Bang On!

United entertain Bangor tomorrow night kick-off 19-45 and the catchword for manager Roy Walker (or whoever's filling in for him while he completes his suspension) should be 'bang on', as that is what United must do in our four remaining matches. The fact that three of these games are at home should be an advantage for us, but the opposite is in fact the case. If however we are to progress up the table and clear of the relegation zone, we need to start winning our home games and tomorrow night would be the perfect time. Bangor have virtually nothing to play for as they are certain to be relegated as they are not applying for a Premier league licence next season, but they will still want to give a good account of themselves and are quite capable of taking all three points tomorrow night. United will need to have their 'A' game if they are to triumph and for that reason we expect Albert Watson to come back into the team, therefore allowing us to go back to the three man defence. Gavin Melaugh should also return and United will need all his guile if they are to get back on the goal trail once more. Melaugh's midfield partners will be a case of perm any two from the three of Aiden Watson, Tommy Wray and the enigmatic David Cushley. On last weeks showing striker Colin Magill could get a starting berth alongside Kevin Kelbie, who after a prolific December, has only found the net twice this year. The rest of the team will automatically pick itself, As Messers,Smith, Colligan, McDonald and Muir are stonewall bankers for selection. It's crunch time tomorrow night, we wouldn't say the next two games are a matter of 'life and death' as they're much, much, more serious than that. So Come On United, let's shag those Seasiders!

Return Call!

After last weeks feeble capitulation at home, United have a great chance to turn things round when they make a 'return call' away to the hatchet men at Seaview tomorrow. United will make at least three changes to their starting line-up of last week as the cup-tied Michael Smith returns and new signing Nathan McConnell makes his debut. Also missing from the United line-up will be the suspended Albert Watson and we expect Tommy Wray to take over from Albert, paving the way for either David Cushley in midfield or our preferred option of either Ward or Walsh alongside Kelbie and McConnell in a 3,4,3 formation. This would of course be an attacking formation, but at least it would be a positive move, unlike last weeks inept selection. The tight Seaview pitch has rarely been a 'happy hunting ground' for United, but a victory tomorrow would be a wee cushion as we enter the final games before the 'split' in five games time. With no fresh injury worries, United manager Roy walker must choose his weapons carefully if we are to glean a result from tomorrow's game. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Shore Roaders!

Jolly Colly!

Teenage leftback Lee Colligan signed an extended contract this week which will keep him on United's books until the summer of 2011. What a sensation the youngster has been since being promoted by United manager Roy Walker to the first team in the home game against Linfield. He hasn't missed a game since then and with over 20 appearances has been an ever present in United's starting line-up. He scored his first senior goal against Ballyclare in United's previous game in the twice postponed Irish cup game and what better way to celebrate his new contract than with a goal against the 'hatchet men' tomorrow. United manager Roy walker must do without the services of the cup-tied Michael Smith, Nathan McConnell and the injured Paul McNeil, while on the plus side Aiden Watson returns after suspension and Mike Ward is fully fit. It looks certain that United will continue with the GAP defence, Gavin, Albert and Paul while the manager looks set to bring Aiden in at right wing-back, with either Cushley or Deans slotting into a three man central midfield role. That would leave the tried and tested Kevin and Wardy combination up front with Walsh on the bench as cover. This is one helluva tough match, make no bones about it, but it is a match United can win, especially against a team with an even worse Irish cup record than ourselves. A defeat tomorrow won't be the end of the world, but a victory could set us up very nicely for the final five league matches before the 'split'. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Crusaders!

Better'n Nathan!

United manager Roy Walker has dipped into the transfer market quite deeply during the transfer window, adding five new names to his panel. Two of them, old boy Paul Muir and hot prospect Michael Smith have already broken the ice (not an intentional pun by us), so we can expect new striker Nathan McConnell to make his debut tomorrow. The United manager said he intends to give Nathan a run-out from the start as United's goalscoring exploits leave a lot to be desired. This will in turn mean either Walsh or McNeill will drop down to the reserves or at least the bench, along with Ryan Deans, who filled in for the cup-tied Michael Smith at Ballyclare on Tuesday night . Tomorrow's game is a proverbial six pointer as a win would put the home side 10 points clear of the visitors, while a defeat would plunge them back into the relegation mire. With ex-Coleraine manager Marty Quinn now in charge at Glenavon, we expect this will be a rejuvenated side who comes to the Showgrounds tomorrow. No-one could ever fault Marty for effort and he is well renowned for taking on seemingly lost causes and turning them round, but hopefully he'll have to postpone his revival of the visitors fortunes for another day. United, if they want to progress up the league table need to start winning and a victory tomorrow followed by a run similar to the one after our victory in the corresponding fixture at Lurgan will fit the bill very nicely. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Mourneviewers!

Good Omen!

United will make their third attempt to play their Irish cup match at Dixon Park Ballyclare tomorrow night, weather permitting. The weather forecast would make us be a wee bit pessimistic, with snow a definite possibility, but on the plus side, history or coincidence depending on your outlook is very much with us. Cast your mind back if you can to 1984. We realise that was 25 years ago and some United fans weren't even born, never mind going to matches, but on that occasion United had to play a first round game away to junior opposition namely Tobermore United. After two postponements the match was finally played and a certain 'George Best' was in the opposition team that day, but United swept them aside triumphing by a whopping 7-0 and going on to lift the Irish cup with a 4-1 victory over Carrick Rangers in the final. Could history repeat itself starting with a victory tomorrow night, you just never can tell. That of course is the magic of the cup and United have a great incentive with a home draw against the 'hatchet men' waiting for the winners of this tie. We haven't got a baldy about team selection, our source has gone AWOL (drunk again), Kelbie may be available, Paul Muir may or may not be cup-tied and we wonder if manager Roy Walker's four game suspension effective from today applies to the cup match, or is it only applicable to league games. The big breaking news of today is of course the managerial merry-go-round at Glenavon, with the appointment of former Coleraine boss Marty Quinn at Mourneview and the news that his former club, Bangor, will not be playing Premier league football next season, another fine mess they've got us into (the I.F.A.). But we digress, the ball is at our proverbial toe, so come on United, let's shag those Ballyclarians!