Black Ice!

United fans make a return to the alleged 'scene of the crime' tomorrow night when the Sky Blues (weather permitting), travel to Stangmore Park, Dungannon to take on the Swifts. No-one knows how the word 'fat' love-child, alters to become 'black' love-child, but seemingly that's what the acoustics at Stangmore Park are capable of, or are some people hearing exactly what they want to hear? Enough of this chit chat, United are going there to play football and the United fans are going there to cheer them on.

By the law of averages we are long overdue a win against the Swifts, but the law of averages have got little to do with football, so we can't read anything into that statistic . United will have to be at their best if they are to glean the points tomorrow night and manager Walker should have a fully fit squad at his disposal, so there is no excuse.

On their trip to the Showgrounds the Swifts got a 'lucky' penalty and United were reduced to 10 men, but otherwise there was little to choose between the two teams. Since then the Swifts have proved that their early good form was no fluke and are well positioned in the top half of the table. We on the other hand are languishing perilously close to the wrong part of the bottom half. This is simply a match we've got to win, even a draw wouldn't be of much benefit, as three points are vital in order to distance ourselves from 'Stute and Newry who clash tomorrow night also.

Hopefully the United management will be like minded and treat this game like a knock-out, which should make for an interesting game. After the postponement of the Boxing Day derby we are all in need of a lift and a victory at Dungannon will set us up for the visit of 'Chickenville' on Saturday. So come on sky Blues, make it a happy end to the year, let's shag those Tyronians!

Rising Tide!

With the shortest day of the year having passed, we are already looking forward to the clearer nights. Hopefully after having ended their bad run with a victory over Linfield last Saturday, United's star is also on the rise again. Of course there's good news and bad news. The good news is that team captain Gary Haveron should be back in the panel for tomorrow's game when we play the 'scum' in the 'slum'. The bad news is that Andy Smith begins a six game ban for attempting to head-butt a Newry opponent and reserve striker James McLaughlin must sit out three reserve team games after seeing red away to Linfield Swifts.

All this may prove immaterial as it's not certain if the game will survive the weather. If it does, we're dependent on whether their fans can round up enough brushes and shovels and enough manpower to get the snow off. We don't anticipate too many changes to the United line-up, only the restoration of Nathan McConnell alongside Kevin Kelbie. With no injuries worries hopefully Darren Lockhart, scorer of United's opening goal last Saturday, will be able to make his debut in the North Ulster derby. There won't be quite as many fans as at a big two encounter, but the atmosphere will be much more electric.

Two sets of fans who truly hate each others guts make for a fascinating encounter and hopefully no quarter will be asked or given out on the park either. Our game last Saturday halted our slide, a victory in this one could put us on the up, like a rising tide. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those scum-bags from County Londonderry, let's go kick ass!

Blue Blue!

United go into tomorrow's game against the 'blue' half of Belfast's big two after a dismal run where they have only gleaned 2 points, since losing to the 'Green/Black half of the big two. That game was almost two months ago and United have played seven games since that night, when they were just 5 minutes away from a memorable victory, before crumbling to a confidence shattering defeat. United boss Roy Walker must try to lift his below par players for tomorrow's game and hopefully the expected big crowd will also help somewhat. Some would say if you can't get 'up' for a game against Linfield, then there's not much hope for you and we at 'Sport would reiterate that statement. Linfield come to the Showgrounds after two successive defeats at Windsor and United might expect a backlash from the wounded Blues who surprisingly have been trophyless for well over a year and a half. Compared to our dismal record, no trophy since May 1989, it's not too bad, but when you consider the 'windfall' the Blues get from their board (sorry the I.F.A., one and the same), it represents a poor return. What chance then do the Sky Blues have of adding to the men from the village's poor run? Well if they play like last week absolutely sweet F.A. But we expect Kelbie and company to rise to the occasion and hopefully our much criticised defence will get it's act together as two stalwarts, Paul Muir and Gary Haveron are close to making a return. In fact one of them may get a place on the bench tomorrow, so it's all systems go for the visit of the 'fat controller' and his elbow kings, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those villagers!

Red Mist!

Former Portadown striker Andy Smith will be missing from the Sky Blues line-up tomorrow, as he's serving an automatic ban for his sending off in United's previous game at Newry, last Thursday night. As has been well documented, the Sky Blue Sport team were conspicuous by their absence, but by all accounts the United team didn't turn up either and we missed yet another abject performance by our boys. Manager Roy Walker has a full panel, minus Andy Smith at his disposal tomorrow, which surely must mean a return for that old work horse, Darren Lockhart. The senior player had to serve a one game ban on Thursday, but is raring to go for tomorrows game at newly developed Shamrock Park. United fans will no doubt be housed in their visitors stand, 50 yards behind the goal-line, with a completely jaundiced view of the action. Contrast this to the 'view' visiting fans have at the Showgrounds (there is no comparison, the Showgrounds wins hands down) and it becomes obvious how pathetic visitors facilities really are. Portadown of course are not alone in giving scant regard to the comfort and enjoyment of visiting supporters, but that still doesn't excuse them. United are in danger of being sucked into the relegation dog-fight so the three points on offer tomorrow are somewhat critical. Surely Nathan McConnell must start alongside Kevin Kelbie and who would bet against the preacher's son adding to his five goal tally tomorrow. Another man due for a recall must be David Cushley, Ormo may do it in training but the 'Cush' does it on the pitch. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those apple pickers!