Cush Delivers!

Buckets (8), O Kane (8)(Sub: Ferguson 92mins 7,), Paddy Mac (8), Jimer (8), Steeky (8), Gavin (8) (Sub: Darhen 94mins 7), T Kane (8), Thommo (8), Faulkner (8)(Sub: Matty 83mins 7), Cush (8), Jenks (8). Subs: (not used): Dwayne and Hanley.

Man of the match: Cush

Referee: Ian McNabb 1

A Linfield fan was mocking us on Saturday night saying was 'Cush playing' todaY? I thought secretly, you'll maybe get your answer on Tuesday night and did he how. But Cush was only one of eleven stars for United, but he showed that wee bit of magic, to firstly win the free-kick in the first-half for our first goal and then to shoot us is into the lead, via a slight deflection, in the second-half.

You can't legislate for a player like Cush, he's a one-off, not an out-and out goal-scorer by any means, but he has that ability to turn games on their head, in short, he's a match-winner. It took an insurance goal for Owen Kane, to secure the win and United fans had to endure 7 mins of added time, but our luck held and boy did we celebrate!

The referee Ian McNabb, had a good game in the first-half, but someone must have got to him at halftime as he completely changed and was awarding Linfield free-kicks for 'ghost fouls' and booking four United outfield players in the process. He also booked Buckets, for time-wasting, but he wasn't, compared to some of the things that goes on most Saturdays.

In the first-half, Cush made one rash challenge after he had lost the ball and Ian merely talked to him and it never happened again. When a Linfield defender was shielding the ball as Jenks, harried him, he was guilty of a high foot, nearly decapitating the former United Captain. But Ian merely admonished him, good refereeing in my book, a lesser ref would certainly have yellow-carded him, if not red.

United manger Spike, made only one change from his starting line-up of last Saturday, when United lost after extra-time. As JT, was suspended, Paddy Mac, got the nod. United had been guilty on Saturday of letting too many crosses come in and the manager swapped the two Kanes moving Tony, to rightback and Owen, to midfield.

He also played Cush, in a more advanced role, alongside Jenks and this worked for the most part to my mind. As the large travelling support, were stuck in the Railway stand, Linfield won the toss and decided to change things round and attack the empty Spion Kop end in the first-half and I think this played into United's hand.

Linfield started the brighter, a Bates shot chested away by United Captain Jimer, with Linfield fans calling for a penalty, but it was clearly his chest from the former Linfield defender. It took United some time to get going, winning a free-kick when Jenks, was nearly beheaded, Cush took the kick and although Glendenning fumbled the ball, Jenks, couldn't make contact.

United had a huge let-off when Mulgrew, got a bit of space and thundered a shot off the crossbar, with Buckets beaten. From a Linfield corner, the traitor Callaher, the former Glens player who joined Linfield, headed over from a corner. Then it was Cush, again who had a shot easily saved by the Linfield keeper, but it was only a tester.

But Cush, had an appetite for it last night and he cleverly won a free-kick about five yards in from the touch-line and about twelve yards from the goal-line. For a change Cush and Tony, didn't do their usual routine and Tony took the free himself and Paddy Mac, got his head on it to score and give United a one goal lead.


Paddy, ran to the United fans to celebrate and the Linfield players looked shattered at this turn of events and their fans were silent and that infernal drum was silent also. It was United who were in the ascendency now and Tony, came close with another free-kick, this time it was too close to the keeper who clutched the ball safely in his arms.

That was nearly it for the first-half and United went off for the halftime interval, with their fans cheers ringing in their ears. I didn't want the half to end, I was enjoying it that much, but I realised there was still a lot of action to come, but I couldn't get that stupid smile off my face and its still on.

2nd half

Linfield came out with renewed vigour and just when it seemed we had weathered the storm, the ref decided to take action as he ruled we had committed a foul, when a home player got caught in possession and Jenks, got booked for winning the ball. The United defence let their concentration lapse and Buckets, decided to punch the free-kick and that proved to be a disaster.

Bucket's punch went straight up in the air, putting more pressure on our defenders, eventually the ball broke to Master Bates and he rattled it into the net to draw the hosts level at 1-1. Captain Jimer, went to the Lino on the South stand side to protest and promptly got himself a yellow card from referee Ian.

Our fans were visibly upset by this turn of events and they started the old chant, 'Linfield are the IFA' and that was one of repeatable songs of derision directed at referee Ian and his employers, the IFA. The fans were disconsolate, but not the team and they continued to attack the Linfield rearguard with impunity and a score looked likely.

With barely an hour on the clock, that man Tony, again picked out Willie, with a cross-field pass and he chested it down to Cush and Cush sent an unstoppable shot towards goal, which took a slight deflection off Stafford, but I don't honestly think it made any difference, it was a goal all the way the moment he hit it, that in a nutshell, is so Cushlike!

Needless to say we were rampant, singing and shouting our lungs out and hoping that United could get a clincher to make the tie safe. As Linfield upped the pace, Tony had to be alert to head one effort off the line and Callaher headed the rebound over the bar. Two mins later the referee's bias came to the fore again as he let hosts take a quick free-kick instead of making them wait for his signal.

For once Buckets, was alert to this skulduggery and punched the ball over the bar for a corner. I thought surely the referee would call back this attempt and book the culprit, Callaher, but he gave the corner. But despite playing the 12 men of Linfield, United weathered the storm and they got their reward with a third goal.

We owe a big debt of thanks to Linfield's Mark Stafford, who Linfield signed in the summer, when he could only head the ball down instead of clearing his lines and as the ball fell to a bunch of United players, it was Owen Kane, who scored with a powerful shot, the ball finding its way into the net via the underside of the bar.

I was beside my self with joy as were the other fans in the Railway stand and Gavin Taggart, could be seen taunting the Linfield fans in the home stand, no doubt a bit of banter had been exchanged with the Linfield fans earlier in the game. Linfield looked a beaten team at this stage, but they managed to gather themselves for one more concerted attack.

With five minutes to go and a fresh pair of legs on in the shape of young Matty, who replaced Willie, Cush and Steeky decided to try to waste time, instead of trying to get another score and put the tie to bed. Of course they lost possession and Linfield started an attack and not surprisingly referee Ian, gave another doubtful free-kick, to his employers, booking Steeky, who committed the alleged foul in the process.

From the resultant free-kick, the ball found its was to Haughey and he delivered a gem of cross to Stafford, who scored with s diving header to reduce the leeway to 3-2 to the Sky Blues. If the United players had been panicky earlier, it was all-out defending now, everybody back when the hosts got a corner, which meant we had no outlet.

When got to 90 mins, the ref added on 4 mins, as there had been 4 goals scored and 4 subs, he got his maths spot on. Spike, brought on his son Matthew after 92mins, to replace Owen Kane and when the 4 mins had elapsed he took off Gavin and brought on Darboy. That let the ref add on another minute but he actually played 7 mins to my recall.

Its true to say that the United goal led a charmed life in this added time, when the hosts did everything but score, hitting the post and the crossbar, but justice was done in the end, when the ref finally blew his whistle and we all went mental. It was a great victory, made even sweeter by the fact that we were outnumbered by Linfield and the referee's biased nature.

We had tamed the lions in their den and we had done it without our central defender JT and we never missed him it has to said. Paddy Mac, had stepped up to the plate, ably supported by Captain Jimer, Steeky and Tony, they defended as if their very life's depended on it and we thank the players one and all, you did us proud, now go on and beat the 'Gers on Saturday, I can hardly wait for it and I'm still smiling!