Here's Hoping!

It may sound like a strange title for the most important game for United for more than six years, but Sky Blue Sport, due to no fault of our own, has chosen this moment to go off the air. Omar got an e/mail on Friday morning to say that our 'host' had seen fit to move us to a new and better host and assured us that it had not interfered with our site, since then we haven't been able to access our site on line. In spite of incessant e/mails, we are still in limbo. But we took the decision to carry on as normal, hoping against hope that we could still be back to normal before the final, but we feel less than optimistic about the prospect. But hold on, there's a text message coming through, we believe we are saved and its all thanks to super Sammy Patterson, we had every confidence in him, sure we know he's Sky Blue through and through, is that an omen or what?

There's a star shining bright in the East (East Belfast), tomorrow night and the three wise men, Glenn Spike Ferguson, Lee Docherty and Norman Kelly are going to go there and they'll crown United King of Kings, in other words we'll beat the pants off the IFA/Linfield. Past history between the two sides this season means nothing, they played each other 3 times this season the IFA came out on top on two of these occasions, but they really lived up to their nickname of 'lucky Linfield on Saturday past when they got a penalty that never was. The IFA will rightly be favourites for this final, giving their history and their 'never say die' attitude, they have a winning mentality. But the Sky Blues have 'right' on their side, we are an honest club, no underhand dealing, no brown envelopes under the table like some we could mention, just plain good honest men trying to do what's right and the players know it and they never have to wait for their pay.

Tomorrow night the players will be asked to play the game to the best of their ability and to enjoy themselves and give their long suffering fans a night to remember. If the players give their all and we fall short, we have to live with that but we at 'Sport are going to stick our necks out and say that United will win by two clear goals. Whoever gets the nod from Spike he'll be on threshold of greatness and we at 'Sport will be hoping for the much maligned Elvis 'Susan Bap' Costello to have a hand in our victory. In the absence of Sparky last Saturday, Spike started Alan D and Thommo in midfield, we don't think he can do that tomorrow night, but if Gavin hasn't recovered from injury, maybe he will have to. He could start Rodgers at rightback and move Kane into midfield alongside Sparky, Alan D, Thommo and Cush, but that would leave no place for King Billy Bingham and he is our secret weapon.

If injured Captain Jenks reports no ill effects from his reserve outing on Saturday then he could claim a place on the bench, but again he's too like Alan D and Thommo for Spike to consider starting, in our opinion. But Spike has shown he is his own man and will have no hesitation in starting the 'young guns' if feels they can do the job. According to reports we'll have a sizeable crowd descending on East Belfast and lets hope the great unwashed are having a night in watching telly or playing bingo, we don't want any fraternisation among the natives, our boys have only one thing on their collective minds tomorrow, to cheer United on as they win the County Antrim Shield. After the match, it'll be lock up your daughters (and your sons), time as the 'sheep shaggers' will be in a party mood. We know its not going to be easy, it never is against the IFA, but come on Sky Blues you can do it, let's really shag those villagers, COSB!