First Team
MATCHWORNSHIRT | CHAMPIONS
7th May 2024
With almost half of the regular side unavailable for selection, it was a young United eleven that lined up to face Celtic this morning at very cold Glenesk Park. Euan McLean was in goal as usual behind Stuart Abbot, Ross Gardiner and sixteen-year-old Jamie Donnelly. Barry Callaghan, Marco Andreoni, Gregg Burnett, Greg Cameron and Kieran McAleenan made up the middle area with two more sixteen-year-olds, David Goodwillie and Robbie Feenie leading the attack.
Celtic had much of the early possession without creating a clear-cut opportunity and United relied heavily on long balls through to Goodwillie, who was unlucky with a header from close range and a couple of shots. Feenie latched on to a free kick into the box but his effort was parried by Fox in the Celtic goal. In reply, O'Carroll fired wide and Conroy almost found Finlayson with a good cross in, but McLean launched himself at the ball to fist clear. Mid way through the half, Celtic increased the pressure and Grant fired narrowly past before McLean saved well from O'Carroll twice. Then with just over half an hour gone, United found themselves 2-0 down.
The first goal came in thirty four minutes from Mulgrew on the right with a free kick that dipped over McLean. Two minutes later, it was Mulgrew again with another free kick. This time a low drive into the bottom left of goal from twenty yards out. The visitors continued to take the game to United and before the half time whistle went, McLean made a great save from a Gardyne volley and Mulgrew headed wide from a corner kick.
After the break, McLean was in action again punching a dangerous cross away and then he saved well from Finlayson, before Richardson fired just wide. For United, Cameron managed to get some space and fired goalwards but the effort was blocked. O'Carroll was inches away from adding a third but he could not connect with a Finlayson cross. Midway through the half United had a couple of chances to score but both Burnett and Cameron had shots blocked. Goodwillie and Feenie were always willing but the Celtic defence dealt with everything United had. Towards the end another Mulgrew free kick caused problems but McLean gathered at the second attempt and the keeper then pulled of a fantastic diving save to deny Conroy. Right at the end Celtic sub Walsh flashed a shot from the right and it just skimmed the bar.
Celtic came into this game determined to close the gap on SPL Youth league leaders Hearts and went away deserved winners against a less experienced United side. The young Tangerines gave a good enough account of themselves and although McLean was beaten from two set pieces he was otherwise in good form. The emerging Goodwillie, Donnelly and Feenie showed some glimpses of their potential and later in the game a further two from the younger ranks, David Gray and fifteen year old Ryan McCord came on also.
Celtic had much of the early possession without creating a clear-cut opportunity and United relied heavily on long balls through to Goodwillie, who was unlucky with a header from close range and a couple of shots. Feenie latched on to a free kick into the box but his effort was parried by Fox in the Celtic goal. In reply, O'Carroll fired wide and Conroy almost found Finlayson with a good cross in, but McLean launched himself at the ball to fist clear. Mid way through the half, Celtic increased the pressure and Grant fired narrowly past before McLean saved well from O'Carroll twice. Then with just over half an hour gone, United found themselves 2-0 down.
The first goal came in thirty four minutes from Mulgrew on the right with a free kick that dipped over McLean. Two minutes later, it was Mulgrew again with another free kick. This time a low drive into the bottom left of goal from twenty yards out. The visitors continued to take the game to United and before the half time whistle went, McLean made a great save from a Gardyne volley and Mulgrew headed wide from a corner kick.
After the break, McLean was in action again punching a dangerous cross away and then he saved well from Finlayson, before Richardson fired just wide. For United, Cameron managed to get some space and fired goalwards but the effort was blocked. O'Carroll was inches away from adding a third but he could not connect with a Finlayson cross. Midway through the half United had a couple of chances to score but both Burnett and Cameron had shots blocked. Goodwillie and Feenie were always willing but the Celtic defence dealt with everything United had. Towards the end another Mulgrew free kick caused problems but McLean gathered at the second attempt and the keeper then pulled of a fantastic diving save to deny Conroy. Right at the end Celtic sub Walsh flashed a shot from the right and it just skimmed the bar.
Celtic came into this game determined to close the gap on SPL Youth league leaders Hearts and went away deserved winners against a less experienced United side. The young Tangerines gave a good enough account of themselves and although McLean was beaten from two set pieces he was otherwise in good form. The emerging Goodwillie, Donnelly and Feenie showed some glimpses of their potential and later in the game a further two from the younger ranks, David Gray and fifteen year old Ryan McCord came on also.
