the game to United early on, but our defence held firm, but disaster struck after 21 mins, when Ruddy, appeared to fall badly, when a Linfield player made a back for him and despite continuing he had to come off.

Despite having Nathan Hanley on the bench, who filled in at left-back with previous club Crusaders, Spike, decided his son Matthew, would come on switching Tony, to rightback and Captain Jimer, to leftback. Now young Fergie, is showing promise, but its a big ask to hope he has the know-how, to battle it out with the likes of Jamie Mulgrew and Sean Ward. I thought it would be better to bring on Hanley, to slot in at leftback and otherwise leave the team unchanged.

But what do I know, I'm only a keyboard warrior as Fergie, is wont to say, but in my opinion we lost any grip that we had in midfield with this injury. Our talisman Cush, was having a poor game by his standards and he got booked for a foul, by the ref Tim 'nice but dim' Marshall, who seemed to be in a no-nonsense mood when he yellow carded Smyth, of Linfield for his reaction to a decision which didn't go in his favour. Cush, was maybe lucky to stay on the field, as he committed two rash tackles after this booking, but the ref later lost control of the match.

United couldn't get an attack going as the Linfield central defenders, dealt easily with every high ball, I think if memory serves me correctly, young Matty, never won a header and Jenks, only won two, but United still continued to use this ploy, hoping the Linfield defenders would make a mistake, but it wasn't looking likely, but then it came it came from an unlikely source. Now I'm a firm believer that if a goalie has to come out for a clearance, he should kick the ball into touch, safety first is my motto, every time.

But the Linfield keeper came out to a ball on his right flank but didn't follow this piece of advice. He merely kicked the ball up the line and straight to Cush, two yards into the Linfield half and he caught on the volley and despite the keeper back-pedalling like mad, the ball cleared his outstretched fist and bounced once and found the net to send us fans wild with delight. Omar, says he thought the keeper was waving at somebody he knew in our stand, he definitely was well beaten by the Cush wonder strike, hopefully not his last in a Sky Blue Jersey.

Cush, nearly repeated the dose moments later, but his volley was well wide on that occasion and United were indebted to Paddy Mac, when he flung himself full length to block a Mulgrew shot. Despite there being a long stoppage for the Ruddy injury, the ref added just one minute onto the 45, but I suspect United were the happier side when he finally blew his whistle for halftime and they went in for their halftime cuppa with the cheers of the home crowd ringing in their ears.

2nd half
Sammy, is always fascinated by our centres when we we invariably, give the ball away to the opposition, by hitting it into touch or in this case, playing it to Linfield's number two, who had the easy task of heading it back to his keeper, advantage lost. I suppose its better than playing it back and losing possession that way, but surely we can find a better way to centre the ball. But I digress, Linfield upped the pace at the start of this half and United were under the cosh.

As usual we defended too deep and when we got the ball forward, young Matty, was outnumbered and the ball came back again, but we managed to hold out until to the 60th minute. Then Sean Ward was allowed to waltz through our midfield and catch Buckets Blaney, off his line and he lobbed the ball over his head to draw Linfield level. Two mins later we lost Cush with an injury and with him went our last chance to make a game of it. As United tried to get back in the game they were met by uncompromising defence by Linfield and ref Tim, let them away with it.

There was a skirmish when Linfield, were pulled up for a foul and Mulgrew who had already been booked was seen to grab Tony by the throat, but ref Tim did nothing. Then Hanley, who had come on to replace Cush was on the receiving end as Stafford, led with his head, but again as expected Tim did nothing, not even a yellow card. Normally, when a player leads with his head its a sending-off offence, but not according to Tim, a gun totting, rooting, shooting, Marshall, he is definitely not.

For once the United defence decided to play the ball out of defence and its easy to see that wasn't in the plan, as they promptly gave the ball away to Linfield and they said thanks very much and scored to give them a 2-1 lead, yet another clanger from the second most porous defence in our league. This goal came after 75 mins and a minute later Fergie, played his trump card and to my complete astonishment he took off Matty and brought on Darhen.

I couldn't understand this substitution, if were chasing the game as we should have been, surely it would be better to keep Matty on and take off a defender or a midfielder and really go for it, but Spike, thought different. Its true to say young Matty, was a virtual passenger in the game, but he has been that way for a few games now and I can't remember the last time he was a force in the United forward line, but I think its ludicrous to take off a striker when you're trying to get a goal.

Stafford, at last found his way into Tim's, notebook with a bad foul, but it should have been his second booking, but Tim, was not going to do that. Linfield couldn't get the insurance goal to tie up the points and they were indebted to ref Tim, once again, when Stafford, pushed Jenks, in the penalty box, but Tim, was unmoved, no surprise there. He added on four mins stoppage time, but where he got that I don't know, 5 subs and a goal, only means 3 mins in my book.

But he played five mins and United were undone once again, when sub Bates, got on the end of a mistake by United Captain Jimer to score with the last kick of the game and send the United fans scurrying to get away from the ground and yet another setback. Next up for the Sky Blues, is the Boxing Day derby with our friends down the A6, the Coleraine scum. Definitely out of that game is the suspended JT and Cush and Ruddy are bound to be doubtful, we will be relying on our reserves, I can hardly wait, lol!

Prawn Crackers!

Blayney (7), Jimer (7), JT (7), Paddy Mac (7)(Sub: Kyley 65mins 6,), Steeky (7), Willie (6), Thommo (6), Tony (8), Cush (6), Jenks (8)(Sub: Darhen 66mins 6,), Matty (6)(Sub: Ruddy 82 mins 6,). Subs: (not used): O Kane, Dwayne.

Man of the match: Tony (Kane)

Referee: Andy Davey 6

Years ago Roy Keane, accused Man Utd fans of being more interested in their Prawn sandwiches, than the football, as there was no atmosphere at old Trafford. Yesterday at the Showgrounds, United fans seemed to be more interested in what they had for lunch (maybe prawn crackers), than the football being played as there was no atmosphere in the first half, it was as if everybody was on tenterhooks, waiting for United to mess up defensively.

Its been well documented that the Sky Blues defence leaks goals, over two goals in every premiership game so far after 20 games. The United defence have leaked 43 goals but on the plus side, they have scored 32, leaving them fifth in the league in the scoring charts. But its defensively where we are falling down and yesterday was no exception. Take yesterday's opponents Warrenpoint, they had only scored 18 goals in 18 games but they managed to score two against United.

It could have more embarrassing for the Sky Blues, but lady luck shone on them at least two times, as the ten men of Warrenpoint gave them a football lesson in the last half of the 2nd half. Our manager Spike, made only one change from his starting line-up of last Saturday, as expected young Matty, got a start in place of the injured Tippers. But surprisingly, he retained Alan Blaney, in goals, despite his two boobs last Saturday against Chickenville. But for a change he named his other keeper Dwayne, as one of his five subs.

Alan, nearly repaid his manager's faith in him, when he nearly presented the Point, with the opening goal, when his clearance ricocheted off Points striker Murray, but luckily it looped over Alan and away from goal. Omar, had just said that Alan's dealing with back-passes had greatly improved, from his first stint at United, when he was a liability. Sammy and me, blamed Omar, for putting the jinx on Alan, but in truth he doesn't need any help in that regard.

Little was seen of United in these early stages, a Cush free-kick, well wide of the mark but a minute after Alan's boob, Cush, managed to get a shot on target with his weaker right-foot, but Parr, in the Point goal was equal to it and saved it easily. There was absolutely no atmosphere in the ground and I was looking for something or somebody to spark the game into life. As luck would have it, it came for an unusual source, a short-corner to United.

Anybody, that reads my column (I hope there's somebody out there), will know I hate short-corners and quick free-kicks, but when United won a corner on the right, they took it short. This time it was different, in the fact that it nearly worked, as Tony took it short to Willie (Faulkner), he in turn found Captain Jimer, who put in a cross but it was headed for another corner, this time on the left. From Tony's in-swinger, JT, headed it goalwards and Moan, Points rightback was adjudged to have handled on the line.

I must say I have my doubts about this decision, but referee Andy Davey, was in no doubt when he produced the red card for Moan and gave a penalty to United. Moan, claimed it was his shoulder that he had hit the ball with and continued to moan (excuse my pun), to all in sundry as he reluctantly made his way off the pitch. United's Alan Jenkins, who had taken over the spot-kick duties, after the Sky Blues had missed three penalties in as many matches took the kick and gave Parr, no chance to give United a 1-0 lead.

The atmosphere changed and the fans started to relax a wee bit, as for once Lady Luck had shone on United, for they usually are the subject of some dodgy decisions on the officials part, but this time it worked for us. United, nearly increased their lead, when Willie, had a shot saved by Parr. Two mins later we thought Cush, had scored with a rare header, only for the ref to rule it out for a a push, which he only had seen, but we allowed him that.

As the Point players got themselves organised, they started to play a bit of football and exerted pressure on United's defence. In one attack, Paddy Mac, was lucky to escape with only a booking, when he used his hand to stop a through ball which he had misjudged. Was it a goal-scoring chance, which should have brought the red card, I thought it was, but the ref merely yellow-carded him, but I thought it was a lucky escape.

In the next United attack, a Point player clearly handled the ball, but the ref played the advantage but when the play ended in stalemate, I thought the ref would book the culprit, but he didn't. The visitors continued to press but United held firm and Blaney, was a steadying hand as he plucked the ball safely out of the air in one attack. Point kept trying to get the goal that would bring them back into the game and United had a wee bit of luck when the ref blew for halftime, when it looked like the Point had won a corner.

2nd half

United came out with renewed vigour in the 2nd half and Tony, found Cush, with a delightful cross-field pass. I must say at this point, I though Cush, looked offside, but there were no protests from the Point players. Cush, unselfishly passed to Jenks, who had the simple task of scoring past the helpless Parr, to give United a two goal advantage. Jenks, completed his hat-trick, his first for United, five mins later when after a delightful pass by Tony again, sent Willie away and Jenks, volleyed his cross into the net to make the score 3-0.


This goal seemed to galvanise the visitors even more and in a delightful bit of play Murray's shot for goal, was parried by Blaney and Jimer, blocked the follow-up shot. United then rung the changes taking off Paddy Mac, whether injured or not I couldn't say and hat-trick hero Jenks, who came off to a standing ovation, but he didn't acknowledge the fans, unprofessional to my mind, but that's a different story. kyley came for Paddy and Jenks, was replaced by the forgotten man in the United ranks, the hero of our victory over Larne, Darhen.

In the Points first attack after these substitutions, Murray, easily beat Kyley and slotted the ball past Blaney to reduce the leeway to 3-1. Five mins later he repeated the dose as Captain Jimer, fed the ball to the marked Matty, who subsequently lost possession and Murray, was found with a neat pass and he held off JT, to fire the ball into the net past Blaney. United looked a disjointed team at this stage, but they managed to mount another attack but it came to nothing.

With 13 mins to go and Ruddy, getting ready to replace someone, United mounted another attack and Darhen, shot from outside the box and Parr, could only parry it (forgive the unintended pun again)and it fell to young Matty. With the goal at his mercy, the young seventeen year-old, shot for goal only to see the ball strike the inside of the left post bounce on the line and hit the inside of the right post, before it was cleared, to leave Matty and the fans dumbstruck.

I don't honestly know how the ball stayed out, maybe we should invent a challenge to see if anybody can repeat the feat, akin to the crossbar challenge. Four minutes later, United tied up the points as from a Tony, in-swinging corner, Cush, had another header parried by Parr (lol) and Kyley, was on hand to to prod the ball into the net. Two mins later, Ruddy came on for young Matty and Darhen, missed a glorious chance when he was through on goal, but he pushed the ball too far and Parr dropped on it.

Then the Points keeper, who had already pushed young Matty, repeated the dose on Ruddy, but the ref took no action and I thought they must have changed the rule and keepers were allowed to push opposing players in the penalty box. Despite a few anxious moments, the United goal survived without being breeched again and they had got the three points, but oh how we were made to suffer. Jenks, took home the match ball, but Tony, who had a hand in all four goals, took the 'man of match' plaudits, long may they continue to shine!

Early Presents!

Blayney (5), Jimer (6), Paddy Mac (5), JT (5), Steeky (5), Faulkner (7), Tony (6), Thommo (7), Cush (6) (Sub: Ferguson 90+3mins 6,), Jenks (6), Tippers (5) (Sub: Darhen 81mins (6)). Subs(not used): O. Kane, Ruddy and Kyley.

Man of the match: Thommo

Referee: Lee Tavinder 2


Christmas came early for Chickenville yesterday at Solitude, when the Sky Blues, porous defence presented them with 3 goals in 23 mins and it could've been worse. Obviously United manager, Spike, was oblivious to the fact, that his signing Alan Blaney, in the close season, is devoid of confidence and ignored the hash he made at Inver Park, with Larne's second goal, or was Dwayne Nelson injured?

We'll probably never know, I can't see Spike, holding his hands up and saying he made a mistake in his selection,I expect he'll blame the players as usual. From the moment Blaney, was lobbed after only 5 mins, I saw the writing on the wall and Blaney wasn't only one to blame for the goal. JT, had a chance to close Reds player McDaid down, but he let him have space and he fed Curran and he chipped Blaney. I thought Blaney, had it covered but he was wrongly positioned and we paid the price.

Spike, not for the first time, picked virtually the same team as did duty on Tuesday night, when the Sky Blues struggled to beat Championship 1 side Larne. Because of injury to on-loan defender, Rodger, Paddy Mac, got the call, he was obviously reluctant to give Kyley a run on the slick Solitude surface. kyley, finds it difficult to keep his feet at the best of times, never mind playing on an artificial surface, but he could have played Captain Jimer, at sweeper, but he chose to bring in Paddy.

Referee, Lee Tavinder, who I haven't seen before, had a stinker, booking six United players and the trainer was only on the field two times in the game. He missed a foul, after four minutes when Thommo, was guilty of a 'foot up' and a Chickenville player, Winchester had to be substituted, with Knowles, taking his place. The play was stopped for a good 2 mins, with the physio working on Winchester, but Lee, only added one minute on, ignoring the four goals that were scored in the first-half.

The substitution seemed to spur the home team on and when McDaid was allowed the freedom of the park, he found Curran with a back-heel and Curran found the net. Blayney appeared to have it covered, but incredulously the ball ended in the back of the net to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Cush, had a shot in United's first attack, but it was easy for keeper Devlin. Donnelly, then missed from 10 yards as the home team continued to press, a let-off for United, but it only delayed the inevitable.

The home team won a throw-in in United's half on the left wing and as usual we didn't mark the thrower, McGovern and when he got the ball returned to him he found Curran, with a pass and he was allowed to cut into our box, before Faulkner was adjudged to have fouled him. Referee Lee, gave a penalty but didn't book Willie, which surprised me, if was a foul, he surely had to be booked, but Lee, obviously thought otherwise. McDaid, drove the penalty straight down the middle and Blayney, diving to his right, was made to look stupid.

United couldn't get anything going themselves and fell further behind, when Blayney, pulled Garret down as he chased a ball along the by-line. I thought the ref would send Blayney, off but it wasn't a goal-scoring opportunity and he escaped a booking as well. McDaid, didn't change his tactics as he slammed the spot-kick up the middle again as Alan, dived to his left this time. I feared for United at this stage, as our defenders were at sixes and sevens and the Reds seemed to be able to score at will.

Two mins later, JT headed a Cush, corner towards goal with the United players claiming it had crossed the line, but ref Lee, was unmoved. The ball was cleared to Faulkner and he caught it on the half-volley and beat Devlin, all ends up from 20 yards to reduce the deficit to 3-1. Could United get back in the game, I foolishly thought, it was going to monumental task and we needed a player to change the game, but Cush, our talisman was not having a good game and Jenks and Tippers were too slow to trouble the Reds back-line.

Tippers, had a chance to reduce the leeway even further, but his lob over the advancing Devlin, was over the bar, a chance gone begging, but United were beginning to get inroads into the match. But could they get another goal back before halftime in order to make a game of it, or did our manager have an ace up his sleeve, where he was going to make one or two telling substitutions and change the game and give our long suffering supporters some hope. The ref added only one minute of stoppage time at the end of the first-half, completely ignoring the four goals scored, at least 30 seconds for each goal, amateurish or what!


2nd half
United had a let-off five mins after the restart, when Curran, ran onto a through ball and beat Blaney, with a shot, but the ball struck the post and rebounded into the arms of Blaney. The Sky Blues had taken the field with no changes, obviously our manager was happy with team he had selected. Donnelly came close a minute later, but he screwed his shot wide and then United got a lifeline. With Darhen, the hero of Tuesday night's game at Larne, warming up on the touchline, Cush shot for goal, Devlin, parried the shot and Tippers, missed two attempts to reduce the leeway, but it luckily fell to Thommo and he volleyed the ball home to make the score 3-2.

This should have been a cue for Spike, to introduce Darhen, as it was obvious that Tippers, was feeling the rigours of Tuesday night's match, but he dithered and we paid the price. United were pressing and Faulkner, missed a chance, but he shot hurriedly and the chance went begging again. Then we had a bizarre incident when Devlin handled the ball outside his area, a sending-of offence, but Lee didn't even show a yellow card. Tony's free-kick was too long and we didn't make the most of this good fortune.

At last with 9 mins remaining, Spike, brought on Darhen, for Tippers, but I thought it was too late for Darhen, to make much of an impact. As it turned out it was the home team who tied up the points two mins later, when fullback Cosgrove, was allowed to go on a run unopposed and he found Knowles and he had the easy task of beating Blaney and leaving our defenders looking flat-footed and made the score 4-2 to the home team.

The Reds should have snatched another goal, when Garret, was left unmarked, but he headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Ref Lee, added on 3 mins this time, even though they had been no stoppages, only two subs and only two goals. Spike, made his last substitution, when he took off the hobbling Cush and brought on his son, Matthew, but the game was over and United had lost in a second league game after scoring two goals, but their defence was porous, again. That's 41 goals conceded in 19 matches a disgraceful record and something needs to be done pronto or we will pulled into a relegation battle, get your finger out, Spike!

Cruel Game!

Blayney (6), Jimer (7), JT(7), Rodger (5), Steeky (6)(Sub: Ferguson 81mins 7), Faulkner (7), Thommo (5)(Sub: Darhen 81mins 7), Tony (6), Cush (7), Jenks (6), Tippers (5)(Sub: O.Kane 118mins 7). Subs not used: Ruddy and Kyley

Man of the match: JT

Referee: Ross Dunlop 7



Sometimes football can be a 'cruel game' and so it proved for Larne, when United's talisman Cush, scored the winner with barely two mins remaining in extra time. Cush, who had been no better than anyone in the Sky Blues midfield or forward line, they were all mediocre to say the least, popped up with moment of 'magic' to capitalise on a defensive mistake and break Larne supporters hearts and fill our hearts with glee at the same time.

So often in the past, it would be United, dominating a game and then a lapse of concentration or a mistake, would let the opposition in, to break our hearts, but this time we were the heart-breakers and boy did we enjoy it. But in our moment of triumph, we felt for the Larne team, if not for their supporters, who have taunted us for years, when we lost to them in a Irish cup semi-final, in 2005, but last night it was our turn to gloat.

Spike, in his wisdom, dropped keeper Dwayne and promoted Alan Blaney, in his place and he made one fatal mistake, when he let the ball squirm under him in the first period of extra-time, to draw Larne level at 2-2. That lapse could have cost us dearly had the match gone to the lottery of penalty kicks, seeing that we missed three of the last four penalty kicks we had won, after being super clinical from twelve yards, none more so than veteran Tippers, who scored a hat-trick of penalties against Chickenville, before skying one over the bar against champions Crusaders.

But there's an old saying that goes, 'cometh the hour, cometh the man' and that man is our hero Cush. Our manager Spike, was not afraid to say in an interview after the game, that Cush, was not up his usual high standards, but Spike, said he kept him for that one moment of pure magic, when he broke Larne's hearts, with a vicious left-foot shot, which sealed victory for the Sky Blues and swept them to the final of the Toals County Antrim Shield, on 12 January 2016. He also said that Cush, was the sort of player that all clubs wanted, a hint that he may be gone from United in January as he hasn't so far signed his contract extension, it will be a sad, sad loss if it transpires.

Spike, made another two changes from his starting line-up of last Saturday's defeat to the Crues, Kyley and Maggers, making way for Tony and Faulkner. Maggers, didn't even make the bench, whether injured or dropped I can't honestly say, but I thought conditions at Larne would have suited him perfectly, but Fergie, thought otherwise and he's the manager. United, playing up the slope started off as if they wanted to get this tie over quickly, but the Larne defence was in resolute mode and it was obvious from the start, it was going to take something special to break them down.

Referee, Ross Dunlop, was resolute also, letting the game flow, while not standing for any nonsense, a good example for the 4th official, D H Crangle to follow. Cush had two early chances, but he couldn't beat Flood, in the Larne goal with a shot which the keeper saved and a header over the bar. The chances kept falling to Cush, when his free-kick cleared everyone and he shot over the bar when well placed. Our first real effort on target came when Tony, got on the end of a Tippers cross and his snapshot brought the best out of Flood, when the keeper tipped it round the post for a corner. This corner fell to Tony again, but his shot bounced off Tippers, and away to safety.

Not much was seen of the home side, but they managed to get shot on target after half an hour, but Bradley's shot, bounced in front of Blaney and he grabbed the ball at the second attempt. Then Bradley, tried to con the referee, when he dived in the box but the ref wasn't fooled. Moments later Bradley, went in late on United's Captain Jimer and was lucky to escape with a caution. The rest of the half proved largely incidental and we were left hoping that the United management team could inject a bit of belief into their side or make a match-winning substitution, but neither of them happened.


2nd half
United took the field for the second-half, with no changes and continued to bombard the Larne goal, but they were so predictable that it was easy for the Larne defence in the most part.There was an almighty goalmouth scramble but Flood, clutched the ball and Larne started to come into the game and fans were crying out for Fergie, to make changes, but he was unmoved. It was nearly all United at this stage, but Larne were dangerous on the break and Blaney excelled himself with one stop, diving low to turn a shot round the post. United spurned another chance when Tippers, shooting by the post when well placed.

Then Larne won a corner on the right and when this was partly cleared it fell to McMullan and his brilliant shot beat Blaney and nestled in the net to give the rats a 1-0 lead. The situation looked ominous for United, surely Spike had to act now I thought but he took five mins to get his subs organised and Larne came within a whisker of increasing their lead. But luckily we survived and Thommo and Steeky, came off to be replaced by Darhen and Ferguson. United stepped up their efforts to find an equaliser, but Cush, sliced his shot and Jenks broke clear but couldn't find the target from a good position.

Jenks, got some barracking at this miss and he started to reply to his tormentors, instead of making them eat their words by trying harder, but its easy for me to say. With less than two mins to go Darhen, flicked the ball onto Faulkner, who fired a left-foot shot into the back of the net to send United fans delirious with relief. In added time Darhen, had a shot saved by the keeper, but Larne survived that time. In the first period of extra-time, United were playing up the slope and in the first minute, Falkner's shot, was parried by keeper Flood, but Darhen, was on hand to head the Sky Blues into the lead,2-1. He almost repeated the dose two mins later but his snap shot took a deflection which took it away from goal.

Larne weren't beaten by any means and they fashioned another goal, when United failed to deal with a throw-in and Blaney made a hash of a simple stop as the ball squirmed beneath his body to tie the scores at 2-2. In the second period of extra-time, Tony took a free-kick for a foul on Ferguson, who had to come off for treatment, but was able to continue. The kick was easily cleared and then Larne won a free-kick themselves which United dealt capably with. With penalties looming, a Larne defender messed up from a great run by Jimer and Cush, caught a sight of goal and flashed a left-foot shot beyond the reach of Flood to give United the victory by 3-2.

Spike, made a substitution at this stage, taking off veteran Tippers, who was hardly moving and bringing on Owen Kane, to see the final two mins of extra-time to safety. United were gifted possession and took the ball into the corner and played out the added time, to record a memorable victory if not a classic one. There was too much at stake, for it to be a classic as cup semi-finals are all about winning and we had won through in the finish, to end some of the hurt that we felt 10 years ago and look forward to a final with Carrick or Linfield in January. Bring on the Chickenville, next Saturday its all I can say and my commiserations to the Larne players, Marco and big Davy, you gave us a tough match, come on Sky Blues!