United Kaned!

Buckets (6), Tony (6), Jimer (6), Paddy Mac (6), Steeky (6), Fergie (5) (Sub: JT 70mins 6,), Thommo (5), O Kane (6)(Sub: Tippers 52mins 6,), Hanley (6)(sub: Matty 61mins 6,), Cush (6), Jenks (6). Subs (not used): Leroy and Mike the 3rd.

Man of the match: Buckets (Blaney)

Referee: Keith Kennedy (KK)1


We knew it had to happen sooner rather than later, but for United and their victories County Antrim Shield team, it happened just 11 days after their famous victory at the National stadium. I was worried about the referee, Keith Kennedy and my fears were realised and how, when he yellow-carded 4 United players and let his employers Linfield/IFA. off scot free (I apologise if I offended any native of Scotland with this comment).

From the moment he booked Tony Kane, after 20 minutes, he was on a mission and he conducted his mission to the very letter, booking United players at every opportunity and letting his employers away with everything. He even let a Linfield player away with throwing a punch at Tippers and later on, when Smyth clearly dived in the penalty area, he sent the unlucky Tony off.

If that wasn't bad enough the linesman on the home stand side, was flagging in the first-half for bogus offsides. But he failed miserably in the second-half when Gaynor was a yard offside, but the flag stayed down and Linfied opened the scoring from Gaynor's cross. United had changed their tactics of always attacking the Home Farm end in the first-half and I think this contributed to their downfall as well.

United manager Spike, had made two changes to his starting line-up of last Tuesday's victory over Carrick Rangers, his son Matthew, here after known as Fergie, replacing the injured Gavin. Owen Kane, free from work commitments, replaced Willie on the right, whether Willie was injured or dropped, I couldn't say.

Linfield started as if they wanted to blow United out of the water forcing several corners, which United surprisingly dealt capably with. In the first real attack from United, Nathan Hanley, burst onto a pass and was the subject of a block tackle from Linfield's Stafford, who immediately started writhing on the ground, trying to get the United man booked.

I though immediately that Hanley was fouled, but incredulously, KK, gave a foul to his employers, not surprising really, if you know what I mean. Three minutes later Tony was booked for a foul, the Linfield player going down as if he was pole-axed and KK couldn't get the yellow card out quick enough.

Buckets, was in the right position for two Linfield shots and in United's best move of the first-half, Tony sped into the penalty area, but tried to lay the ball back to his mate Cush, who failed to get in a shot. I always think in that situation, if you can't find an unmarked man, its better to go for goal, or hit a hard and low shot into the box.


United carved out another chance and the ball fell to Owen Kane, but his mishit shot fell to the offside Jenks, the only decision that the bearded Lino got right in the whole game. Approaching halftime, a Linfield player went down in the centre-circle, claiming he was fouled and KK promptly booked Fergie.

As the Linfield player stayed down, the Linfield physio was called on to treat him, but the player in the end needed no attention, he had been bluffing but KK fell for it. Despite a minute of added time and a fruitless corner the teams came off at halftime scoreless, but I was secretly worried, that we wouldn't be attacking our favoured goals in the 2nd half.


2nd half

United were dealt a cruel blow 7 mins into this half, when Owen, suffered an injury in a block tackle, no yellow card this time and had to be replaced, with Tippers coming on. This meant a reshuffle with Thommo, switching to the right-midfield and Jenks, dropping back to centre-midfield.

United then had their best spell in the game, with Tippers getting a shot in and Cush, should have down better after a weak punch from the IFA's goalie, but he could only shoot over the bar. Then from a corner taken by Tony, Paddy Mac's looping header was clawed away with the keeper batting it down, but he managed to get into his arms and cleared the danger.

With just over the hour gone, Spike took off, Hanley and brought on young Matty. This in turn meant another reshuffle, with Cush dropping back to left-midfield and two mins later Gaynor, a yard offside, crossed for the unmarked Ward to tap home to give Linfield the lead 1-0. Straight from the kick-off United nearly committed suicide from a misplaced pass, but luckily they got the ball cleared.

Then in 68 mins disaster struck again for United, when Captain Jimer failed miserably to cut out a through ball leaving Smyth free on goal. But the Linfield player played the ball too far in front of him with Tony closing in, but he dived full length and KK incredulously gave a penalty and sent Tony off with his second yellow card.

I was reminded of a game years back when the Oran 'the diving bird' Kearney, took a similar dive and earned his employers Linfield/IFA a penalty. Its an old saying, 'the more things change, the more they stay just the same', in short its hard to beat the system, but we have to try. Buckets, guessed the right way, but Gaynor's penalty was right in the corner and unstoppably.

Four mins later it was three, when Cush failed to get the ball clear and Smyth was on hand to slot the ball home. JT, had come on to try to shore up United's defence, replacing Fergie, but it was all to no avail. United defeat was complete when Waterworth found acres of space and drilled a shot past the hapless Buckets.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Thommo picked up a booking and Paddy, followed him into the refs book. Linfield missed a sitter, when from a corner, Buckets stayed on his line and a Linfield player headed over at point blank range. With United defending, Captain Jimer, in a rush of blood was trying close down Linfield's rightback, before getting back to defence.

There was a bit of argy bargy, with some United fans, attempting to get at the Linfield fans as the Sky Blue fans should have been leaving the ground. I need to say I condemn this sort of behaviour unconditionally, these sort of fans we don't need. Whether this unrest, prompted the ref to blow his whistle early i don't honestly know, but our match clock said 88 mins when he blew.

But there was no way back for United, they were a beaten team and I think they were suffering from fatigue, they had a hard gruelling game in midweek as well as celebrating the Shield win and it took its toll as the game was in its closing stages. But nobody died as they say and we'll just have to dust ourselves down and get on with it, bring on the Ducks!