First Team
TEAM NEWS | AIRDRIEONIANS (A)
26th April 2024
DUNDEE UNITED 2
QUEENS PARK 1
cinch RESERVE LEAGUE CUP
14:00 TUESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTRE @ ST ANDREWS
Dundee United B began their assault on the cinch Reserve League Cup as Queen’s Park made the journey north from Glasgow.
Last Time Out
The sides met just four weeks prior when a hat-trick from Sadat Happy Anaku ensured United ran out comfortable winners, 2-6 the final score at a clammy Pollok Country Park.
Line-Ups
First-team regulars Kieran Freeman, Scott McMann, Mathew Cudjoe and Craig Sibbald were all named in the starting line-up by Brian Grant and Andy Payne, whilst Jack Newman claimed the number one jersey from Ruairidh Adams.
Sibbald operated off the left, supported by Cudjoe and Miller Thomson in a three-man forward line. Archie Meekison and Finn Robson held down the centre of midfield themselves, whilst Freeman and McMann were deployed as attacking full-backs.
Opening Exchanges
Inside the opening five minutes, Queens left-back Alex Bannon sent a searching ball into the channel for Lewis Moore who looked to be through one-on-one with Newman but a strong recovery challenge from Adam Hutchinson thwarted the winger.
Liam McLeish perhaps should’ve tested Newman soon after when he met Moore’s corner from the right but the Spiders number 38 sent his free header well over the crossbar.
United’s first sighting of goal came after 13 minutes, Cudjoe pouncing on a loose ball inside the area and seeing his low, right-footed drive blocked by Jason Naismith. Freeman then slashed the rebound wide of the target from range.
Queens Park were almost made to pay for giving away possession cheaply just outside their own penalty area as Bannon inadvertently played the ball straight to Sibbald, the former Livingston man driving forward and sending his tame strike down the throat of Jacques Heraghty.
United Pushing
The home side’s pressure continued to build, this time through Miller Thomson as he saw the whites of Heraghty’s eyes twice in quick succession. First, he wriggled past veteran Naismith to the by-line and saw his dangerous cross blocked by the keeper’s feet. Then the 17-year-old’s low drive from an acute angle on the burst into the box suffered the same fate.
At the other end, a mistimed challenge from Flynn Duffy offered Liam Brown the chance to bend a skidding, 22-yard free-kick towards the bottom left corner which United stopper Newman was equal to.
The pendulum swung back to the tangerine side with Meekison, as the midfielder made a piercing run between the centre-halfs to latch onto a Duffy pass and fire over the bar when trying to find the far top corner.
Heraghty Heroics
Another piece of sloppy defending laid the ball on a plate for Robson to shoot from inside the area but his effort lacked power and it culminated in an easy save for Heraghty.
It continued to be a busy afternoon for Queens Park goalie Heraghty, this time spectacularly pawing a deflected McMann free-kick, which looked to be curling into the postage stamp, over the bar.
First Blood
Despite United’s flurry of opportunities in the first period, it would be the visitors who took a one-goal advantage into the break. Cudjoe committed a clumsy foul inches from the 18-yard line on the advancing Moore and Callum Biggar curled the resultant set-piece onto the head of Naismith who glanced home from close range.
Sibbald Sitting
Grant and Payne made a slight tactical tweak during the interval, as Sibbald dropped in to anchor the midfield – a more natural role for the 27-year-old. This allowed United to regain control of the centre of the pitch which was slightly overrun in the first half due to a numerical inferiority.
Pressure Tells
Pressure began to mount on the Queens backline as the hosts probed for a way through, and eventually, the equaliser came. A slide-rule pass from deep, which took more than four players out of play, found Freeman advancing from right wing-back who carried the ball into the area before squaring for Meekison and he tapped home from less than five yards.
McMann carved out a chance from nothing after collecting a loose ball more than 40 yards from goal, twisting away from Kane Thomson elegantly and then dancing beyond Biggar into the box. The number three unleashed a venomous effort that looked to be nestling into the top corner but another fabulous Heraghty stop denied him.
Thomson, a standout throughout the 90, was the architect of a Meekison sighting of goal after playing a sharp one-two with McMann and somehow escaping the clutches of Biggar when shepherded into the corner. Thomson teed up his colleague who stood at the corner of the box but the midfielder found his bending strike tipped around the far post.
On 83 minutes, Meekison had an almost carbon copy of his earlier chance, this time sending the ball the wrong side of the upright.
United survived a late scare as the clock ticked onto 90 minutes as Lucas McCormick hit a dipping volley wide from 16 yards with Newman rooted to the spot.
Last Gasp Winner
Penalties looming and 94 minutes played – step forward Scott McMann to win it for United and send the reserves into the next round of the cinch Reserve Cup. Subsitute Rory MacLeod led a fast break down the left and drilled into the middle of the park for Sibbald, Thomson felling the number 11 inside the D.
McMann, who was denied from a set-piece situation by Heraghty earlier in proceedings, struck towards keeper’s side and the ball kissed the post before bouncing into the middle of the goal. This the last kick of a tightly contested cup tie.
Teamlines
United: Newman, Freeman, McMann, Duffy, Hutchinson, Comerford, Thomson, Robson, Cudjoe, Meekison, Sibbald (Adams, Bisland, MacLeod, Mwangi, Fotheringham)
Queen’s Park: Heraghty, Naismith, Brown, Moore, Biggar, Graham, Bannon, Jarrett, Thomson, McLeish, Connolly (Fairlie, Nicol, Russell, Mauchin, McQuaid, Lind, McCormick)
