Club
SUMMER REGENERATION WORK UNDERWAY
20th May 2024
It was an afternoon best forgotten as far as United's Reserves were concerned, going down heavily to their Falkirk counterparts at Station Park today.
Frankly, they were no match for the experience, not to mention the flair of the continental contingent in the Falkirk ranks.
Twice in the early stages, Danny McBreen squandered opportunities to give the Bairns the lead. On seven minutes, he fired wide when clean through and hooked wildly wide seven minutes later.
Two minutes later, however, the visitors made the inevitable breakthrough when Ross Gardiner pulled down Vitor Lima in the box and Pedro Moutinho scored from the spot.
Only a last gasp goal-line clearance by Garry Kenneth prevented the impressive Mark Twaddle making it two after 27 minutes.
United's first chance in the game came after 30 minutes when Robbie Feeney failed to hit the target from a good position with a diving header from a Willie Easton corner.
And with five minutes of the first half left, Barry Callaghan's chip from the edge of the box went only inches over.
However, immediately at the other end, Euan McLean pulled off a fine save to deny McBreen three minutes later, but on the stroke of half-time, the Bairns did get a deserved second.
A great one-two took Pedro Moutinho through and he stylishly curled a side-foot shot past the advancing keeper.
Though the home side started the second half brightly, Falkirk made it three from a break from a United corner five minutes into the second half.
Moutinho played a terrific ball through the heart of the United defence and Mark Twaddle scored in equally accomplished fashion to the second.
Indeed, yet another great finish brought the Bairns their fourth after 63 minutes, Mesaoudi sent substitute Scott Arfield clear and though McLean got a hand to it, he couldn't keep it out.
Not that United took this all lying down and David Goodwillie was twice denied by very good saves by visiting keeper Allan Ferguson.
There were four bookings McBreen and McStay for dissent; Litjens for persistent fouling, whilst the lone home yellow card was flashed in the direction of David Goodwillie for his reaction to a challenge.
United: McLean, Abbot, Kenneth, Dodds, W Easton, Gardiner, Callaghan, Cameron, Robertson, Goodwillie, Feeney (Burnett 48). Subs not used: Gibson, Andreoni, McAleenan, Donnelly.
Falkirk: Ferguson, McPherson, Twaddle, McAloney (McSweeney 50), Allison, Litjens, Mesauodi, McStay, McBreen (Ramsay 46), Moutinho (Arfield 57), Lima. Sub not used: D Easton.
Referee: Paul McDowall
Frankly, they were no match for the experience, not to mention the flair of the continental contingent in the Falkirk ranks.
Twice in the early stages, Danny McBreen squandered opportunities to give the Bairns the lead. On seven minutes, he fired wide when clean through and hooked wildly wide seven minutes later.
Two minutes later, however, the visitors made the inevitable breakthrough when Ross Gardiner pulled down Vitor Lima in the box and Pedro Moutinho scored from the spot.
Only a last gasp goal-line clearance by Garry Kenneth prevented the impressive Mark Twaddle making it two after 27 minutes.
United's first chance in the game came after 30 minutes when Robbie Feeney failed to hit the target from a good position with a diving header from a Willie Easton corner.
And with five minutes of the first half left, Barry Callaghan's chip from the edge of the box went only inches over.
However, immediately at the other end, Euan McLean pulled off a fine save to deny McBreen three minutes later, but on the stroke of half-time, the Bairns did get a deserved second.
A great one-two took Pedro Moutinho through and he stylishly curled a side-foot shot past the advancing keeper.
Though the home side started the second half brightly, Falkirk made it three from a break from a United corner five minutes into the second half.
Moutinho played a terrific ball through the heart of the United defence and Mark Twaddle scored in equally accomplished fashion to the second.
Indeed, yet another great finish brought the Bairns their fourth after 63 minutes, Mesaoudi sent substitute Scott Arfield clear and though McLean got a hand to it, he couldn't keep it out.
Not that United took this all lying down and David Goodwillie was twice denied by very good saves by visiting keeper Allan Ferguson.
There were four bookings McBreen and McStay for dissent; Litjens for persistent fouling, whilst the lone home yellow card was flashed in the direction of David Goodwillie for his reaction to a challenge.
United: McLean, Abbot, Kenneth, Dodds, W Easton, Gardiner, Callaghan, Cameron, Robertson, Goodwillie, Feeney (Burnett 48). Subs not used: Gibson, Andreoni, McAleenan, Donnelly.
Falkirk: Ferguson, McPherson, Twaddle, McAloney (McSweeney 50), Allison, Litjens, Mesauodi, McStay, McBreen (Ramsay 46), Moutinho (Arfield 57), Lima. Sub not used: D Easton.
Referee: Paul McDowall
