Last Hurrah!

From a season that promised so much, we had to settle for zilch as usual, when our heroes (and we use that word advisedly), let us down when it came to the crunch. But enough about the gloom and doom, we are on a roll and we play our last game tomorrow, kick-off 14.00 hrs, against Dungannon Swifts, led by former United player Darren Murphy, who cut short his stint at United because of a serious knee injury, which didn't sit too well with Sky Blue fans, when we saw him play on for the Swifts.

But Darren, endeared himself to United fans when he deliberately missed a 'penalty', given by the ref, when Gavin Taggart, stopped play with a deliberate handball, to allow United player Chris Rodgers, who was lying pole-axed in our penalty area to receive treatment. But we expect him not to be doing us any favours tomorrow, he'll want to end on a winning note, or at least not want to lose, so we can expect a tough game, with no quarter asked or given.

That old workhouse, Davey Cookie Munster, is due to bid us farewell and rumour has it that Sparky and Archie have played their last games for United also. Both have been at the club a number of years, Archie came up through the ranks, our one success so far with our youth policy and local boy Sparky, was signed from Ballymoney United in Roy Walkers reign or maybe even earlier. There's also rumours suggesting that Stuarty Addis, our back-up keeper, will retire at the end of this season too.

This in turn will free some money up, enabling our manager to get fresh talent in and the Irish cup final 'gate money' should be available to us, to further strengthen his hand, so its not all gloom and doom. But will he sign the right people for the job, his record on that front is not too good, the only success from the recent transfer window, was keeper Tall Tim. Paddy Mac was showing promise, but he seems to injury prone and he is a rough diamond to say the least.

Maca, signed from Ards was a surprise signing, as he is an out and out winger and we don't normally play with wingers, but on the plus side he has weighed in with a couple of goals, he maybe be one for next season. The less about former player Cutch the better and his gentleman's agreement with Stephen Mr Ugly Baxter, which meant Cutch couldn't play against the Crues. He is now history and he took a hand out of us in the process and in our opinion, he left a bad taste in our mouths.

Will we turn up for the last game of season tomorrow? In truth its anybody's guess, we missed the game at Ferney Park against the Ducks, but in the last four games we have been less than impressive, in our opinion again, just doing enough to get the three points and things have been going for us, the two goals that we scored at Institute comes to mind. We have really rode our luck, maybe that's the way forward, but its due to change, but we fervently hope its good for another game.


Maybe we can entice some more fans in as its the last game of the season and there's a hot Buffet after the game in the Des Allen suite, where the player awards will be handed out. But as for the game itself as usual we don't have a clue about what line-up Glenn has in mind for our last game. How does the old song go, 'for we only know there's going to be a match and Ballymena United will be there', be there or be square? So come on Sky Blues, lets shag those chicken lovers!

Duck Walk!

United will put their unbeaten record on the line when the Ducks visit the Showgrounds for the penultimate league game tomorrow. Its not going to be a cake walk, or even a duck walk, for since United started this unbeaten four game run, with an away victory over tomorrows opponents, the Ducks themselves haven't lost a game and in the process guaranteed they will play Premiership football next season.

Will the United manager make five changes to his starting line-up, as he has done in the last two games, or will he pick his strongest side and hope they are good enough to do the job. As usual it is anybody's guess, but we at 'Sport hope he has learned his lesson and will not team up Thommo and Captain Jenks in central-midfield. He got away with last Saturday at Institute, but it was not a pretty game to watch and it was nerve-wrecking to say the least.

We fans don't enjoy being put through the wringer, so we fervently hope we will not have to go through it tomorrow. If Kyley is fully fit (he was an used sub last Saturday), it would be great to see him back playing, if only coming on as a late sub tomorrow. As usual we don't know who's fit and able to play and fully appreciate our manager doesn't want to give the opposition a heads-up on the composition of his team, better to keep them in the dark.

The Ducks, meanwhile are missing their defensive stalwart, Mark Stafford and maybe Tippers and Darboy will be able to capitalise on his absence. We don't need the points, the Ducks don't need the points, but we expect both teams will be striving to get the win. So its the battle of the two United's tomorrow and it could come down to, who wants it most, we hope its the 'Ballymena' United, so come on Sky Blues, lets run these 'ugly ducklings' out of town!

Long Walk!

If tomorrows game proves to be the last game Institute will play in the Premier league, we will not miss the long walk that opposing fans are forced to take to get into the ground. Its a tidy ground, but as usual spectators are given little or no thought, when it comes to their comfort, like all clubs in this league, fans are treated like second class citizens. That said, we at 'Sport will be sad to see Stute relegated,  not because we have beaten them 3 times already this season, its because they play the game the correct way.

The all-blacks are out to maintain their unbeaten run, coming as it was too late to have any bearing on the coveted top six position. But with three wins out of three games played, confidence is bound to be high, but apart from the match at Ferney, we have struggled to dominate the opposition and got through by good luck more than skill. We at 'Sport haven't a notion about whether Cush is fit again or Paddy Mac and whether they will be risked at the Riverside ground.

Our gut feeling is that Fergie will try to pick the nucleus of the side that triumphed in the last three games and we won't be surprised if Captain Jenks  is left in Scotland. But Spike could be thinking along completely different lines and want to run the rule over some youngsters and want the Captain there if things start to go wrong, only time will tell. We would urge all United fans to make the trip, if its humanly possible and cheer the all-blacks to victory and show compassion to the Stute.

But the opposite can take place, that's the beauty of our game, if we go down there thinking its easy, we will become unstuck. So we need everybody singing from the same hymn sheet, no complacency and definitely no show-boating. If we stick to the same principles, that started this unbeaten run, we will have no doubt that we will get a victory and continue our managers quest for 50 points and a finish above our dear friends down the A26, so come on United, lets be astute!

Easter Bunnies!

The Sky Blues face the Point tomorrow night, 19-45 hrs, at the Showgrounds, hoping to consolidate their position in their quest for a 7th place finish. They'll be no Easter Bunnies on show for Town have shown  they mean business, with their all-round football skills and United had best be up for this encounter, or they may end up with (cream) eggs on their faces. We must assume that everybody is fit, as our manager was as usual tight-lipped in an interview earlier today.

When asked about why he released Cutch and Brian Mack, he gave the official line that Cutch had other commitments, what with a new job and Brian wanted to go to the USA, where he hoped to get a job. We wonder if we'll ever hear the proper way of it, or just have to adopt the official line, anyway they are both gone and we don't think either of them will be missed.

Our manager delved into the transfer window with four signings in January and only one of them is currently holding down a first team place, Tall Tim. Maca can't get off the bench, Cutch has been released and Paddy Mac is on the injury list or he is dropped. So you see our acquisitions are not working out too well. We signed four players and only one of them is holding down a first team place, not a very good average, sign four to get one.

Big Tim was bang in form against the Coleraine scum on Saturday and he will be need to be in form tomorrow night, as the Point have a few nippy players and he will be tested, have no doubt. Will Fergie start the same eleven for the third game in a row? Its anybody's guess, just when you think you have him figured out, he surprises you. But we don't envisage any surprises tomorrow night, it will be all systems go for a win, so come Sky Blues, lets shag those Easter Bunnies!

Low Key!

We know its hard to get excited for a game that means nothing at all except for the 'bragging rights' but when have we needed anything better? This time it feels different and youngsters, who haven't been fans since 'pussy' was a cat, did get somewhat disillusioned at our recent exit from the Irish cup semi-final, where our players flopped once again.

We have tried to find reasons for this latest flop, blaming the system our manager had used or players not playing as a team, but until we find out what makes us flop on the big occasions, we at 'Sport feel we won't take that final step, that makes us into winners. But the answer is not us fans boycotting games when the going gets tough, we have got to stick at it.

For that reason we urge all true fans to turn up at Coleraine and cheer United on to victory over the Coleraine scum, for nothing beats a victory over them in our minds. Its true in the last five years we have struggled to keep pace with them, but we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel in the last two seasons, culminating with that great victory on Boxing day.

So we are the form team this season and we can consolidate that with a victory tomorrow, but we need our fans to turn out in numbers and cheer us on. Our manager and players didn't go out to lose that Irish cup semi, they were the victim of circumstances beyond their control, but they kept trying up to the final whistle and for that they deserve some credit, but only some.

As usual we can only guess at what selection Glenn will pick to do battle against the scum tomorrow, but Darboy surely has to start, against his former team. If Paddy Mac is fit, will Glenn recall him or will he stick with the back four that done the business at Ferney last Saturday. Its a tall order we know, but we have to be up for this game, so come Sky Blues, lets shag these gassers!