Red Revenge!

United manager Tommy Wright has a happy dilemma before he makes his team selection for tomorrow night’s County Antrim Shield 2nd round tie at home to Cliftonville. With Dominic Melly fit once more, the United supremo must decide whether to restore Melly to the starting line-up, or say same again to the team that triumphed last Saturday. Midfielder Gary Haveron, who was taken off as a precaution last week, has been given the ‘all clear’ as far as we know and the United manager must decide whether to start with him or not. Will he we wonder, rest veteran Gary Smyth, as he has done in the past, giving ‘big’ Gordon Simms a rare run out in the first team. The important thing to remember tomorrow night is, ‘that a victory is vitally important. If United can achieve that, then with a wee bit of luck, missing the ‘big two’ in the semi, a path to the final beckons. Wouldn’t it be somewhat ‘ironic’ if we were to meet Larne, who defeated us in last season’s Irish cup semi, when our manager was ‘King’ Kenny Shiels, who, by a twist of fate of course, is their manager now? Of such things are dreams made of, a chance for revenge and a meeting with a former hero. But first things first, a victory is our first priority and after our last game against Cliftonville, we’ll need to come out of the starting ‘blocks’ with all guns blazing. If we believe in ourselves like we did last Saturday, then anything is possible, so come on Sky Blues, let’s ‘shag’ those chickens, they really are a ‘fowl’ lot!

White Washers!

For United manager Tommy Wright, tomorrow’s game against Lisburn Distillery, is a case of something similar, regarding team selection. With Charnock, Collier, Aiden Watson and long term absentee Dominic Melly, still missing through injury, the United manager’s hands are somewhat tied regarding his starting eleven. Lisburn Distillery are, unless there’s been a huge change in attitude, a fairly physical team and the United manager should bear this in mind when selecting his starting eleven. We simply cannot afford to allow the ‘Whites’ the freedom of the ‘park’, that we did last week against Limavady United. If we do, then we’d be staring another defeat in the face, which would push us farther down the league table. Surely big Tam has to consider restoring Kevin Kelbie upfront with either Sweeney or Hamill taking over on the right side of midfield, which in turn would allow Gareth Scates to move into centre midfield. The ‘wee’ man is wasted out on the right and he has been badly missed in the ‘engine room’ of the Sky Blue machine. We at ‘Sport are undecided on whether he should drop Dean Youle completely, or if he should in fact play him at right back and let Kieran Donaghy warm the bench along with Boydie and Paul McDowell. The rest of the defence will have to soldier on and maybe they can get themselves ‘sorted’ out, bearing in mind the big games coming up for United. Next Tuesday we entertain Cliftonville in the 2nd round of the County Antrim Shield and it’s of paramount importance that we progress to the next stage. We then follow this up with a trip to Portadown next Friday night, go to the Oval to play the ‘Champions’ eight days later, before entertaining Glenavon in the next game. No easy fixtures for us among that lot is there, but going by our form against the so called ‘lesser’ teams, maybe it’s all for the best. So let’s hope the boys are up for it tomorrow, it’s gotta be three points, if the players want it enough, they can do it!

United Victory!

Tomorrow sees the first visit of this season by Limavady United, the team formerly managed by United supremo, Tommy Wright. Limavady have replaced big Tam with Paul Kee and he appears to be in the process of ‘turning’ them round, as their results lately have been encouraging. Hopefully the United manager (Ballymena United that is), has instilled in his new charges, the need for a professional approach to all games. If we play to our capabilities, three points can be ours, but we must give the visitors no chances to put one over on us, as they are certainly capable of it. A win tomorrow and a draw between Cliftonville and Coleraine and we could jump two places in the league table. In fact if another couple of games end in draws we could leap into fourth place. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, first we have to get a win tomorrow and as we have already said, it won’t be easy. The United manager, according to reports, will be naming an unchanged side, with Charnock, Collier and Aiden Watson, still missing through injury. United will come up against at least two former players tomorrow, in the shape of midfielder Lee Patrick and former United goalie Dwayne Nelson, fresh from scoring against Lisburn Distillery last week. Hopefully, as we say, the Sky Blues will be up for the ‘task’ tomorrow and hopefully United will continue with their upward climb of the Premiership table. Come on Sky Blues, ‘let’s shag those Roesiders’!

Trio Troubles!

United manager Tommy Wright awaits fitness reports on three players before naming his team to face ‘homeless’ Ards at Clandeboye Park, Bangor. Former Ards player, Aiden Watson is struggling with a thigh injury, right back Stephen Collier has an ankle knock, while Englishman Phil Charnock has an injured foot. Luckily the United manager is amply covered for all three positions, with a number of options for his consideration. We feel sure big Tam would like to name the same team who triumphed against Dungannon Swifts last Saturday, but will only select players if fully fit. But confidence is high in the Sky Blue camp, especially after ending the ‘Swifts’ unbeaten 16 match league run and they will want to build on that victory tomorrow. Of course it’s not going to be easy, Ards have been somewhat unlucky so far and almost beat Portadown last Saturday, so United will need to be up for it tomorrow. The Sky Blue faithful can play a part in our opinion, as they usually create a carnival atmosphere, when United travel to the North Down venue. Let’s hope we’ll all be singing tomorrow come five o’clock, ‘Didn’t we have a lovely time, the day we went to Bangor’, let’s shag those county Downers and build on last Saturdays good result!

Swift Justice!

United manager Tommy Wright finds himself in an almost ‘enviable’ position for tomorrow’s game against Dungannon Swifts, as he has an almost a fully fit squad and his biggest dilemma is who to leave out. In fact if the team was playing with loads of confidence, it would be a hard decision for him, but as things stand, surely he must go with his strongest team. In our opinion this means no place in the starting line-up for young Aiden Watson, as it is a complete folly to play Phil Charnock anywhere but centre midfield and he’ll need a ‘ball winner’ beside him and again (in our opinion), that means Gary Haveron starting alongside Charnock. With Boydie and Dominic Melly supposedly both back to full fitness, will the manager be brave enough to bring both into wide positions in midfield, or will he continue with the ploy of playing Scatesy wide on the right and taking one from, Melly, Boydie and Andy Rosbotham. Up front Rory and Vinny will we think be asked to continue in the hope that a viable partnership will emerge, while the defence, while not brilliant last week, will almost certainly be on the same lines as last Saturday. Tomorrow’s opponents, Dungannon Swifts, will be no pushover, but if United can put in another effort akin to last Saturday’s, then we believe three points are there for the taking. Yes, a good effort and a referee who only calls foul, when there is a foul and has the courage to caution players who take a ‘dive’, unlike last Saturday. We expect no favours from anybody, just a ‘fair crack of the whip’; the rest is down to luck!