Blayne Game!

United manager Roy Walker has a big decision to make regarding his selection for tomorrow's home game against reigning champions Linfield. The worst kept secret in the Irish league is out, regular goalkeeper Alan Blayney has signed a pre-contract with the league champions and that left the United manager with little option but to withdrew his offer of an extended contract this week. Having just given back up custodian Sean O'Neill a two year professional contract, 'Sport are wondering if the United manager will give him the starting role against the Belfast blues. Walker of course is the man to make the 'big' decisions as he showed in United's first meeting with Linfield, when he promoted the untried Lee Colligan to the vacant leftback slot, a position he has made exclusively his own since that day. If he selects the young O'Neill he can expect a warm welcome from the Sky Blue faithful and a hostile welcome from the visiting forwards. With that rare 'diving bird', the 'Kearney', in the Linfield line-up, United must hope for a strong referee (does such a thing exist), as Kearney has extreme trouble keeping his footing, diving Love child. United's Kevin Kelbie will have another chance to exploit Linfield's creaking defender Winkie Murphy, while surely any of United's back-up strikers will have too much class for the one-paced Stephen 'you couldn't score in Ahoghill' Douglas. It'll be a tough match for the sky Blues as the visitors will use every trick in the book to try and upset them, but if we play as a team, we at 'Sport believe that truth will prevail. We haven't you'll notice mentioned the 'fat controller', he is after all beneath contempt and that as far as we are concerned sums him up precisely. So come on United, let the Sky Blue win through, let's shag those townies!

Black Marauders!

Look out you scum, the Black Marauders are coming down to blast your unbeaten run to smithereens. Usually we're the Sky Blues, but tomorrow we'll be the boys in black and we're going to kick some Coleraine ass. The only player definitely missing from United's line-up is Mike Ward, which might mean a place on the bench for Davitt Walsh. Nathan McConnell, who let's face it hasn't set the world on fire so far, will probably continue up front with team Captain Kevin Kelbie, with United's preference for a 5 man midfield, Mark Picking will probably have to wait in the wings (pardon our pun), against one of his former teams. With Lee Colligan and 'player of the month' Paul Muir facing late fitness tests United may be forced into a couple of late changes, otherwise the team will almost pick itself. United keeper Alan Blayney has been offered a new contract therefore the 'ball' is in his court and manager Roy Walker expects an imminent answer or he'll need to find a back-up for young Sean O'Neill. The 'Scum' are missing three players including their top man, Stephen Carson, due to suspension, so there's no reason why United can't record a second successive victory over the 'stinking gas-men'. Let's hope for a good crowd, a good atmosphere and the right outcome, a United victory. So come on you All Blacks, let's shag, that Coleraine Scum!

Aiden's Ton!

If selected tomorrow and we can find no reason to believe he won't be, Aiden Watson should make his 100th appearance in a Sky Blue shirt. Aiden's 'no nonsense' style of play has meant him picking up lots of injuries and suspensions during his tenure and he's took longer than most to reach the 100 milestone. The one thing lacking in his game has been goals, only 3 so far in a United jersey, that's only one every 33 games, but there's always tomorrow. United will give late fitness tests to three players, the two Gavin's, Melaugh and McDonnell and striker Wardy. We at 'Sport don't expect United manager Roy Walker to 'tinker' too much with his selection and even if all the players are passed fit, we expect the same line-up as that which took on Bangor last Friday night to get the nod. This would be a bit harsh on the fit again Mark Picking but we expect United to stick with the 3,5,3 formation, which means Picking only getting a place on the bench. United Captain Gary Haveron has had his plaster removed and may be pushing for a starting place in the next couple of weeks, what a boost that would be for the final round of matches. Stand-in Captain Kevin Kelbie needs to find his scoring touch which has deserted him lately and hopefully strike up a prolific partnership with new striker Nathan McConnell. McConnell comes up against a former team for the second game in a row and hopefully he won't rise 'to the bait' as he did last week when provoked by former team-mate Darren Lockhart. Referee Davey Malcolm's handling of the altercation between the two former mates left a lot to be desired and was probably instrumental in manager Roy Walker's decision to withdraw McConnell at halftime. Three vital points are at stake tomorrow, a win would be a great boost going into the final phase of games, a draw wouldn't be a complete disaster, but a defeat would be bloody hard to swallow. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Mourneviewers!