Johnny’s wonder goal against Blues is just the boost he needed to kick on and prove himself at Ballymena

however, was United’s burgeoning strikeforce of Mcmurray and Friel, both new to Warden Street after signing over the summer. By the end of a brilliant season, they would claim 19 and 23 goals respectively to fire the Showgrounds men to League Cup glory and into Europe.

This season they were meant to consolidate their newfound status as a top four team, not hand ammunition to those sharpening their quills to write off United’s best season in 30 years as another false dawn.

Coming into Friday night’s game with seven defeats from 14 in the league, disappointment at their failure to build on last season was inescapable – but Mcmurray hopes the win over the Blues can change the mood music at the Showgrounds.

“Last year was good, everyone was playing well and things were going well and then this season, I was thinking right you need to kick on, you need to score more goals before January and things like that, but obviously it hasn’t happened so the main thing this year is to try and get the boys back into the top six,” said Mcmurray, who hails from the Ormeau Road area of Belfast.

“Last year was definitely a good high and winning the cup was brilliant, and I don’t think any of us [he or Friel] thought we were going to play that much and the both of us ended up getting around 20 each.

“It was good for ourselves and getting into Europe was great, it was good craic, we went away and obviously we thought we’d come back and do better but it just hasn’t worked out that way so far.” That said, Mcmurray hopes the tide is beginning to turn.

A County Antrim Shield semi-final against Ards looms on the horizon, the defence of their League Cup crown remains intact with Ards again the opponents tomorrow night in the last eight, while results at the weekend mean Ballymena are now just four points off the top six.

“There is another two-thirds of the season to go,” declared Mcmurray.

“Maybe the boys are looking and thinking, ‘Look how far down the table we are compared to last season,’ but we are still only a few points off sixth place so realistically all we need