Bottom End!

I have two matches to review in my column today, in which we haven't conceded a goal on the plus side, but on the negative side, we only have scored one. Let's concentrate on last Saturday's match at the Oval first shall we. We created three of four good chances, chances that should have been put away, but because we spurned those chances, our fate depended on the quick thinking of a former Glentoran player, Johnny Taylor, who had the presence of mind to wrap his thighs round the ball and allow Dwayne to come and claim it. But worse was to follow on Tuesday night against DC, when we created at least a dozen good chances and only took one and the whole time in the match I was praying that DC would not get a goal, for I had the distinct feeling if they scored, we would collapse, well maybe I'm slightly paranoid, but we been down this route so many times before, that its only a matter of time before we capitulate.

The draw for the Shield semi-finals will be made on Saturday and there isn't an easy match to look forward to, with Linfield, Crues and Chickenville all through and the odds must be stacked against us getting a home draw, but its the County Antrim F.A. that's doing the draw and stranger things have happened. Last season we played Chickenville in our first round match and they thought we were easy meat and played a weakened team, if we draw them again I don't think they will be that generous, but you just never know. Their manager Tommy Breslin in his preview of the league match against us, said they should get back to winning ways at the Showgrounds and he was proved right, but it was a close game nonetheless, hopefully then we have narrowed the gap, or am I being overly optimistic. They wasn't a vast crowd at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night, but crowds have been disappointing so far and I hope they pick up soon.

This Saturday we entertain newcomers Warrenpoint Town, for their first visit to the Showgrounds as a Premier league club, we played them last season in the Irish cup and they gave a good account of themselves in that match. Saturday's match sees United play the first of 3 matches, against two of the bottom four teams in the league, which includes ourselves, Ards, Warrenpoint Town and Ballinmallard. We entertain the Town on Saturday in Dankse Premiership, go the Ducks next Friday in the Dankse and play the Ducks again at home on Tuesday October 8, in the league cup 3rd round, a unique double header. We have already dropped points to bottom club Ards and we need to arrest this negativity which seems to beset our play when we come up against lesser opposition. We need to go out with the attitude that Warrenpoint are the league leaders and be determined to put them to the sword, that'll be the only way we can triumph, COSB