Jim Boy!

A lot has happened since my last piece, we have signed three players, namely Jim Ervin (Jimer) formerly of Linfield, no fee involved as I understand, Darren Boyce (Darboy), formely of Coleraine, hopefully no fee involved here either, but a stipulation in his contract that he can't play against Coleraine this season, and Neal Gawley, who was on our books at the start of the season and he has returned to the fold once again. It's not known if Neal has been signed on a pro contract or like last time, an amateur one. Will Fergie give his new recruits an  instant baptism or will he make them wait on the bench and play the same team that accounted for the Ducks last Saturday, with a new keeper on board, in place of Frenchy Lacroix who is unavailable due to a clause in his loan arrangement from his parent club, Crusaders.

I didn't think we were impressive last week against the Ducks, but we got the job done, it was not pretty but we got the points. When I watched Cushley's goal on the TV highlights I was amazed to see that Rouse in the Ducks goal nearly stopped the shot, but it just had enough pace to get out of his grasp and end up in the back of net. The one down side of the game was seeing JT pick up a booking which leaves at the 30 penalty points mark which carries a two game suspension and depending on the date of the 'meeting', we could lose him for two vital games, when we go up against Dungannon, Linfield, Chickenville and Portadown after after our Irish cup match on Saturday, we will need all our players focused in the task ahead in these games, if we are to consolidate our 6th place in the Premier league.

But its the magic of the cup firstly and foremost, when United travel to Tillysburn to take on the Welders this Saturday, with a 13-30 kick-off. I fully expect, that barring injuries, Spike will make just one change from his starting line-up of the Ducks match, a new keeper in place of Frenchy. Whether that keeper will be new signing, Shan, or the veteran Wes Lamont is open to speculation and Wes will be reluctant to nominate Shan, if he doesn't think he's up to the task. But it would be a terrible risk to play with an ageing Wes, for one slip on a treacherous surface could lead him to getting seriously injured and then we'd be left without a back-up keeper and a goal-keeping coach. So for that reason I think it will Shan making his debut at Tillysburn against the Welders and Wes providing back-up and I wish them well.

Jimer and Darboy will have to wait a little bit longer I think for the full debut, but if we are comfortable on Saturday, they may get a run-out, or god forbid, if we are chasing the match, they could come on and change the tide in our favour. The next five games will do a lot about defining our season and Darboy will be expected to bring his undoubted talent to bear in these fixtures, I'm not saying he has to hit the ground running, but it would help. In the next 15 days we are due to play 4 games and that is a tall order for part-time professional side, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going and then we'll have 11 days off to lick our wounds. I think our playing strength will be tested to the the limit over the next two and a half weeks, but we must come through a stronger side, if not, then all will be for nothing, but I think we are going to do it!