Battle Lines!

There's no getting away from the fact that it will be a battle tomorrow night, in the Toals County Antrim Shield, quarter-final, against the hatchet men at Seaview. Having lost to Institute, in the JBE league cup earlier this month, we expect Mister Ugly (Crues manager Stephen Baxter), to select a strong side and we will have to ready for a pitched battle. But if everybody plays like they mean business, we could spring a surprise on the reigning NIPL Champions.

But it will be a tall order, made especially tough by the sending-off of United's top scorer, Tippers, last Saturday, which means he'll have to sit out this game, due to his automatic one game ban. Will it mean a recall for Darhen, or has Spike, got something else in mind, like resting young Matty, promoting Maggers and bringing back the Barber.  Maggers, is little short of pace, but he makes up for it with his incisive passing and football brain.

So in fact Spike, could go with no recognised striker as such and depend on Cush and Co, to exert pressure as they see fit. But he's far more likely, to go with a 4,3,3, formation, which maybe will suit the narrow Seaview pitch. According to the weather forecast, we can expect blustery conditions and heavy rain, so we can expect plenty of hoof ball from the Crues, but nothing new there. Its going to be hard going, but if we want it bad enough, we have a chance, so come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Seaview sheep!