First Team
JIM GOODWIN | GLEN'S VODKA CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER OF THE SEASON
15th May 2024
Despite a late scare from Falkirk's new Icelandic striker Kjartan Binnbogason, Dundee United picked up all three points at Tannadice this afternoon with a 2-1 win thanks to strikes from Danny Cadamarteri and David Goodwillie early in the second half.
After a tense opening forty-five, which saw the sides deadlocked at nil-nil despite United enjoying the better of the offensive action, the home side took the lead on 50 minutes, just moments after Falkirk had squandered the best chance of the match.
Burton O'Brien's perfectly weighted pass cut open the United defence and, as Ryan Flynn charged towards goal, the Bairns looked certain to grab an unlikely lead.
But former Charlton and Manchester City 'keeper Nicky Weaver was on hand to deny the striker, as he spread himself superbly to smother the effort. Crucial saves like this have already endeared the short-term stopper to the home fans.
Eddie May's side would be left to rue this opportunity as the home side then raced up the other end and took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Danny Swanson whipped the ball in from the left flank to find Cadamarteri. And the imposing striker converted his, and United's, third goal of the campaign with a superb finish from a near impossible angle.
United doubled their lead on 56 minutes, with Swanson once more the provider. His neat pass put Goodwillie through on goal, and the young striker made no mistake and drilled the ball home from the corner of the box.
Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors when a misplaced back pass from O'Brien saw defender Thomas Scobbie and Austrian 'keeper Robert Olejnik clash at full pelt in a scary moment as players from both sides frantically waved on medical staff. Both players were down for some time needing treatment after the horrific collision, and Scobbie would be replaced by Chris Mitchell after receiving treatment from the paramedics on hand.
With 15 minutes to go, United looked to be controlling the game and heading towards a third consecutive clean sheet until Finnbogason grabbed one back for the visitors. Finnigan's through ball left him one-on-one with Weaver, but the Englishman couldn't foil the attempt this time as the new signing stroked the ball home.
Falkirk really should have made the closing stages of the much more uncomfortable for the hosts, but United were able to stifle any attacks that came their way.
There was one heart-stopping moment for the home fans well into stoppage time, when substitute Daniel Marceta played the ball across the face of the United. Fortunately for the majority of the 7,000 fans in attendance, the ball was just half a yard too far in front of the incoming Finnbogason, who could have marked his debut with a brace.
Attendance: 6,979
Ref: Thomson
Dundee United:
Weaver, Dillon, Webster, Dods, Diixon, Robertson (Robertson 46), Swanson (Conway 90+1), Buaben, Gomis, Cadamarteri, Goodwillie (Shala 86)
Unused Subs
Banks, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Myrie-Williams
Falkirk:
Olejnik, Barr, Scobbie (Mitchell 64), McNamara (MacDonald 64), McLean, Twaddle, O'Brien, Arfield, Flynn (Danijel Marceta 73) Finnigan, Finnbogason
Unused Subs:
Wagenaar, Allison, Lynch, Robertson
Click here for the full report by Craig MacLaggan.
After a tense opening forty-five, which saw the sides deadlocked at nil-nil despite United enjoying the better of the offensive action, the home side took the lead on 50 minutes, just moments after Falkirk had squandered the best chance of the match.
Burton O'Brien's perfectly weighted pass cut open the United defence and, as Ryan Flynn charged towards goal, the Bairns looked certain to grab an unlikely lead.
But former Charlton and Manchester City 'keeper Nicky Weaver was on hand to deny the striker, as he spread himself superbly to smother the effort. Crucial saves like this have already endeared the short-term stopper to the home fans.
Eddie May's side would be left to rue this opportunity as the home side then raced up the other end and took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Danny Swanson whipped the ball in from the left flank to find Cadamarteri. And the imposing striker converted his, and United's, third goal of the campaign with a superb finish from a near impossible angle.
United doubled their lead on 56 minutes, with Swanson once more the provider. His neat pass put Goodwillie through on goal, and the young striker made no mistake and drilled the ball home from the corner of the box.
Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors when a misplaced back pass from O'Brien saw defender Thomas Scobbie and Austrian 'keeper Robert Olejnik clash at full pelt in a scary moment as players from both sides frantically waved on medical staff. Both players were down for some time needing treatment after the horrific collision, and Scobbie would be replaced by Chris Mitchell after receiving treatment from the paramedics on hand.
With 15 minutes to go, United looked to be controlling the game and heading towards a third consecutive clean sheet until Finnbogason grabbed one back for the visitors. Finnigan's through ball left him one-on-one with Weaver, but the Englishman couldn't foil the attempt this time as the new signing stroked the ball home.
Falkirk really should have made the closing stages of the much more uncomfortable for the hosts, but United were able to stifle any attacks that came their way.
There was one heart-stopping moment for the home fans well into stoppage time, when substitute Daniel Marceta played the ball across the face of the United. Fortunately for the majority of the 7,000 fans in attendance, the ball was just half a yard too far in front of the incoming Finnbogason, who could have marked his debut with a brace.
Attendance: 6,979
Ref: Thomson
Dundee United:
Weaver, Dillon, Webster, Dods, Diixon, Robertson (Robertson 46), Swanson (Conway 90+1), Buaben, Gomis, Cadamarteri, Goodwillie (Shala 86)
Unused Subs
Banks, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Myrie-Williams
Falkirk:
Olejnik, Barr, Scobbie (Mitchell 64), McNamara (MacDonald 64), McLean, Twaddle, O'Brien, Arfield, Flynn (Danijel Marceta 73) Finnigan, Finnbogason
Unused Subs:
Wagenaar, Allison, Lynch, Robertson
Click here for the full report by Craig MacLaggan.
