DUFC

NO GOALS IN UNDER-21 ENCOUNTER WITH LIVI

8th March 2004

For this SPL Under-21 match, United lined up with youth in the majority against a young Livingston side. In a 4-4-2 formation, Paul Jarvie (pictured) was in goal behind the back four of Andy Hunter, Steven Anderson, Ross Gardiner and Shaun Molloy. In midfield the experienced Craig Easton was joined by Stuart Duff, Kenny Jarvis and Aaron Conway, with Collin Samuel and Jason Scotland up front.

Early in the first half it appeared as if United could completely swamp the visitors and Scotland, Easton, Molloy and Jarvis all had near things whilst the best Livingston had to offer were a couple of wasted free-kicks.

The second half saw a much improved Livingston and Walker missed and easy chance early on with only Jarvie to beat. Jarvie was a lot busier in the second period after his quiet first half and produced the save of the match from a dipping shot that looked net bound. Several chances for the Tangerines went abegging with Conway and Easton both having shots saved and the best for United was a Samuel effort near the end that he fired across goal but just wide after Scotland had set him up.

After the match, Coach Owen Coyle said he was disappointed not to have taken all three points and felt that, on the strength of first half performance, United should have won. "We totally dominated in the first half" he said, "and we had several opportunities to score with some good play from our lads. Had we got an early goal, I'm sure we would have gone on to win comfortably. However that wasn't the case and in the second half both sides had chances. Over the piece I'm disappointed and it was in our view two points dropped. Paul Jarvie did very well when he was called into action in the second half and Craig Easton showed the right attitude and put in a fine performance. He is a terrific example to the young lads in the side."