Horse Bolted!

There's an old saying about closing the stable door when the 'horse has bolted' and the news from the Showgrounds this week takes on a similar slant. United manager Roy Walker has signed up three players on 2 year contracts, namely Sparky, Denver and Westy, while occasional scorer, Cutch has signed on for another year. Walker says he took this action after the defection of Nathan, 'sleight of hand' Hanly and Richard, 'big dickhead' Gibson, to Belfast's big two. That means we'll have at least four players plus Gazza next season, what a relief that is. Hopefully the on/off quest for a top six finish hasn't bolted as this is now the defining aim of our season.

With six fixtures to be completed before the 'split', we figure United need 10 points to be in the 'mix' (top six). The easiest way to achieve this is with two wins and four draws, ideally beating D.C. tomorrow and Newry on Friday March 25, while drawing with Crues, Glens, Whites and Swifts. None of these results will be easy to come by, but if we are to progress (improve), this is the kind of form we'll need to show. By a strange quirk we only play one team who are realistically vying with us for the coveted top six place, the Whites and we play them next Saturday. No matter what the outcome of our next two games (D.C. tomorrow and Crues on Tues, both at home), next Saturday's game will be a humdinger. Draws of course are second nature to our team, we have by far the highest number in the league, ten, but wins, they're a different kettle of fish entirely.

In fact next Saturday's rumble, may be the game that defines our season and there will be a wee bit of 'needle' as well after the 'play acting' and 'lie telling' by the Whites on our last trip to Ballyskeagh, in short it won't be a place for the faint-hearted. After that it's pretty mundane stuff with a trip to 'chicken country' (Dungannon), at home to the Glens and finishing with a trip to the 'marshes' (Newry). We are joking of course about the mundane stuff, we are (unless we've missed our guesses by a mile), going to be on tenterhooks for the next month and when has it ever been any other way we ask you. Tomorrow's game will be tough, D.C. are fighting for their existence in the Premier league and we'll need to be both mentally and physically tough if we are to overcome them, but we must prevail.

We're not sure if Archie will make his comeback tomorrow, maybe a place on the bench will be his lot, while Eamon Murray is doubtful with an injured knee, which could mean a rare start for Mo. Aaron Boyd will probably start alongside Cutch, who's only averaging a goal every three games and in fact has only scored one league goal this year (New year's day). That sort of average is okay for a back-up striker, but our main striker needs to average a goal every two games or close to it. Caff, who got better as the game progressed last week will surely partner Captain Gazza in central midfield, with the back four of Sparky, Albert, Lee and Denver. Mikey, who is rumoured to be off to Kilmarnock on trial after the Whites game next Saturday, will continue in right-midfield. Ryan, or should we, in fact dare we, say the improving Ryan Brown, will continue in goals. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Suffolk lambs!