Club
SUMMER REGENERATION WORK UNDERWAY
20th May 2024
Though they fought right to the end, the Youths were edged out by the odd goal in five at Dingwall this afternoon in the first league game after the winter break.
All five goals came after a first half in which there was nothing between the teams.
United went in front five minutes into the second half when Billy Russell was on the end of Kieran McAleenan's inswinging free-kick to head home from ten yards.
However, that lead was short-lived because three minutes later, Martin Charlesworth knocked home the loose ball after Rory McAllister had forced a good stop from keeper John Gibson.
Only a miraculous save by home keeper Jonathon Smith with his feet denied Robbie Feeney after 64 minutes and cruelly, Caley Thistle immediately raced to the other end for Zander Sutherland to put them ahead with a curler from 25-yards.
With seventeen minutes left, however, the young Tangerines were back level when Robbie Feeney ran on to a superb reverse pass from Ryan O'Hara and outstripped the home defence to roll the ball under the advancing keeper for a deserved equaliser.
Yet within twenty seconds, Caley were back in front thanks to Rory McAllister whose low shot found the left hand corner.
Piling on the pressure in the last ten minutes, Michael O'Byrne, just back from a lengthy injury, had an effort cleared off the line and though United finished the game well on top, a deserved equaliser eluded the team.
United: Gibson, Burnett, McAleenan, Donnelly, O'Bryne, Flynn, Russell, Andreoni, O'Hara (Meechen 81), Feeney, Gray (Fleming 66). Sub not used: McCord
It was wholly ironic that Youth Coach Stevie Campbell's first game in charge was one that he had arranged whilst with Inverness CT, and whilst disappointed that his old charges came out on top by the odd goal in five, Stevie found plenty of positives to take from today's clash at Dingwall.
He said, "Other than the result, I was delighted.
"But for naivety, we would have got at least a draw, and that would have been no less than we deserved.
"One of the biggest problems is that my former players are much older and physically bigger and stronger - no less than six of their side won't be eligible for the Under-19s next season.
"That caused us a bit of a problem at set pieces, but other than that the lads competed very well.
"Having taken the lead, we lost a goal three minutes later and it was worse still after we made it 2-2 because they were back in front within twenty seconds!
"But we finished the stronger side and were very unlucky not to equalise in the last ten minutes which we dominated.
"The one thing we must address is the way that we go chasing the game instead of keeping things a bit tighter after getting ourselves in a good position.
"And I am very much looking forward to working with the squad, especially with the Youth Cup tie against Rangers coming up next."
All five goals came after a first half in which there was nothing between the teams.
United went in front five minutes into the second half when Billy Russell was on the end of Kieran McAleenan's inswinging free-kick to head home from ten yards.
However, that lead was short-lived because three minutes later, Martin Charlesworth knocked home the loose ball after Rory McAllister had forced a good stop from keeper John Gibson.
Only a miraculous save by home keeper Jonathon Smith with his feet denied Robbie Feeney after 64 minutes and cruelly, Caley Thistle immediately raced to the other end for Zander Sutherland to put them ahead with a curler from 25-yards.
With seventeen minutes left, however, the young Tangerines were back level when Robbie Feeney ran on to a superb reverse pass from Ryan O'Hara and outstripped the home defence to roll the ball under the advancing keeper for a deserved equaliser.
Yet within twenty seconds, Caley were back in front thanks to Rory McAllister whose low shot found the left hand corner.
Piling on the pressure in the last ten minutes, Michael O'Byrne, just back from a lengthy injury, had an effort cleared off the line and though United finished the game well on top, a deserved equaliser eluded the team.
United: Gibson, Burnett, McAleenan, Donnelly, O'Bryne, Flynn, Russell, Andreoni, O'Hara (Meechen 81), Feeney, Gray (Fleming 66). Sub not used: McCord
It was wholly ironic that Youth Coach Stevie Campbell's first game in charge was one that he had arranged whilst with Inverness CT, and whilst disappointed that his old charges came out on top by the odd goal in five, Stevie found plenty of positives to take from today's clash at Dingwall.
He said, "Other than the result, I was delighted.
"But for naivety, we would have got at least a draw, and that would have been no less than we deserved.
"One of the biggest problems is that my former players are much older and physically bigger and stronger - no less than six of their side won't be eligible for the Under-19s next season.
"That caused us a bit of a problem at set pieces, but other than that the lads competed very well.
"Having taken the lead, we lost a goal three minutes later and it was worse still after we made it 2-2 because they were back in front within twenty seconds!
"But we finished the stronger side and were very unlucky not to equalise in the last ten minutes which we dominated.
"The one thing we must address is the way that we go chasing the game instead of keeping things a bit tighter after getting ourselves in a good position.
"And I am very much looking forward to working with the squad, especially with the Youth Cup tie against Rangers coming up next."
