The Lards!

United entertain the 'Lards' tomorrow at the Showgrounds for their first visit as a senior club. They've got off to a sensational start in the Dankse Premier league it has to be said and chalked up some memorable victories in the process. They will represent the biggest challenge we have faced at home this season and will show us how far we've come under Spike and the boys. Barring injuries, of which we haven't heard, United only need to make one change from their starting line-up of last week. Cookie will miss this game because of suspension and we expect Johnny Taylor to come in for him. Jimmy Mac, who scored two goals coming on as sub last week, looks to deserving of a start, but if Spike is true to form, Jamie will get the nod.

Spike seems to be of the opinion, 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' and that policy has served us well up to now. If on the other hand he notices something in the make-up of the opposition which he thinks we could take advantage of, he'll have no qualms about changing his selection or tactics. His opposite number, Whitey Anderson, is a crafty old fox and tends to play down his teams exploits, but he is an astute tactician and Spike and the boys won't be fooled with Whitey's flannel. This match starts a 'big' four matches in ten days for our club, the 'Sports team would be ecstatic with 3 wins and a draw from those four games, starting with a win tomorrow against the Lards. Our midfield (minus Captain Jenks), of Sparky, Gavin and Thommo, has been doing well of late and we'll be looking for a good performance from them starting tomorrow.

Jamie, Cush and Ally, have proved a handful for most defences and they'll hope to examine the Lards more closely than they did the last time the clubs met in August. We think it was a fact finding mission we undertook that day, we didn't know what to expect and were just finding our feet also. Hopefully we'll be able to set out our stall tomorrow and dictate the pace of the game that suits our style of play. Our defence will be tested to the limit with the Lards nippy forwards, but with our rock, Johnny Taylor, back in our starting panel, we should be able to withstand and thwart their attacks and we've got Dwayne between the sticks and he's in the form of his life. So it all points to a humdinger of a match, hope the stay away Ballymena fans make an appearance, so come on United, let's shag those Lards!