MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
A promising contest was hampered this afternoon by a very strong wind as United's Youth side drew 1-1 with their Aberdeen counterparts at North End Park.
Coach Tony Docherty again played in the familiar 4-4-2 line up with a trialist in goal behind a back four of Stuart Abbot (captain), Garry Kenneth, Ross Gardiner and William Easton. The midfield four consisted of Greg Cameron, Barry Callaghan, David Robertson and Kieran McAleenan with Joe Andrew and Nicky McDonald paired up front. With the benefit of a strong wind, United had very much the better of the first half although the trialist in goal had to look sharp to claim the ball during a fifth minute scramble in the United box. Both Callaghan and Easton hit shots just off target in the first fifteen minutes and Callaghan was again unlucky with a low angled drive.
The visitors' first effort of note took all of twenty minutes to arrive, but the United keeper did well to save, and was injured in the process, grabbing the ball bravely at the feet of the advancing Keily. The same Aberdeen player then missed an open goal after the keeper had palmed a Bagshaw effort away. For United, McAleenan then had his shot held and the Dons' keeper clutched a Callaghan free kick. Andrew had two good chances, the second he chipped wide with only the keeper to beat but United went in front on thirty nine minutes.
McAleenan flighted in a curling free kick from the right and Gardiner burst into the six yard area to power a header into the net. For the remainder of the half, the home side were in complete control and might have extended their lead if McAleenan had managed to finish off a good passing move.
There was no let-up in the wind after the break and United coped well with the disadvantage. Early in the second period, McAleenan had a shot deflected out and Andrew's effort was blocked. Robertson was seeing a lot of the ball and he managed to squeeze in a shot after some neat footwork on the left but the keeper held it. Kiely fired over the top for the Dons before Robertson again hit the target after McAleenan set him up, but again the keeper saved.
Midway through the half, Kenneth surged forward and his pass found McDonald who in turn fed Callaghan but his shot was just too high. Aberdeen were trying to make the best of the wind advantage and United's keeper did well to hold a long range effort from Donald but he could do little to prevent the equaliser on seventy one minutes, headed home by Considine at the back post from a Donald free kick. Aberdeen then had their best spell with McInnes hitting the post with a wind-assisted thirty five yarder and he then fired over from twenty yards out. After that, United looked the stronger side without being able to turn a lot of possession into goal scoring opportunities.
Controversy reigned in the final ten minutes when first Cameron was surprisingly sent off and then in the dying seconds Easton was brought down in the box but strong penalty claims were waved away by the referee. In between these two incidents the visitors had a chance to snatch a winner but Bruce fired a loose ball wide after the United keeper had done well to deny substitute McGuire. United made only one substitution when Gregg Burnett came on for McDonald immediately after the sending off incident.
After the match, a disappointed Tony Docherty said "The conditions today made it difficult for both sides and it became very much the old clich
Coach Tony Docherty again played in the familiar 4-4-2 line up with a trialist in goal behind a back four of Stuart Abbot (captain), Garry Kenneth, Ross Gardiner and William Easton. The midfield four consisted of Greg Cameron, Barry Callaghan, David Robertson and Kieran McAleenan with Joe Andrew and Nicky McDonald paired up front. With the benefit of a strong wind, United had very much the better of the first half although the trialist in goal had to look sharp to claim the ball during a fifth minute scramble in the United box. Both Callaghan and Easton hit shots just off target in the first fifteen minutes and Callaghan was again unlucky with a low angled drive.
The visitors' first effort of note took all of twenty minutes to arrive, but the United keeper did well to save, and was injured in the process, grabbing the ball bravely at the feet of the advancing Keily. The same Aberdeen player then missed an open goal after the keeper had palmed a Bagshaw effort away. For United, McAleenan then had his shot held and the Dons' keeper clutched a Callaghan free kick. Andrew had two good chances, the second he chipped wide with only the keeper to beat but United went in front on thirty nine minutes.
McAleenan flighted in a curling free kick from the right and Gardiner burst into the six yard area to power a header into the net. For the remainder of the half, the home side were in complete control and might have extended their lead if McAleenan had managed to finish off a good passing move.
There was no let-up in the wind after the break and United coped well with the disadvantage. Early in the second period, McAleenan had a shot deflected out and Andrew's effort was blocked. Robertson was seeing a lot of the ball and he managed to squeeze in a shot after some neat footwork on the left but the keeper held it. Kiely fired over the top for the Dons before Robertson again hit the target after McAleenan set him up, but again the keeper saved.
Midway through the half, Kenneth surged forward and his pass found McDonald who in turn fed Callaghan but his shot was just too high. Aberdeen were trying to make the best of the wind advantage and United's keeper did well to hold a long range effort from Donald but he could do little to prevent the equaliser on seventy one minutes, headed home by Considine at the back post from a Donald free kick. Aberdeen then had their best spell with McInnes hitting the post with a wind-assisted thirty five yarder and he then fired over from twenty yards out. After that, United looked the stronger side without being able to turn a lot of possession into goal scoring opportunities.
Controversy reigned in the final ten minutes when first Cameron was surprisingly sent off and then in the dying seconds Easton was brought down in the box but strong penalty claims were waved away by the referee. In between these two incidents the visitors had a chance to snatch a winner but Bruce fired a loose ball wide after the United keeper had done well to deny substitute McGuire. United made only one substitution when Gregg Burnett came on for McDonald immediately after the sending off incident.
After the match, a disappointed Tony Docherty said "The conditions today made it difficult for both sides and it became very much the old clich
