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NINE TROPHIES SCOOPED AT DUNDEE UNITED'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
6th May 2024
Dundee United's Youth side had a familiar look to it this afternoon with Euan McLean in goal behind the regular back four of Stuart Abbot, Garry Kenneth, Ross Gardiner and William Easton. In midfield Gregg Burnett came in alongside David Robertson with Barry Callaghan and Kieran McAleenan in the wide positions. Up front, Nicky McDonald partnered Joe Andrew.
The young Tangerines almost went in front from the kick-off but the keeper blocked Andrew's shot after he had been put clear by Easton, and McAleenan was unlucky not to get a foot to the rebound. Then from a free kick the ICT keeper held again and McAleenan was again out of luck a minute later. As United threatened to run riot, Abbot fired wide, Kenneth saw his headed effort saved, Andrew had a shot blocked and he also had a good penalty claim denied when he was bowled over in the box. With ten minutes gone, Burnett had his twenty-five yarder held and Callaghan had a free kick punched clear by the keeper, and, completely against the run of play, the visitors went in front in the thirteenth minute with a looping header by McAllister from a Robertson free kick.
This served to spur United on and McDonald's fierce shot from twenty five yards looked net bound until it was deflected over the bar. Gardiner headed the resulting corner kick wide before Caley's McAllister again got his head to a free kick but hit the post. Abbot fired over on seventeen minutes and then McDonald had an effort blocked but the pressure had to tell and the equaliser arrived mid way through the half. Kenneth was the architect with a surging run from defence and when he laid the ball forward, Robertson ran onto it to slam an angled drive low past Smith. ICT replied with a shot from Donald that was blocked but United were still the better side as Andrew scooped one over the top and Burnet had his effort tipped over the bar. Callaghan hit the side netting and then fired narrowly wide but it remained level at half time
After the break United took up where they left off and Easton fired just too high from a tight angle and Abbot had a shot saved. A brief ICT attacking spell saw McAllister have an effort palmed away by McLean and Soave curled one away from goal. Eight minutes into the half United went in front. From a free kick Gardiner was unlucky to hit the bar but from the rebound, Andrew collected to dispatch a close range drive into the net. Two minutes later United went further ahead with Andrew grabbing his second of the afternoon. The goal was engineered by Easton who ran from the half way line and beat three players before setting Andrew up to score. Andrew might then have had a hat trick but just missed from close range after Callaghan and McDonald worked well to set him up.
Just on the hour mark, McAleenan won the ball and sent Robertson clear but he slipped the ball just too wide. It was really all United but McAllister again tested McLean from range but the keeper held it easily. McDonald then sent the trialist Cream through but the keeper saved again and McAleenan fired narrowly over. McLean had to be alert again palming a free kick away with fifteen minutes left and then McDonald was just too far away to finish a move involving Cream and Callaghan. Cream was involved again as he got his head to a Gardiner free kick but he was unable to get any real purchase and Smith gathered easily. With two minutes left United scored their fourth through Kenneth as he latched on to a Callaghan corner to blast home. Cream had a late chance to make it five but he was dispossessed just as he was about to shoot.
Tony Docherty was very happy with the performance and after the match he said, "Since the start of the season, our performances have been excellent without the results to show for them and today it was pleasing to get the three points our play merited. We have perhaps not been getting the breaks and therefore not won as many games as we might but today I felt we worked very hard and won comfortably. We were more or less camped in their half for most of the game and I'm delighted the boys responded the way they did after losing the derby last week." Tony went on to mention the performances of several players and he was particularly pleased to see Joe Andrew get his two goals.
The young Tangerines almost went in front from the kick-off but the keeper blocked Andrew's shot after he had been put clear by Easton, and McAleenan was unlucky not to get a foot to the rebound. Then from a free kick the ICT keeper held again and McAleenan was again out of luck a minute later. As United threatened to run riot, Abbot fired wide, Kenneth saw his headed effort saved, Andrew had a shot blocked and he also had a good penalty claim denied when he was bowled over in the box. With ten minutes gone, Burnett had his twenty-five yarder held and Callaghan had a free kick punched clear by the keeper, and, completely against the run of play, the visitors went in front in the thirteenth minute with a looping header by McAllister from a Robertson free kick.
This served to spur United on and McDonald's fierce shot from twenty five yards looked net bound until it was deflected over the bar. Gardiner headed the resulting corner kick wide before Caley's McAllister again got his head to a free kick but hit the post. Abbot fired over on seventeen minutes and then McDonald had an effort blocked but the pressure had to tell and the equaliser arrived mid way through the half. Kenneth was the architect with a surging run from defence and when he laid the ball forward, Robertson ran onto it to slam an angled drive low past Smith. ICT replied with a shot from Donald that was blocked but United were still the better side as Andrew scooped one over the top and Burnet had his effort tipped over the bar. Callaghan hit the side netting and then fired narrowly wide but it remained level at half time
After the break United took up where they left off and Easton fired just too high from a tight angle and Abbot had a shot saved. A brief ICT attacking spell saw McAllister have an effort palmed away by McLean and Soave curled one away from goal. Eight minutes into the half United went in front. From a free kick Gardiner was unlucky to hit the bar but from the rebound, Andrew collected to dispatch a close range drive into the net. Two minutes later United went further ahead with Andrew grabbing his second of the afternoon. The goal was engineered by Easton who ran from the half way line and beat three players before setting Andrew up to score. Andrew might then have had a hat trick but just missed from close range after Callaghan and McDonald worked well to set him up.
Just on the hour mark, McAleenan won the ball and sent Robertson clear but he slipped the ball just too wide. It was really all United but McAllister again tested McLean from range but the keeper held it easily. McDonald then sent the trialist Cream through but the keeper saved again and McAleenan fired narrowly over. McLean had to be alert again palming a free kick away with fifteen minutes left and then McDonald was just too far away to finish a move involving Cream and Callaghan. Cream was involved again as he got his head to a Gardiner free kick but he was unable to get any real purchase and Smith gathered easily. With two minutes left United scored their fourth through Kenneth as he latched on to a Callaghan corner to blast home. Cream had a late chance to make it five but he was dispossessed just as he was about to shoot.
Tony Docherty was very happy with the performance and after the match he said, "Since the start of the season, our performances have been excellent without the results to show for them and today it was pleasing to get the three points our play merited. We have perhaps not been getting the breaks and therefore not won as many games as we might but today I felt we worked very hard and won comfortably. We were more or less camped in their half for most of the game and I'm delighted the boys responded the way they did after losing the derby last week." Tony went on to mention the performances of several players and he was particularly pleased to see Joe Andrew get his two goals.
