U19s v Dundee United

U19s lose out to strong United team

DUNDEE UNITED 3 DUNFERMLINE 0

MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline were beaten by stronger more physical opponents when they faced Dundee united at St Andrews on Friday afternoon.  Kerr Young and Shaun Byrne were absent on first team squad duty meaning Grant Munro and Scott Campbell formed the central defensive partnership. Ross Drummond dropped back to left back, Fraser Moncrieff was deployed wide left and Ross Millen and Andy Ritchie played in cenre midfield.

The Pars had a fair amount of possession early on without troubling keeper Phil Anderson. In eight minutes Millen`s free kick was cleared by the defence and the same fate came from the Pars first corner of the game.

Dundee United`s Robert Thomson went through on goal in 18 minutes but lost control enough to allow Ryan Goodfellow to turn the ball behind for a corner and when that came over Goodfellow saved it.. Munro miscontrolled the ball five minutes later and Thomson latched on to it to feed the ball in to Willie ROBERTSON drilled in the opener to the bottom left.

Allan Smith had a good effort from 25 yards tipped over the crossbar.  At the subsequent corner Campbell was adjudged to have pushed a defender in his attempt.  United however were to go further ahead on the half hour when a good move up the left by John Young to Mike Noble resulted in a fine cross that ROBERTSON headed home.

Good link up play down the left between Moncrieff and Smith created a chance for Millen to shoot but over the bar. On the stoke of half time Smith, Moncrieff and Millen all had bites at an opportunity but there was to be no change to the scoreline.

Half Time: Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 0

There were few chances for the visitors to retrieve the match and it was effectively put out of their reach in 56 minutes when Campbell lost out in a challenge with Thomson and he lined up GAULD who scored to make it 3-0.

The Pars best move came six minutes later when Drummond and Smith combined on the left to feed Henderson.  The big striker flicked the ball on over the defence for Smith to run through on to but unfortunately the shot went over the bar.

The only other shot worthy of note was a Ritchie effort in 86 minutes that was deflected wide right.  It had been a game where the United keeper was not really tested and that despite enjoying considerable possession.  The Pars team failed to be decisive enough and the Dundee side were more ruthless with Ryan Gauld impressing as he covered virtually every blade of grass.