Sorry Skies!

Dwayne (5), Tony (5), JT (5) (Sub: Gavin 82mins 5,), Jimer (5), Steeky (5), O Kane (6)(Sub: Tippers 66mins 5,), Thommo (6), Fraser (5), Willie (5), Cush (6), Jenks (6). Subs (not used): Darhen, Kyley and Mike 3.

Man of the match: Owen Kane

Referee; Tim Marshall 3


I'm running out of expressions strong enough to lambaste this United team, who seem to go from one crisis to another. When they succumbed to a two-goal deficit after 15 mins yesterday, I thought nothing could surpass that, but oh I was so wrong. They got back into the match with two goals themselves, only to concede two more in the second-half and they didn't come back this time.

In the absence of manager Spike, off sick was the excuse (not as sick as us Sky Blue fans), Lee Docherty, rang the changes with Dwayne, getting a recall in goals, after Buckets got injured in the warm-up. Dwayne, didn't exactly cover himself in glory, as he conceded a 15 min penalty, although in fairness to him they seemed minimal contact with Harpur of the Swifts.

JT, replaced Kyley in defence, Owen Kane, Willie and Cush, were recalled in place of Gavin, Leroy and Darhen and the four of them dropped down to the bench. United, were caught cold after 5 mins when Mitchell of the Swifts was allowed to waltz through our defence and laid a pass off to Wilson, whose initial shot was blocked.

Mitchell seized on the rebound and jinked his way past two despairing tackles, from JT and Steeky and gave Dwayne no chance to put the Swifts one up. Little was seen of the sorry Sky Blues at this stage and a shot from Mitchell came off the bar, with Dwayne, beaten all ends up. Dwayne, charged from his goal and Harpur shot the rebound wide and made sure he tripped over Dwayne in the process.

Dwayne, was livid and gave Harpur, a piece of his mind, only to be more livid, when Tim 'nice but dim' Marshall, pointed to the spot. Immediately like last weeks penalty incident at the Oval, United players remonstrated with the Lino, but he was adamant it was penalty, but I think Harpur dived to con the officials but the decision stood.

Harpur, picked himself up and Dwayne dived to his right, but was unable to stop the Swifts taking a two goal lead, 2-0. There seemed no way back for United at this stage as the Swifts defence were breaking up all of our attacks and every-time they broke temselves I was worried in case they added to their score.

It took United to midway through the half, to get in a first shot when Cush volleyed over the bar but 3 mins later they pulled a goal back when Thommo, played a neat one-two, with Owen Kane and Cush, finished off the move to reduce the deficit. In a spell of United pressure, Jenks seemed to be manhandled to the ground from a corner, but ref Tim was unimpressed and waved play on.

The Lino, who had given the penalty was guilty of missed several offsides and received some ironic cheers when he gave one approaching halftime. Then Tony Kane, flashed a 30 yard shot inches wide, but united weren't to be denied for long. United were in the ascendency at this stage and they drew level with a minute of the half remaining, when Owen Kane, found Jenks, in the penalty box.

The big Scotsman, in his 195 appearance in a Sky Blue jersey, latched onto the through ball from Owen, rounded keeper Coleman and found the net from an acute angle. Despite there being four goals scored the 4th official held up one minute of added time and at this stage United didn't want the match to be stopped early but it was.

2nd half

The talk at halftime was to do with United's tendency to come out for the 2nd half and start slowly and let the opposition dominate the early proceedings. Sammy Patterson's friend, said he could see the Swifts winning by 5 goals to two, due to United's tendency to ship goals this season, I should have asked to name his lottery numbers, he was that close to predicting the final score.

United, unlike them, started with a flourish and Cush got the byline from the kick-off and slung over a gem of a cross and on-loan signing Fraser, knocked the ball over the bar with a free shot in the six-yard box. United were to pay dearly from this benevolence in front of goal when the Swifts condemned themto their fifth straigh league defeat.

Mitchell, nearly put the Swifts ahead when he shot for goal, only for Dwayne to save, but 9 mins after halftime the Swifts took the lead, when Harpur, beat the offside trap and dinked the ball over the advancing Dwayne to make the score 3-2 in the Swifts favour. Surely I though Doc has bring on a striker on at this stage, but he remained in his dug-out.

Four mins later Harpur, cleverly trapped a free-kick and swivelled around his maker to give Dwayne, no chance from the edge of the box to make the score 4-2 in the visitors favour. At last Doc acted and brought on Tippers and took off Owen Kane, who wasn't the worst player in a Sky Blue jersey, Willie and Fraser, were vying for that accolade.

Tippers, first foray into the box resulted in him diving, after getting a shot off, but he was harshly booked by ref Tim for simulation, unlike Harpur in the first-half. Thommo, forced Coleman into a save, but it was the Swifts who nearly scored, when former United player, Ally (Teggart), could only find the side netting with Dwayne stranded.

With less than 10 mins to go Doc made a telling substitution (joke), when taking off JT and bringing on Gavin, of all people. No harm to Gavin, I was looking forward to see him bringing on Darhen and really going for it, but we went to 3 at the back with only one recognised striker and the Swifts defence was hardly stretched at all.

Despite forcing several corners, we never looked like halving the deficit and despite four mins of added time (the ref had done his maths correctly this time), United succumbed meekly like lambs to the slaughter. They trooped off to a chorus off boos and rightly so in my opinion, we are definitely on the slippery slope now, the championship beckons, oh dear!