Shoot Out!

United go into tomorrow's match with Newry City knowing that at least a point is required if they are to retain 6th place in the final league table. With that in mind it's hard to fathom why manager Tommy Wright would consider dropping 'Mister versatility', Gary Haveron, in order to play Garth Scates, or give youngster Paul McNeill a starting role alongside Kevin Kelbie, it's just mind boggling, but it has been rumoured to be correct. Young Paul, could and should've scored 3 goals last week at Drumaho and his promotion to a starting role is similar to our last trip to Newry for the Irish cup back in January, when Stuarty King missed 3 sitters and not only kept his place for the replay, but was given the task of dispatching the 1st penalty in the subsequent shoot out. Obviously our dream of seeing our 'wicked' strike force, of Wardy, Kevin and Davitt (WKD), is not going to materialise this season, so we will have to dream on. Tomorrow's game, in the opinion of the Sky Blue Sports crew like the Irish cup replay, is yet another shoot out and the winners will be rewarded with at worst a 6th place finish in this years league standings, the losers will have to go away and lick their wounds until battle recommences next August, in the new league set-up. It's hard to generate enthusiasm for this last fixture as the team have been 'going through the motions' for the last 6 games or so, but try we must. So for the last time this season, come on Sky Blues, let's once and for all, shag those 'border boys'!

Drumaho Demolition!

United go into tomorrow's penultimate match against Institute (hereafter known as 'Stute), with a full compliment of players (as far as we know that is). Our source (who cannot be named for legal reasons, he's a paid amateur, joke), has been sadly lacking recently even though we've been right occasionally, but surely our luck cannot continue, or can it? United manager Tommy Wright, who appears to favour giving youngster Paul McNeil a starting role tomorrow, needs to be reminded that his second top scorer, Davitt Walsh, also needs the reassurance of a starting role. Our sincere apologies to to team Captain Albert Watson, who received a plaque from our chairman after attaining 200 appearances for the club last Saturday, which we failed to mention, a rap on the knuckles for us. But what of tomorrow's team, that as they say, is the $64 question? Going on our performance of last week, 3 names spring to mind as automatic choices, Paul Murphy, goalscoring hero Tommy Wray and Aiden Watson. Gavin Melaugh looks certain to regain his place in midfield and if our manager decides to go with 3 strikers, hopefully it will be Garth Scates who misses out and not Gary Haveron. Of course we may be miles off in our thoughts, but one thing remains the same, our objective, in other words, we want to 'shag' every team we meet. So for the penultimate time, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those 'Stuteians'!

Scum Clearance!

United manager Tommy Wright goes into tomorrow's derby game against cup finalists Coleraine (there we've said it and that's an end to it), without the suspended Gavin Melaugh and reserve striker Randal Reid. Leading goalscorer Kevin Kelby also faces a late fitness test on his injured calf, which is yet another 'bad news item' for the Sky Blues. The one piece of 'good news' is that 'lamb bones' are not only 'fit', but on offer in local butchers (now we did say 'offer' not 'offal') at B.O.G.O.F. All joking aside, this is a game that United must win, not only is it their last home game of this season, it's also against their biggest rivals and the result is vitally important to every United fan. Any of United's players who are intent on staying on at the Showgrounds had best be prepared to give 110% tomorrow, or he'll think that the reception at the end of the Distillery game, was a picnic. United must travel for their last two games to the farthest ends of our wee country, first to the North to Drumahoe, on the fringes of Londonderry and not a kick in the arse off the Donegal border and secondly South to Newry on the edge of the Louth border. A defeat tomorrow could herald the lowest travelling Sky Blue support for many years, for these two irrelevant fixtures. So Sky Blues it's up to you, tomorrow is the 'last chance saloon' for a fair number of you, it's time to stand up and be counted, so come on United, let's shag that Coleraine scum!

Three Strikes!

Strong rumours emanating from the Showgrounds suggest that Stuarty King has been dropped and at long last United will take the field with three strikers, we at 'Sport will believe it when we see it. United's opponents tomorrow, Donegal Celtic, will be no pushover as they are fighting for their existence in the top league. Having said that a win tomorrow is vital for the Sky Blues, firstly it will ensure at worst a 9th place finish in the league and secondly it will prove a timely boost before the visit of the cup finalists (there we've said it and it was bloody hard we can tell you), next Saturday. There are reports that Kevin Kelbie faces a fitness test, but we have been assured that Aiden Watson and 17 year-old David Cushley will definitely start. Does this mean that if Kelby is fit, United will start with their 'wicked' formation, Wardy, Kevin and Davitt, or is manager Wright intending to play Cushley as a striker, thereby 'hedging' his bets (by the way that is not a subtle tip for the Grand National). If Cushley is used as a striker, a place could be found in the midfield for the versatile Gary Haveron, unless of course our manager is intent on shipping him out also, which seems a possibility. In Baseball parlance it's 'three strikes and you're out' and that could be the fate awaiting this United team and their manager, if thing go pear shaped tomorrow and the one thing they should all realise by now is we don't suffer fools gladly. But enough of this 'gloom and doom', let's be optimistic, surely after those two pathetic away defeats, we can bounce back with some home comforts in our penultimate home match of this season. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Suffolk ewes!