Solly Blundell!

Sorry that should read, 'Solly Blunder', the blunder being the site of their new stand, we the visiting fans are already subjected to the 'jaundiced' view from behind the goals and now the home fans have a similar view. This was, as I'm sure like all so called ground improvements, done in the interest of spectators, I just wish that for once they'd ask and listen to, the views of spectators. Who in their right mind would want to watch a game from behind the 'goals'? Apart from Coleraine fans I can't think of anybody, but then again Coleraine fans are fairly insane, as the old saying goes, 'you don't have to be mad to be a Coleraine fan, but it helps'! But we digress, United must do without the services of central defender Albert Watson, out with suspected ankle ligament damage (not as bad as first suspected, but still a bad injury). Team Captain Gary Haveron returns after serving his one match ban, but will the United manager be loath to partner two left sided central defenders, in Gary and young Archie Stewart? Tommy Burke signed from Derry City could be drafted into a central role, but we fear that reserve player Chris Getty is just not ready for the step-up in class yet. We are unaware if Neal Teggart is fit to resume, but if he is not reserve striker Paul McNeil did enough in his brief appearance on Wednesday night to warrant a starting role. Despite missing a 'sitter' on Wednesday night we expect Kevin Kelbie with 116 career goals to his credit to get the nod in the other striking role. Liam Mullen given a rest on Wednesday, showed the sort of enthusiasm needed when he came on as a sub, which could earn him a starting role against the North Belfast Reds. While Stuarty King looks poised to make his 101st appearance in a Sky Blue shirt. That just leaves the central midfield partnership to be sorted. Gavin Melaugh and Joe McDonnell so far have only gelled in a couple of games and their positions must surely be up for grabs! One things certain for tomorrow, a win is vital, let's have no more excuses, so come on United, let's shag those Chickens (Dessie Loughrey included)!

Haveron 't Got!

United go into tomorrow night's first-leg C.I.S. cup tie at home to Glentoran, without the services of team captain Gary Haveron. The big Larne man misses his first game this season after accumulating 20 penalty points, courtesy of five yellow cards. To the unfamilar it might seem that Gary was a typical hard hitting defender, but nothing could be further from the truth as there isn't a more honest and fair player in our league. Gary is the victim of his own style and commitment and referees tend not to make allowances for that these days. Also doubtful for the Sky Blues is top scorer and another ever present this season, Neal Teggart. The 'big' striker had to come off at halftime at Ballyskeagh on Saturday and is rated doubtful for tomorrow night's game. Archie Stewart is expected to get the nod in Haveron's place and if Teggart fails to make it, Mike Ward could make a rare start alongside Kelbie. With Tommy Burke returning to the panel manager Roy Walker will have to decide between him and Aiden Watson for the rightback slot and he may be tempted to bring in Mark Picking in wide midfield at the expense of Liam Mullan who failed to impress last Saturday. Hopefully United can give a good account of themselves in this game, so come on Sky Blues, lets shag those wise men from the east!

Aiden & Abetting

With the unavailability of Roy Walker's latest teenage fullback, Tommy Burke, it looks like an immediate recall for tigerish midfielder Aiden Watson, to wear the number 2 shirt. Aiden, having served his one game suspension (and not Albert as we and many others intimated last week), looks likely to get a recall, but then again United manager Roy Walker may have other ideas up his sleeve. He may also have one eye on United's first-leg C.I.S. cup game at home to the Glens next Wednesday night and will no doubt be glad of the players he has in reserve with United playing 4 times in the next 11 days. To the best of our knowledge (we haven't a bloody clue in other words), the rest of United's starting 11 from last week are ready and willing and we doubt that Walker will tinker too much with his starting 11. Mike Ward, who 'allegedly' collided with Glens substitute John Taylor's arm last Saturday, may get a place on the bench despite having to get stitches in a nasty head wound. Young Archie Stewart will we fear also have to settle for a seat on the bench, but his time will come. With the unavailability of Davitt Walsh with a hamstring injury, the fit again Mark Picking will probably be recalled to the United bench. Teenage sensation Lee Colligan looks set to continue in the leftback slot, as Craiggers remains on the injured list. United will be looking to their twin strikers, Kelbie and Teggart to exact some revenge on the 'whites' for a narrow defeat in our last meeting, while United fans will be hoping for a chance to 'jeer' former player Paul Muir, a leading protagonist in the 'ham shank' riot at the Showgrounds last season. Whatever the outcome we expect United fans to turn up in numbers to cheer their heroes on, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Lambeggars!

Green Glens!

United entertain the second of 'Belfast's big two tomorrow when the Glens come to God's country. After last weeks ground breaking first win against unbeaten league leaders Linfield, United have to repeat the 'dose' when Setanta cup finalist's Glentoran, come to the Showgrounds. This will be the 3rd meeting between the two teams so far this season and another two will follow over the next month, when the teams meet in the two-legged, Setanta Cup. United fans won't need reminding of the 10 goals conceded in the two previous meetings and tomorrow they must do without the services of the suspended Albert Watson and Craiggers McClean who misses the game with a knee injury, but at least Liam Mullan is available to take his place. That only leaves the manager looking for a replacement for his former Captain. We assume that Aaron Stewart will still be missing so this may open the door for either Tommy Wray or the out of favour Gavin McDonnell, who hasn't tasted first team action since the away league game against tomorrow's opponents on Tuesday September 23. The Dubliner only lasted 45 minutes in that game and manager Walker may be loath to risk him in this vital game. The same may be said about reserve player Chris Getty, although his breakthrough to the first team looks imminent. The Sky Blue Sport's team wonder if the United manager will go with Wardy, who looked so impressive when he came on as a sub last week, in place of the ineffective Stuart King. Wardy sent over two 'gems of crosses' last week against the Blues and we would lay money that former United prolific strikers, Peter Withnell and Paul Malone, would have dispatched them into the net. He also set up Kelbie for his second goal and surely must be pushing for a start against his former club. For the second game running United have the chance to topple the league leaders, now wouldn't that be something? So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those 'Carrot' eaters!

Talker Walker!

United manager Roy walker has been quoted on teletext as saying United have a chance of turning over Linfield tomorrow. Yes it was an encouraging display at Coleraine last Saturday and we were the best team over the 90 minutes, but we only ended up with a point and 'rode our luck' during the closing stages of the game. We also had two encouraging displays against Newry and Institute, should have won both of them, 'choked' in the closing stages to salvage a draw on both occasions. Two things to remember about those first two drawn games, (1)they were away from home, (2) they were followed by successive league defeats at home, conceding 3 goals without reply on both occasions. Hopefully tomorrow will prove to be a 'different kettle of fish', but United don't need any added pressure, playing the Belfast Blues is pressure enough. The good news for United is that Craigers McClean is fit once more and not a moment too soon as his replacement in recent games, Liam Hogan, is out injured. Also missing from the United line-up tomorrow are, winger Mark Picking (groin strain) and Liam Mullan (prior engagement). This will probably mean a recall for former Blues player, Stuarty King on the left, while Aiden Watson may move up from fullback to wide right, paving the way for Tommy Wray to return at rightback. Kevin Kelbie will we hope be restored to his more usual role as a foil for top scorer Neal Teggart, rather than wasted wide left as he was last week against Coleraine. Manager Roy Walker may of course have completely different ideas, but hopefully we'll get the right result no matter who gets the 'nod'. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those blooming Townies!

Show Time1

Yes tomorrow is the biggest game for United this season and it will go a long way to fashioning the outcome of this first season in the new Premier league. On form we are on a hiding to nothing, but as we all know form goes out the window in 'derby' games. We have come here many times on the crest of a wave and left with nothing and we have come here many times playing poorly and left in high spirits. For some of our players this will be their first taste of the atmosphere of a Ballymena/Coleraine derby, but hopefully it will be a pleasant and not a 'sickening' experience for them. A win tomorrow or even a hard fought draw and it could kick-start the rest of our season, a defeat, is unthinkable. United must do without the services of local keeper Sean O'Neill who has flu symptoms and this means a recall for number one choice Alan Blaney. Blaney has been less than impressive since signing for the Sky Blues, but tomorrow he gets a chance to put the record straight. Manager Roy Walker has hinted at quite a few changes, but we at 'Sport would caution the United supremo to go easy on the players. Last Saturday they never got a break, okay they contributed to their own downfall with two bad lapses in defence, but they also had no luck at the other end, especially when a Kelbie shot luckily hit keeper Plummer on the knee and bounced to safety, a goal then and the points would have been in the bag. That said we can ill afford any of the 'kamikaze' defending of the first half of that game when we failed to put in a meaningful tackle and allowed the Bangor forwards to 'run rings round us'. Our headline says 'show time', but perhaps it should really say, 'time to show', as that old saying goes, 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going' and now's the time for our team to get going. So come on United, let's shag those stinking gas-men!