Rot Stopped!

At least we didn't lose I thought as made my way from the Showgrounds on Saturday and it must be nearly four years since I was able to think that before Saturday. But if I'm honest, and I pride myself on being honest, we should have lost. We should have been dead and buried at halftime, but the scum missed two or three makable chances and Dwayne (god bless him), made one or two vital saves and we turned round only losing 2-0 at halftime. Or if that excuse for a referee Tim (nice but dim) Marshall, hadn't disallowed our legitimate goal in 10 mins we could have recorded a memorable victory.

The only downside of the match for me was seeing Cush limp off and I hope he's not too seriously injured for we will have need of his services in the next four weeks, when we entertain the Blues and Glens and visit the Crues (Shield) and Chickenville and if that's not enough to get our fans excited, we also entertain the Ports in the league cup. Mike Ruddy, who has been playing well of late, also limped off at the end of the match with suspected ligament damage and with Johnny Taylor suspended this Saturday. It could mean a recall for Cookie Munster and Archie switching to leftback, if Ruddy's not fit.

Mario got himself sent off with his needless elbow in full view of the linesman and the whole of A & B sections of the Slemish stand, he claims it was in retaliation, but his action could've have cost us the match, but luckily ref Tim Marshall blew his whistle soon after this foolish incident. I hope our manager Spike takes some serious action against Mario, for we can't have players taking a personal vendetta against opposing players, especially if it's going to cost the team as a whole. We have to do without him this Saturday as a result and it would serve him right if his replacement struck up a partnership with MM and Mario was unable to get back in.

Much as I would love to see that happening, I can't see it happening, for Liggie has been tried time and time again, but he just doesn't look interested and I'm sure Spike's patience with him is running out. He came on as sub on Saturday with 11 mins to go when we had battered the scum defence and they were looking decidedly rattled, but they had Liggie for breakfast, in short, we let them off the hook with the substitution of MM and lost the chance to claim all three points. Johnny Taylor scored a couple of good goals, but he was like the rest of United's back four (Ruddy being the exception), took too many times to the cleaners for my liking.

We got the draw and that's to be commended as we showed some fighting spirit, but it took a change of tactics 4,4,2 instead of 4,3,3 and a change of player (Robbo), for us to do that, but the scum gave as good as they got in the 2nd half and with a bit of luck they could have and should have, consigned us to another defeat, but lady luck shone upon us for a change. What team does Spike pick for this Saturday's encounter away to Dungannon Swifts, as I said earlier he may have 2 places to fill, in his defence and the Sky Blues fans will be anxious to know if he has changed his formation for good, or was it horses for courses, we will just have to wait and see!