United up for the Cup

This will be the first time the Waterside men have reached this show-piece final and Simpson wants to get a positive result against the league leaders.

“This is the first time Newbuildings have reached this final, so it would be a good achievement and nice to win it,” stated Simpson.

“Obviously the league is our bread and butter, but winning a cup would be a nice wee bonus and with Strabane top of the league, it would be nice to lay down a marker against them.”

Simpson, who managed the United Reserves side last season, stepped up and took over from Wesley Robinson this summer to manage the first team and he is relishing the opportunity.

“I knew that I was trying to replace big boots when Wesley decided to go, at the end of the day he won two league titles in a row, but we have lost five players and I always felt this season was a rebuilding season for us.

“Having managed the Reserves last season I knew what players we had who could make the step up and everyone one of those players haven’t let me down.”

With David Scanlon their only injury doubt the United boss certainly has an injury selection headache.

“Apart from Davy who has an ankle problem, I have 23 players to choose from and I’ll be bringing that down to 16, so there are going to be quite a few disappointed players, but we have got this far in both the cup and league because of everybody in the squad.

“I want the squad to continue to work together as a team, because I know that I’ll need everyone for the whole season, yes they’ll be disappointed if they aren’t involved on Saturday, but there still is a league to be won and I know everybody will have to play their part in that if we want to retain it.”