Swift Return!

United are in need of a quick return to form for the visit of Dungannon Swifts tomorrow. United lost the corresponding league game to a late goal, when Aaron Callaghan failed to take appropriate action when faced with a foraging forward. When in doubt, kick it out, is the best advice and if Callaghan had followed that maxim United may have been a point better off than they are now. It’s not known whether the United manager will make any changes to last week’s starting eleven, but with everybody declared fit he may say same again and add Melaugh and Scates to the bench at the expense of McConaghie and Lowery. Then again he may decide to rest Paul Brown, who suffered twinges of pain in his foot last week and push Picking forward, with Melaugh take his place on the wing. There are many permutations open to the United manager, but one thing is certain, with the so called tough games out of the way and United gleaning 7 points from their games against the top five teams, it’s time for the Sky Blues to start putting results on the board. Former United player, Rory Hamill makes an emotional return as a Swift’s player and we can assure the Bannsider of a warm welcome from the home faithful. So it’s all go for three points tomorrow, let’s put them ‘swiftly’ to the sword!

Super King!

United go into tomorrow’s game against the reigning league champions and current leaders, Linfield, trailing the ‘navy’ blues by 19 points. It is indeed a massive margin, but like last week’s game against Portadown, United have the ability to match the Belfast giants, but once again we need everybody giving 100% commitment. According to reports today, defender Simon Kelly will continue to partner team Captain Albert Watson at the centre of United’s defence. Manager Tommy Wright says that Aiden Watson will definitely replace the suspended Garth Scates, but has still not made his mind up whether youngster Stephen Lowery or Stuarty King will be promoted in the absence of fellow suspendee (is there such a word), Gavin Melaugh. King, an avowed Linfield fan, famous or infamous, depending on your point of view, for turning up on cup final day in a Superman suit, would seem to be the obvious choice, as he is a natural left-sided player. Maybe the United manager is unsure about Stuarty’s commitment to the United cause, unlike United’s other ex-Linfield player Mark Picking, who will hopefully be out to prove a point against his former team. Stephen Lowery has a lot of potential, but on this occasion we at ‘Sport feel that Stuarty is the obvious candidate to replace Melaugh and a good performance from the Londonderry man tomorrow, could go a long way into making it a successful season for the Sky Blues. The rest of the United team will be the same as that which started against Comber Rec last Saturday and a similar result will do very nicely thank you. ‘So come Sky Blues, let’s shag these bloody pretenders!’

Onward United!

It’s Irish cup time once more tomorrow and with the quarter finals beckoning, United must avoid a potential banana skin, when juniors Comber Rec visit the Showgrounds. With that in mind United manager Tommy Wright says he’s putting out his strongest team for tomorrow’s game, but says he intends giving a start to central defender Simon Kelly, now that the Dundalk man has served his two game suspension. This should in turn release Aaron Callaghan to his more familiar right-back role. Young Steven McConaghie, a hero of last week’s victory over Portadown may not even get a seat on the bench, with Aiden Watson, Paul Brown and Fitzy all fit again. Even though Gareth Scates and Gavin Melaugh begin a one match suspension from next Monday, the United manager is adamant that they will both be playing a full role tomorrow. The United manager stated that tomorrow is a vital game for us, more important than the trip to Windsor Park to face the league leaders next Saturday. So it’s all systems go for a United win and let’s hope we have a decent crowd to cheer us on, ‘so come on United, let’s reck those Comber men!’

No Downers!

Ballymena go into tomorrow’s home game against second placed Portadown, trailing them by 18 points. Like last Saturday, this is a huge game for the Sky Blues, but despite the points gap United have the capability of beating the men from Shamrock Park. In an exclusive interview with Sky Blue Sport, United manager Tommy Wright named his line-up for tomorrow’s game. Aaron Callaghan will partner team Captain Albert Watson in central defence and young Gareth McConaghie will slot it at right back, therefore releasing Gavin Melaugh into right midfield, the rest of the team will be last Saturday’s starting line-up. The subs bench will include the fit again Paul Brown, alongside Randal Reid and new signing Stephen Lowry. Tommy emphasised the need to stop the service to Portadown’s front men and he was looking for a big game from Lee Patrick and Gareth Scates in central midfield. When asked about last weeks fracas at the end of the game Tommy said he couldn’t comment as the matter was still in the hands of the police. What he did say was that it was disappointing to concede a late goal and lose all three points when he thought we were the better side overall. He told the players during training this week that it was imperative that they concentrate for the full 90 minutes and to keep their spirits up as they could still have a good finish in the championship. When Bruce Balmer suggested that maybe United’s 'fighting spirit' was lacking, the manager stated that he was quite happy with the team’s attitude as demonstrated during training this week. So come on United, we turned this team over in the C.I.S. cup and we can do it again, so, ‘let’s shag those ‘Downey’s!’