We Did!

The question was answered last Saturday at Windsor Park, can we do it, yes we can. It was not an easy victory it has to be said, but our keeper Shan had to make 3 brilliant saves, the rest were all routine. Fergie says the new formation worked well, but I think it needs more work, they were huge gaps in our midfield in spite of us having supposedly 5 players in that area, but we triumphed over Linfield/IFA and that's no easy task. Luckily the IFA's henchman, referee Richard Crangle, didn't have too many controversial decisions to rule on and his interference was minimal.

The team was set to absorb the home teams pressure and they did that superbly well during the first quarter of the match. Then when we got our noses in front we seemed to lose concentration and let in a soft goal and I admit at this stage, I was worried that we would capitulate and lose the game. But when we came out in the second-half, we were like a team transformed and we scored the most exquisite goal that has been my pleasure to witness in my long years of following United. When Thommo won possession and beat three Linfield men and then found Darboy with a great pass I held my breath.

But Darboy was tightly marked, but he did the unexpected and whipped over a superb cross to Cush and the United talisman did the rest, with a sweet half-volley into Tuffey's net. Needless to say, I and the entire Sky Blue fans in that stand, were in raptures. Two mins later Cush had one of his moments, where he tries a shot at goal, regardless of the position of the keeper or anyone else. The fact that Darboy was beside him and practically unmarked, didn't matter a hoot to Cush, he just had a rush of blood and tried a pot shot at goal which nearly hit the corner flag, but that is Cush, I hope he never changes.

Our reward for this victory is a home tie to Dungannon Swifts on March the first, not a money spinner it has to be said, but as our manager Spike says, the only thing that you can hope for is a home draw and we got a home draw. We have beaten the Swifts three times this season, but they were all close affairs and I expect this match to be a close affair also. We have another game this Saturday with our close rivals down the A 26, the Coleraine scum and due to the terms of Darboy's transfer, he is ineligible for this match I think, so United will have to revert back to plan B.

But plan B worked very well on Boxing Day and there's no reason to think it can't work in this match. Thommo, according to rumour will play his last match on Saturday, before beginning a two game suspension, courtesy of 10 yellow cards, which means he'll miss Warrenpoint Town's visit next Saturday as well as the next round of the cup v the Swifts. That will give our fringe players a chance to stake their claim and we need them to step up to the plate, if we intend to reach that coveted top six spot by mid-March. It'll not be easy on Saturday, but surely we are on the up, they on the other hand, are standing still, COSB!