United suffer humiliation at hands of DC

THERE'S that noise once again...

The unmistakeable sound of deflating hope and optimism among Ballymena United supporters, like someone sticking a nail into a beach ball.

Even given the numerous occasions in the recent history of the Sky Blues where they have followed up an unexpected positive result with one of total and utter embarrassment, this one plumbed new depths of ineptitude.

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Indeed, were it not for the fact that Donegal Celtic at least hold senior status – albeit on a fledgling level – it could be reasonably suggested that this result would rival the infamous County Antrim Shield defeat by Kilmore Rec in 2004 as the most embarrassing result in United's history.

The same fans who had watched their heroes emerge from Windsor Park with a well-merited point seven days earlier, could only watch on aghast at the footballing meltdown which occurred before their disbelieving eyes.

The sight of supporters leaving the Showgrounds with just 65 minutes played, as DC notched their fourth goal, was one of the saddest footballing sights you'll see this season.

"There were no bright sparks, save for Mo McDowell when he came on," said dejected United boss Roy Walker.

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"Ryan Brown picked the ball out of the net four times and didn't have any other saves to make.

"After that, I can't give too many players, if any, pass marks on that performance.

"I came to the game concerned about what had happened last week and knowing we were playing a team who we knew would scrap.

"I've seen it before with our team – it's a disease.

"I think we lost the game somewhere in the ether of a mind that just disconnects when it comes to these games.

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"I gave the players from Windsor Park a vote of confidence by naming the same side and we prepared for the game in exactly the same manner as we did for Linfield.

"We trained three nights during the week, we worked hard on shape and did everything right in that regard.

"Our right hand side was disastrous with too many players off their game and I genuinely think we handed DC all four goals with mistakes," added Walker.

Surprisingly, United had started quite brightly but once Mark Dickson waltzed through a massive gap on the right hand side of the penalty area to round Ryan Brown to let Andy Cleary roll the ball home on 26 minutes, the writing was on the wall.

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Just three minutes later, United collapsed entirely when, from the same sort of area of the pitch, Paul McVeigh was able to cut the ball back for the bye-line for the in-rushing Stephen McAlorum to fire home.

McVeigh put the outcome beyond United just short of the hour mark when he cut inside and his mis-hit shot clipped the heel of Aaron Stewart to wrong-foot Brown.

And the misery was complete five minutes later when Gary Haveron, while attempting a clearance, failed to spot Darren McNamee coming in on his blind side, hacking the DC player down to give a way a penalty from which McVeigh sent Brown the wrong way.

Ballymena United: Brown, M Smith (sub McLaughlin 72), Watson, Stewart, Colligan, Berry (sub McDowell 46), Taggart (sub Young 60), Haveron, Murray, A Smith, McCutcheon. Subs (not used): Gage, Gibson.

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Donegal Celtic: McGreevy, Spence, Watson, O'Hara, Carvill, Cleary (sub Hanna 78), McAlorum, McNamee, Lambe (sub Gargan 76), P McVeigh, Dickson (sub A McVeigh 73). Sub (not used): McMenamin.

Referee: Keith Halliday (Bangor).