First Team
MATCHWORNSHIRT | CHAMPIONS
7th May 2024
United lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Euan McLean in goal behind Stuart Abbot, Ross Gardiner and Jamie Donnelly. Barry Callaghan played wide on the right with Kieran McAleenan on the opposite side and in the middle it was David Robertson, Matty Flynn and Gregg Burnett. David Goodwillie and Robbie Feenie played up front.
The early play saw both sides producing some good football with United the more enterprising side. In a two-minute spell with ten minutes played, Feenie almost picked up on a long ball, Callaghan swung in a dangerous free kick, Goodwillie had an effort parried and from the rebound Robertson fired over the top. Three minutes later Livingston's keeper Fleming saved at the feet of Goodwillie and then a long-range effort from Abbot flew over the top. Robertson then set up Callaghan whose shot was parried by Fleming.
The visitors' response was a break from Scott but Donnelly cleared the danger. McLaren then swung in a great ball across the United goal but there were no takers. United took the lead on twenty four minutes when great footwork from Feenie set up his strike partner Goodwillie who was unmarked and rammed home and angled drive from ten yards. A minute later Livingston almost capitalised on a ricochet but Dorrans screwed his shot over the top. Feenie had a shot just after that but the keeper gathered and then Walker hit a free kick for Livi just wide. It was all action at this point and United were lucky to escape when a deflected Mitchell effort looped just over the bar. The visitors did get an equaliser ten minutes before half time when United failed to deal with a loose ball in the box and Dorrans netted.
United went back on then attack and Goodwillie chased a lost cause to the by-line and then hooked a shot narrowly over. McLean then saved with his feet after Dorrans burst through the centre to shoot and as the half drew to a close Callaghan hit a free kick and a shot both wide. The last action of the half saw Dorrans shoot past from a cut back.
After the break United still looked the more likely side and it was no surprise when they went ahead again and what a goal it was! Robertson started the move with a great through ball for Goodwillie who got into the box. He twisted and turned, sending the whole Livingston defence the wrong way before dispatching a shot into the centre of the net.
Dorrans and Walker then both had chances in a second half that witnessed a lot of good play without any real goal scoring opportunities until the last ten minutes. Goodwillie and Feenie were always willing up front and McAleenan and Callaghan were getting down the wings to cause Livi problems. United were denied what looked like a clear penalty when Goodwillie was clear on goal but he was bundled over in the box but the referee must have been the only one in the ground who saw nothing wrong with the challenge. A minute later McAleenan was just off target with a close range shot but the goal the young Tangerines deserved came with eight minutes left. Goodwillie's trickery on the by-line bamboozled a defender and his cross was met by Robertson who scored from the edge of the area. Just on full time Feenie had his effort blocked as it finished with a well-deserved 3-1 win for United.
Dave Bowman was delighted with the performance and after the match he said, "I thought we controlled much of the first half and deserved to go in front. After losing a silly goal the boys recovered well and in the second half we kept the pressure on Livingston and came away with a result we fully deserved. Goodie's second goal was very good and David Robertson capped a great day for us with a good third. We had a lot of young players on again today and they did well. Everyone played for each other and the work ethic was excellent."
The early play saw both sides producing some good football with United the more enterprising side. In a two-minute spell with ten minutes played, Feenie almost picked up on a long ball, Callaghan swung in a dangerous free kick, Goodwillie had an effort parried and from the rebound Robertson fired over the top. Three minutes later Livingston's keeper Fleming saved at the feet of Goodwillie and then a long-range effort from Abbot flew over the top. Robertson then set up Callaghan whose shot was parried by Fleming.
The visitors' response was a break from Scott but Donnelly cleared the danger. McLaren then swung in a great ball across the United goal but there were no takers. United took the lead on twenty four minutes when great footwork from Feenie set up his strike partner Goodwillie who was unmarked and rammed home and angled drive from ten yards. A minute later Livingston almost capitalised on a ricochet but Dorrans screwed his shot over the top. Feenie had a shot just after that but the keeper gathered and then Walker hit a free kick for Livi just wide. It was all action at this point and United were lucky to escape when a deflected Mitchell effort looped just over the bar. The visitors did get an equaliser ten minutes before half time when United failed to deal with a loose ball in the box and Dorrans netted.
United went back on then attack and Goodwillie chased a lost cause to the by-line and then hooked a shot narrowly over. McLean then saved with his feet after Dorrans burst through the centre to shoot and as the half drew to a close Callaghan hit a free kick and a shot both wide. The last action of the half saw Dorrans shoot past from a cut back.
After the break United still looked the more likely side and it was no surprise when they went ahead again and what a goal it was! Robertson started the move with a great through ball for Goodwillie who got into the box. He twisted and turned, sending the whole Livingston defence the wrong way before dispatching a shot into the centre of the net.
Dorrans and Walker then both had chances in a second half that witnessed a lot of good play without any real goal scoring opportunities until the last ten minutes. Goodwillie and Feenie were always willing up front and McAleenan and Callaghan were getting down the wings to cause Livi problems. United were denied what looked like a clear penalty when Goodwillie was clear on goal but he was bundled over in the box but the referee must have been the only one in the ground who saw nothing wrong with the challenge. A minute later McAleenan was just off target with a close range shot but the goal the young Tangerines deserved came with eight minutes left. Goodwillie's trickery on the by-line bamboozled a defender and his cross was met by Robertson who scored from the edge of the area. Just on full time Feenie had his effort blocked as it finished with a well-deserved 3-1 win for United.
Dave Bowman was delighted with the performance and after the match he said, "I thought we controlled much of the first half and deserved to go in front. After losing a silly goal the boys recovered well and in the second half we kept the pressure on Livingston and came away with a result we fully deserved. Goodie's second goal was very good and David Robertson capped a great day for us with a good third. We had a lot of young players on again today and they did well. Everyone played for each other and the work ethic was excellent."
