New Leaf!

Portadown midfielder Mickey Collins, says he intends to be a new man this season, no more Mister nasty, we at 'Sport say we'll believe it when we see it. United also need to cultivate a new image from tomorrow as the one they've had over the last few weeks has been to say the least depressing. Admittedly 'lady luck' seems to have deserted us at the moment and tomorrow's team selection is evidence of this. Stuarty King will miss tomorrow's game with a thigh strain, while local man Nigel Boyd has aggravated a hamstring and will play no part in proceedings. The United manager was already resigned to being without Aiden Watson in midfield as he must serve an automatic one game ban. Aaron Callaghan should make a comeback with the reserves and this should also mean a recall to the panel for David Cushley and Stephen Lowry. We expect Mark Picking and Davitt Walsh to possibly get a start as United opt for a more attacking formation than the one that gave champions Linfield a tough game last week. This is not a must win for United, but it would go a long way in restoring our confidence before the next couple of games, away to Armagh and then home to Limavady United before the free week caused by Norn Iron's home match with Denmark. So Sky Blues, here we go again, let's shag those Portadowners!

Apolgies! Apologies!

For the first time ever (as far as we can remember that is), we find ourselves without a match report for last Saturday's game at Windsor Park. Bruce Balmer (he who rarely misses a game), called in sick and neither Omar or Sammy Patterson were willing to take on his duties and for that we apologise. United did fight it out with the champions, but as is usual we lost by the odd goal, something that seems to happen again and again. We at 'Sport are at a loss to understand why two of the people who should be in our side at the moment aren't getting a 'nod' from the United management. One of course is veteran Nigel Boyd (who must surely have served his penance for attending a family wedding on a match day) and the other is Lee Patrick. These two players turn out for the reserves regularly and are obviously match-fit, yet the manager ignores them and continues with players who are clearly struggling and are a liability we can ill afford. Craig McClean, Gavin Melaugh and Stuart King are playing well below the required standard, which leaves our left flank decidedly vulnerable, while goalkeeper Paul Murphy still continues to struggle and surely its time for Sean O'Neill to come in for an extended run in the first team. Defeat against Portadown next Saturday will keep us firmly rooted in the bottom four of the table and we believe, we will struggle to extricate ourselves during the coming weeks. Let's face it, after the Portadown game, our next three games, away to Armagh and at home to Limavady and Dungannon are not foregone conclusions, they look okay on paper, but these teams invariably raise their game when playing the Sky Blues. So, a result against Portadown is vital next week in our opinion and the only way to achieve this is with our best eleven players on the pitch, anything less and United are in for a long hard struggle to avoid the relegation trap-door as the tough games against the top six teams of last season will be back round before we know it. So, come on Sky Blues, we're with you all the way, but you have to give us something to cheer for, a battling performance is alright, but it's points we need and it's your turn to stand up and be counted!

Mission Impossible!

Ballymena face the impossible task of going to Windsor Park and somehow scratching out a result against the Premier league champions tomorrow. The United defence continues to leak goals at an alarming rate, while the forwards seem devoid of any ideas when it comes to scoring at the other end. In short United are badly lacking in confidence and Windsor is no place for the faint hearted, as we have discovered to our cost this term already. The United management will have to bring off a miracle, if they are to instill belief in the minds of the United players, who are desperately in need of a good result. Should the manager try to defend, playing with only a lone striker? Or is the old adage still bearing true, 'the best means of defence is attack'? We at 'Sport favour the last, basing our thinking on the fact that if we must lose, let's do it with style. We don't want them to play with reckless abandon, but let's try to give them a game. So come on Sky Blues, give us something to cheer about, you just never know your luck, do you? In short, let's shag those townies, you know it makes sense, so let's go and do it!

Round Corner!

After United showed a bit of fighting spirit on Tuesday night at Stangmore Park, the belief among some of the travelling support, was that we may have turned the corner, we at 'Sport are not so sure. Even though the team fought hard on Tuesday, losing by a single goal, an own goal we're told, we still created no clear cut chances ourselves. While at the other end we seem to be too easily prised open and continue to live dangerously. Centre midfield remains a problem and manager Wright's assertion during the close season, that 'he' and we quote, 'didn't need a midfielder', is coming back to haunt him. Things were so bad on Tuesday night that Fitzy was having to drop into midfield himself as the service was abysmal to say the least. Fitzy had a good game on Tuesday night but may have to make way for the fit again Davitt Walsh, who looks certain to partner Kevin Kelbie up front, if the Scotsman can shrug off his flu symptoms. Thomas Wray has failed to grab his chance at right-back in the absence of the injured Aaron Callaghan and with Gary Haveron fit again, it looks likely that Simon Kelly will revert to rightback, with Haveron resuming his partnership alongside United Captain Albert Watson in the centre of defence. Will the United manager continue with his ploy of playing two wingers, Picking and King, or will he at last use his head and give Boydie a run out on the left flank. Surely the Cullybackey man has served his penance for attending a family wedding on the day United lost heavily to the Glens. One thing is certain, Cliftonville will want to get back to winning ways after their exit from the C.I.S. cup in midweek and United will have to be prepared to stand up and be counted. We have generally matched them over recent seasons but lost both times to them last season by single goal margins, tomorrow would be a good time to lay that 'bogey' to rest. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Chickenvillers!

Cup Dream!

We're starting off with an apology tonight, according to 'sources' (nudge, nudge,wink,wink), Stephen Baxter never said United had laced their team with tall players or used long ball tactics. There now, we've got that off our chest, now for the bad news. The bad news is that we have no idea how we're going to, not only beat Dungannon Swifts tomorrow night at Stangmore Park, but how we're going to beat them by three clear goals. If we are to progress to a quarter-final C.I.S. cup meeting against the Glens at the oval, then we simply must win by at least 3 clear goals. Our manager would no doubt settle for any kind of victory, as anything would be better than our last three games, in which we scored one goal and conceded nine. The manager may consider restoring Fitzy to the team after he scored a hat-trick for the Reserves last Saturday. Will he also bring back United's best loved local boy, Nigel Boyd is the question on our lips? Will he have the foresight to give Albert Watson a rest, as the Captain has been less than inspirational so far this season? These and many more questions will be answered tomorrow night, we know it's a tough ask, but if you call yourself a Sky Blue fan, come on and cheer the wee team on. Once a Sky Blue, always a Sky Blue, so come on United let's shag those Tyronians!

Crues Control!

After losing by the odd goal in three on Wednesday past, United need to bounce back with a win against their conquerors, when they travel to Belfast tomorrow. United's record at the tight Seaview pitch hasn't been all that good of late but it's imperative that they glean something from tomorrow's fixture. With that in mind we expect the United manager to pick his strongest eleven, which should include top scorer Davitt Walsh. Young central defender Johnny Flynn may well retain his place as Gary Haveron who limped off on Wednesday night is rated doubtful. The United manager wouldn't be drawn on whether young keeper Sean O'Neill would retain the keeper's jersey, or if regular custodian Paul Murphy would return. If Walsh is fit we expect Mark Picking to return to his usual right-wing berth, but the other three midfield slots are up for grabs as United's midfield was less than impressive during the 2nd half of Wednesday's game. The United manager could include Boydie on the left flank where he would give extra cover to Craig McClean, who was left badly exposed at times in the Shield game. Boydie also gives a good balance to the attack, which was badly lacking on Wednesday night. That would leave Melaugh, Scates, Lowry and Aiden Watson to battle it out for the two remaining central midfield spots. One thing is for sure, the Crues, fresh from their Shield victory over us and with only one point in the league so far, will fight tooth and nail to avoid an embarrassment in front of their own fans. But, if we want to progress up this league table, we must take control of this game, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those toothless tigers!

Spring Back!

After their collapse against Glentoran last Saturday, United will be anxious to bounce back in tomorrow night's Crest County Antrim Shield semi-final at home to the Crues. Victory would not only see United through to the final, but would set up a meeting with their conquerors of last Saturday, Glentoran, after they defeated Cliftonville 2-1 tonight. It looks like United will go into the game without their under-21 International rightback, Aaron Callaghan, while leading scorer Davitt Walsh is rated as doubtful with a chest infection. On the plus side Boydie is available for selection once more as are, Aiden Watson, Simon Kelly, Fitzy and Stuart King. King may in fact get the nod over young David Cushley, who bore the brunt of Glentoran's heavy tackling last Saturday and may not be risked in this game. United manager Tommy Wright hinted that young Johnny Flynn might get a game in central defence alongside Albert Watson at the expense of Gary Haveron, who had a real 'stinker' on Saturday. Goalkeeper Paul Murphy may also be under pressure from reserve keeper Sean O'Neill after dropping yet another 'clanger' on Saturday. But whoever gets selected for tomorrow night's game, one things for certain, a victory at all costs is absolutely vital. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those toothless tigers, yes its 'high' time, to stand up and be counted!