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!