United Celt-destruct with home defeat

It’s inconceivable, bordering on impossible, that United could suffer the same sort of humiliation they endured against DC back on the second Saturday of the season, when the Belfast side won 4-0.

Instead, but for a Gordon Banks-style save from United keeper Ryan Brown from Mark Dickson’s first half header, that scoreline could easily have been replicated as Ballymena failed so miserably yet again in a home game.

United’s form at the Showgrounds this season is appalling – just four wins from 18 home games in all competitions and only one clean sheet at the Warden Street venue.

A team which is often so vibrant and refreshing to watch away from home are simply gripped with fear as soon as they step out the Showgrounds tunnel.

It’s staggering to think that bottom-of-the-table DC, a team who have conceded almost 70 goals in the Carling Premership this term, have not only kept two clean sheets on their visits to Ballymena but also scored seven times as well.

It’s little wonder United boss Roy Walker didn’t want to talk about this shambolic display.

Instead it was assistant boss Wesley Gregg who tried to make sense of how United’s season – they were cantering towards a place in the top six a month ago – has gone into absolute freefall.

“It’s not acceptable for a club of this stature – the players know that.

“We had high hopes this season, albeit we’re still in the mix for a place in the top six, that result is not acceptable.

“At 1-0 down we hit the post and it could have been a different game – whether we would have deserved that could be up for discussion.

“The form hasn’t been there in recent weeks and that is a concern.

“There is no stone left unturned in preparation but the players perhaps have a mindset they need to address.

“We didn’t win a one v one at all – we didn’t compete. Can we as coaches put that into players? That is probably the biggest question.

“We like to play with a certain style of play and that went completely out the window. The way we train is geared towards playing in a certain style but it was non-existent.

“We don’t need excuses about having lost players in January – what we have in that dressing room is what we have to work with.

“We have given away seven goals to the bottom side in the table and our defending for set pieces is so not us,” added Gregg.

United had plenty of first half opening with Gary McCutcheon firing a few shots on target but they were efforts which caused DC keeper Declan Brown no real discomfort.

But United fell behind on the half-hour when Eamon McAllister skipped cleared of United’s despairing appeals for offside. The winger still had plenty to do as he bore down on the right hand corner of the penalty box but as the ball bounced up beautifully, he fired a dipping shot over Ryan Brown.

Given that United haven’t won a game in which they conceded the first goal since November 2008, the signs looked ominous, although McCutcheon came close to restoring parity when his shot came back off the inside of the post with keeper Brown well beaten.

Instead, the next goal went the visitors’ way when Darren McNamee – a player who made his Irish League bow as a teenager at Ballymena under Kenny Shiels’ management – headed home Stephen McAlorum’s corner at the back post.

And if one moment could adequately sum up how things are going for United right now, it came with 15 minutes left when Denver Gage bundled over Dickson as he was about to shoot.

The inevitable red card compounded a miserable week for the defender and Paul McVeigh tucked home the penalty against a backdrop of the sound of seats going up in the home stand as disgusted United fans headed for the exits. Those who did remain until the end left Walker and United’s players in no doubts about their feelings.

Ballymena United: Brown, Surgenor (sub McDowell 58), Watson, Gage, Stewart, M Smith, Haveron (sub Carson 70), McCafferty, Colligan, A Smith, McCutcheon. Subs (not used): Taggart, McAreavey, McCaughern.

Donegal Celtic: Brown, Muir, O’Hara, Watson, Brennan (sub Glenholmes 66), McAllister, McAlorum (sub Fay 82), McNamee, Gargan, Dickson (sub Atkinson 78), McVeigh. Subs (not used): Curran, Bradley.

Referee: Hugh Carvill (Belfast).