MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 2
DUNDEE UNITED 2
CAS UNDER-18S ELITE LEAGUE
14:00 THURSDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER
ORIAM
After a resounding 9-2 Scottish FA Youth Cup win over St Andrews United at Gussie Park, the Young Terrors were back on league duty at Oriam to face Heart of Midlothian.
Line-Up
Four changes were made to the victorious side from last Friday, Zack Balfour, Owen Emslie, Keir Bertie and Conor May were all rewarded with starts in the capital as Lewis Haldane, Arron Donald, Craig Moore and Alan Domeracki made way.
4-3-3 was the system preferred by Young Terrors Head Coach Ryan Moon – Samuel Cleall-Harding and Bertie the centre-half pairing flanked by Nairn Lowe on the left and Emslie right. Sean Borland offered protection to an attacking-minded midfielders Bryan Mwangi and Rory MacLeod, and Conor May led the line with assistance from the industrious yet creative Adam Carnwath as well as diminutive winger Stuart Heenan.
Breathless Beginning
A frenetic opening 90 seconds ensued in Edinburgh as both sides could’ve easily claimed an early lead. MacLeod used his physicality to bully Harvey Chisholm off the ball inside the attacking half before feeding Heenan to his right. The United number 11 skipped beyond Alexander Walker with ease but his low right-footed strike was a relatively comfortable save for Coupar Wilkie between the sticks. The hosts then went straight up the other end as James Wilson connected with a Callum Hambrook cross, testing trialist stopper Zack Balfour.
The action wasn’t over yet though, and United came once more this time through Carnwath who picked up the ball in a pocket of space on the left before sending May through one-on-one but the striker hesitated in pulling the trigger, allowing Kenzi Nair to block his opponent’s effort. There were also tangible claims for a penalty on four minutes when Heenan appeared to be bundled over in the area by Rocco Friel.
The game then settled into a lull period as both sides felt each other out after going blow for blow in an expansive first couple of minutes. United looked dangerous in transition when attacking an unorganised Jambos backline but struggled to unlock the door after Hearts retreated into their compact back five.
Balfour’s gloves were warmed again after Lowe lost out on a 50/50 duel just outside his own box to Friel who darted forward and drilled the ball across the face of goal.
Unforced Error
On the half-hour mark, an unforced error was the source of the opening goal. Mwangi dropped into the right-back slot as United looked to build from the back when taking goal kicks, and the unfortunate 16-year-old’s back pass was intercepted by Hambrook on the edge of the box. Hearts’ number seven steadied himself before burying the ball into the bottom right corner, despite the best efforts of Balfour and Bertie on the line.
Hambrook looked to double his tally not long after but his vicious shot from 16 yards met the head of well-placed Cleall-Harding.
An ambitious, 30-yard volley from MacLeod was as close as United got to getting their names on the scoresheet in a passive first 45 minutes from the visitors – a routine save for Wilkie.
Maroon Pressure Mounting
Hambrook continued to cause problems up the other end as he executed an exquisite, first-time turn to bamboozle the tangerine backline and enter the box unchallenged, a smart save from Balfour all that denied the Jambos’ livewire.
This was a warning United failed to heed though, and John McLaughlin’s men doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime. Hambrook rolled the ball wide to captain Ethan Drysdale and his first-time cross along the six-yard line was touched home at the second time of asking by Wilson.
The run of play continued to flow towards the away side’s goal in the early stages of the second period.
Balfour’s clearance ricocheted back off pressing substitute Mackenzie Ross and landed the right side of the post from a tangerine perspective on 46 minutes.
Hearts should’ve put the game to bed mere seconds later when, during the second phase of a corner, Nair’s teasing cross into the corridor of uncertainty ran all the way through to Walker at the back post in splendid isolation. With the goal at his mercy, Walker somehow managed to hit the post from less than six yards, a defender’s finish and a huge let-off for the visitors.
Run Of Play Inverts
This though, as well as a willingness to engage the home side higher up the pitch, seemed to spark Moon’s men into life and a spirited fightback began with a touch of fortune. A speculative clipped ball from Lowe down the centre of Hearts’ rear-guard was heading in the general direction of MacLeod advancing into the area, and a combination of Nair and Walker sandwiched the 16-year-old, resulting in a penalty.
Cleall-Harding stepped up and converted confidently into the bottom right corner, his second of the season from the spot. 58 minutes played, 2-1 the score and the dynamic of the match changed.
A succession of whipped corner deliveries from MacLeod wreaked havoc in the box, with Cleall-Harding inches away from doubling his tally for the afternoon when he thundered close-range header wide of the target.
Getting Closer
MacLeod himself went agonisingly close to restoring parity on 66 minutes. After no fewer than three successive fouls from Walker during a Young Terrors counter, referee David Dickinson eventually pulled play back for a free-kick 25 yards from goal.
United talisman MacLeod opted to go keeper’s side and rattled the inside of the post with a venomous effort.
A free-flowing team move down the right involving Emslie, substitute Scott Constable, Carnwath and MacLeod culminated in a wayward shot from Heenan just behind the penalty spot.
Bertie was kept out with nine minutes to go by Wilkie after diverting an in-swinging MacLeod cross on target from point-blank range, and then Hearts retaliated through Wilson on the counter – his looping header landing on the roof of the net.
Just Rewards
Just as it seemed as though the game was slipping away from the Young Terrors, Heenan stepped forward to earn a point for his side. MacLeod, who’s deliveries from set-pieces had been almost perfect all afternoon, floated the ball across the face of goal and United forward Heenan ran across his marker’s blind side to bullet home and restore parity deep into second-half stoppage time.
A spirited second-half fightback from the resilient Young Terrors, a point no less than what they deserved after completely dominating proceedings after the break.
Teamlines
Heart of Midlothian: Wilkie, Friel, Drysdale, Smutek, Hambrook, Chisholm, Wilson, Stevenson, Nair, Duncan, Walker (Lyon, Gillies, Crookston, Ross, Burn, Pilch)
United: Balfour, Emslie, Lowe, Cleall-Harding, Bertie, Borland, Carnwath, Mwangi, May, MacLeod, Heenan (Haldane, Constable, Simpson, Cameron)
