First Team
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1st May 2024
At Station Park Forfar this afternoon, United Reserves played Rangers. The visitors fielded eight players from their Youth squad whilst United had a blend of six youths with five first team players. In a 4-4-2 formation Tony Docherty lined up with McLean in goal behind Abbot, Gardiner, Kenneth and Easton. In midfield the experienced trio of Dodds, Brebner and McLaren were joined by Cameron and up front Scotland was paired with Samuel.
United's task was made all the more difficult when Abbot was sent off in only the second minute for a last man challenge and Cameron moved to full back to cover. Rangers then had the better of the play for about fifteen minutes but United held firm and began to have a fair share of possession and play as the game progressed. Both sides had chances with United's best of the half falling to Dodds who had peeled off at the back post to meet McLaren's free kick but the shot hit the side netting.
After the break Holmes came on for Scotland and again Rangers had the better of the early play but it was United who took the lead in sixty-two minutes a little against the run of play. McLaren set up the move with a teasing ball into the box. Samuel juggled with it before it fell to Holmes to stab it in from six yards. The game was evenly balanced again with Rangers hitting the woodwork twice before McCormack engineered space at the edge of the area and he scored with a shot high into the net.
In the end the result was just about right with United's ten men matching Rangers in all departments.
Tony Docherty was happy enough with the outcome and said after the match "Losing a man in two minutes made the game very difficult for us but we adjusted the shape and made sure that we were able to counter anything that Rangers could do. The experienced players we had out today were outstanding and their attitude was excellent. The younger players at the back all played their part too and I think we coped very well with the disadvantage of being a man down for the entire game. The whole work ethic of the team was exactly what we want to see and the enthusiasm the players showed was fantastic."
Read the full match report by Steve Gracie.
United's task was made all the more difficult when Abbot was sent off in only the second minute for a last man challenge and Cameron moved to full back to cover. Rangers then had the better of the play for about fifteen minutes but United held firm and began to have a fair share of possession and play as the game progressed. Both sides had chances with United's best of the half falling to Dodds who had peeled off at the back post to meet McLaren's free kick but the shot hit the side netting.
After the break Holmes came on for Scotland and again Rangers had the better of the early play but it was United who took the lead in sixty-two minutes a little against the run of play. McLaren set up the move with a teasing ball into the box. Samuel juggled with it before it fell to Holmes to stab it in from six yards. The game was evenly balanced again with Rangers hitting the woodwork twice before McCormack engineered space at the edge of the area and he scored with a shot high into the net.
In the end the result was just about right with United's ten men matching Rangers in all departments.
Tony Docherty was happy enough with the outcome and said after the match "Losing a man in two minutes made the game very difficult for us but we adjusted the shape and made sure that we were able to counter anything that Rangers could do. The experienced players we had out today were outstanding and their attitude was excellent. The younger players at the back all played their part too and I think we coped very well with the disadvantage of being a man down for the entire game. The whole work ethic of the team was exactly what we want to see and the enthusiasm the players showed was fantastic."
Read the full match report by Steve Gracie.
