Seventh Heaven!

Buckets (7), Jimer (7), JT (7), Rodger (7), Steeky (8), T Kane (7), Thommo (8), O Kane (7)(Sub: Ferguson 79 mins 7,), Cush (8), Nixon (7) (Sub: Matty 63mins 7,), Jenks (8). Subs (not used): Paddy Mac, Darhen and Hanley.

Man of the match: Alan Jenks

Referee: Heth 7

Not for the first time, United and the Ports took part in a high scoring game, but United got the winner with a minute to go to start the New Year 0n a winning note. Omar and I arrived at Shamrock Park, to be greeted with the unwelcome news that the game was in doubt, but referee Hetherington(Heth), decided the game would go ahead and it turned out to be the correct decision.

Alas, our Sammy, missed the game, tucked up in bed with 'man flu' and although he escaped the freezing cold, he missed a great game and for a change, a good bit of refereeing by aforementioned Heth. Not that Heth, was called upon to make contentious decisions, but unlike the last time he officiated in a United/Ports match, he wasn't afraid to brandish the yellow card.

He flashed it 6 times in the game and only one of them was for a United man, Gareth Rodger, playing his last game as his loan expires this week. For a change United played as a team, well as far as I could see, when you're 20 to 50 yards behind the goal, you can only guess what's going on at the other end. Spike, made two changes to his starting line-up of Boxing Day.

JT, returned from suspension, in place of Paddy Mac and Nixon, got his full debut, replacing the unlucky Darhen, who I thought played well on Boxing Day, but obviously Spike, knows better. Up against talented fullback Redman, its true to say, young Nixon, struggled, but he kept trying and he looks to be not without talent or confidence and acquitted himself to the conditions well.

The first chance fell to United, who were attacking the far goal and I think it was Tony's, header that Miskelly saved. With less than ten mins gone, there was an almighty goalmouth scramble from a Sky Blues corner, but Rodger's shot was blocked and the chance had gone. Ten mins later it was United's turn as Buckets, dropped a simple catch and in the scramble that followed Ports came close but united held firm.

Cush, had a shot well wide, but I consoled myself with the thought that was only a sighter and I was proved correct as it happened.Steeky and Cush combined up the left and when Steeky, found Cush, in space, he unleashed a thunderous shot which cannoned off the crossbar and Jenks, nodded the rebound into the net to give United the lead, 1-0.

This goal was scored with half an hour gone and it spurred the Ports into action and McAllister came close, but luckily for United he shot straight at Buckets. But in the 35 minute, casement was allowed space to cross and he picked out the unmarked Soares, who drilled the ball into the net to level the scores 1-1.

As United tried to get back in the ascendency, Mackle of Ports, became the first player to be booked by Heth for a robust tackle. Then in added time in the first-half, Garret, became the 2nd player to be booked and it was obvious to me that the Ports were trying to get United involved in a hard-tackling game, but United resisted the temptation.

2nd half

The Ports, were quick out of the blocks in the 2nd half and United were struggling to clear their lines and a score seemed inevitable. First Murray, had a shot well saved by Buckets and JT, blocked the rebound and then McAllister and Breen had shots, but United survived somehow. But a score looked to be on the cards and not for the first time this topsy-turvy season, the United defence let a cross come in from Casement and Breen, nodded the Ports into the lead, 2-1.

That goal came 10 mins after the restart and United almost got back on terms a min later, but Jenks headed straight to Ports keeper Miskelly, from a delightful cross by young Nixon. This nearly proved to be a costly miss as Garret's shot from 15 yards missed the goal by inches. A min later Tony, could only put the ball wide as Jenks set him up, but United weren't to be denied long.

Just about the hour mark, Steeky, played in one/two with Thommo and volleyed the return past the bemused Miskelly, for his first goal in a United jersey, after nearly 70 appearances. Omar, celebrated so much it was embarrassing, but the less said about that the better, there's 'no fool like an old fool' but his heart is Sky Blue, through and through.

A minute later, Spike, took off Nixon and replaced him with an even younger player, in Matty. Garret found his way into the refs notebook for a hefty challenge after 65mins. The Ports went ahead halfway through the 2nd period when Mackle, shot into the net to make the score 3-2 to the home side. United levelled 2 mins later, when after a surging run by Thommo, Cush hit a left-foot shot past the hapless Miskelly to make the score 3-3.

The home side picked up a spate of bookings after this goal, with McAllister, Redman and Murray receiving yellow cards and Rodger, getting one too, on his last appearance for the Sky Blues. Just before Rodger, was booked, JT had header saved by the over-worked Miskelly and young Ferguson, came on for Owen Kane. Buckets then came to our rescue when, when he saved a Redman free-kick, but it was United who delivered the killer blow.

Young Matty, was in the right place at the right time and he passed to Jenks and he fired a crisp shot past the stranded Miskelly to make the score 4-3 to the Sky Blues and boy did he celebrate as he ran the gauntlet of celebrating fans giving them high fives along the way, it was sheer bloody relief and no more than we deserved.

United had triumph by the odd goal in seven and the Ports contributed to a great game and I for the first time have to say that Heth, deserves praise for letting the game go ahead and clamping down on any rough stuff, a most unbiased display from the Dungannon man. Next up for United, is a double header at the National stadium with the IFA/Linfield, bring it on, I can hardly wait!