Dream Start!

Buckets (6), Kane (7), Jimer (8), Paddy Mac (7), Steeky (7), Gavin (7)(Sub: Ferguson 54mins 6,), Thommo (6), Hanley (8)(Sub: Smith 64mins 6,), Faulkner (6), Cush (5)(Sub: Taylor 91mins 6,), Jenks (6). Subs (not used): Darhen and Matty.

Man of the match: Captain Jimer

Referee: Raymond D H Crangle 3

For a change, the Sky Blues, famed for being slow starters, were quick off the mark last night, scoring in the 2nd minute with the only goal of the night. Our manager Spike, not renowned for keeping it tight at the back, did that last night, when he left two strikers on the bench and brought on two midfielders and a out-and-out defender in JT.

But I have to say this game was boring and the goal was nothing special, although Hanley took it well. There was some hesitancy in the Carrick defence and I thought originally they stopped expecting an offside flag or the referee's whistle. Cush, flicked a header on and Nathan Handley pounced, to steer the ball past Neeson in the Carrick goal to give United the lead 1-0.

We all waited for the floodgates to open, for United are normally a free-scoring side, but not last night. They seemed to give a master-class in not finding their men, with misplaced passes galore. The referee, Raymond D H Crangle, didn't help matters with an incompetent display as is usual for him.

How he failed to not to flourish at least yellow card when a Carrick player nearly decapitated a United player with a high foot, it beggars belief, but D H is nothing if not controversial. When Cush, became the meat in a Carrick sandwich, amazingly he waved play on much to the annoyance of the Sky Blue faithful and their manager.

He allowed Carrick to take free-kicks and throw-ins from anywhere they pleased, but late on in the first-half he deprived United of quick throw-in, for what I don't know, except that Carrick were caught on the hop, surely that is their look-out. But United cannot blame D H, for this slipshod performance, that is squarely at their door, for they had enough clear-cut chances to increase their goal difference, which weren't taken.

Five mins after our early goal, Carrick fashioned a chance, but luckily the shot was straight at Buckets, who saved easily. Cush, then fluffed a chance when he didn't trouble the keeper, when he picked up a loose ball from a partially cleared corner. Then it was Tony's turn when his free-kick was just saved on the line as it dipped over the Carrick wall.

Tony, had just signed a two-year extension to his contract, as our manager tries to get established players signed up before the poachers come in. With less than ten minutes to go in the first-half, Willie, was found alone in the penalty area, but he dithered instead of shooting and a Carrick defender got in a tackle, another chance gone begging.

Buckets, had me on tenterhooks, when he was a bit lax on two back-passes, dithering when he should have cleared the ball and for a man with his experience there can be no excuse. But Fergie, seems to think he is the bees knees and we will have to get used to his flamboyancy it seems, for he looks to be our permanent keeper.

United nearly paid the ultimate price for this first-half benevolence in front of goal, when Thommo took a short free-kick near the halfway line (one of my pet hates is the short free-kick) and he could only find touch on the halfway line. Carrick, took a quick throw-in, miles forward it has to be said, but D H, being D H, let them away with it and the United defenders were caught flat-footed.

Chines, bounded past his marker, but with the goal at his mercy, he missed the target completely, a real let-off for the Sky Blues. Buckets, had let two balls pass through his hands and D H, allowed that he had touched them, but I think he misjudged them and thankfully we weren't punished in the resultant corners and we survived to halftime.


2nd half
I thought surely, Spike, woukld make a change at halftime, by bringing on young Matty or springing a real surprise and letting Darhen loose, but we took the field with the same eleven. When we got a free-kick about 20 yards from goal on the right, Hanley and Cush lined it up and I was surprised to see Hanley, taking it.

Although he got the ball over the Carrick wall, he missed the target, another missed opportunity, I think we need to work the keeper, anything else is a waste of time and effort. Less than 10 mins into the half Gavin, had to come off with an injury, to be replaced with the managers son, Matthew.

I think Fergie, missed a trick here, he could have dropped Jenks back and brought on a striker, but he decided to play the same game, packing his midfield. Carrick, came into the game a bit more and United were missing Gavin's ball-winning capabilities, but we coped okay with anything Carrick threw at us.

Steeky, was denied a cast iron penalty, when he was tripped in the box, but D H, was unmoved, waving play on. I would like to see that again on TV, as it looked to be clear-cut to me, but I admit to seeing it through Sky Blue eyes and United have a history with D H, denying us cast iron penalties in the past

With 25 mins to go, goalscorer Hanley, was replaced by recent signing from Larne, Mike Smith, who had come up the ranks from our youth Academy, before he joined Larne. Although Mike, acquitted himself well and fitted in with Steeky, the pair of them constantly gave the ball away down the left flank, instead of getting crosses in.

United had another let-off with less than 20 mins to go, when Sparky, shot for goal, but the United defence somehow got the ball away. Carrick continued to threaten and Tony, of all people was beaten, by I think it was McCloskey, but his shot lacked the pace to trouble Buckets, yet another near thing.

Two minutes later we had the miss of the match, when Jenks, set-up our Talisman Cush, about 10 yards from goal and our leading goalscorer could only drag his shot wide with the goal gaping. I thought to myself Spike, has to take Cush off now, for he was struggling to make an impact, but he didn't and we almost paid the price for his indecision.


Sparky, went down in a 50/50 challenge, squealing like a stuck pig, but he usually does squeal as if his leg was broken and I was not too concerned. When he got up moments later, Omar, led the applause for Sparky, which was nice to see and totally deserved in my opinion. D H, saw fit to add to add 4 mins on to the 90 and Spike, made his last substitution a minute later with JT replacing the out of form, Cush.

It was really backs to the wall now and then Buckets punched shot over the bar for a corner. When this corner was taken the unmarked Cherry, headed over the bar, yet another close escape. Thankfully D H blew his final whistle two mins later and United had won, ugly as they say and moved up to seventh place in the process, bring on the Linfield, I can hardly wait!