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!