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LOYALTY PERIOD EXTENDED
29th April 2024
Dundee United exited the Women’s Scottish Cup at the fourth round stage on Saturday following a 2-0 defeat to Heart of Midlothian.
Goals from Ciara Grant and former United defender Jenna Penman meant Graeme Hart’s side were eliminated by the capital side for the second season running.
Three changes were made from the side that played Hibernian before the winter break; Georgie Robb, Nyla Murphy and Johan Fraser came in with Ciara Bonner dropping to the bench while Lisa Ryan departed the club to relocate to America and Rachel Todd was unavailable.
There was little to write about in the opening stages of the match as both sides looked to find their feet.
Hearts had the first opportunity in the 12th minute when Georgia Timms picked up the ball before driving towards goal and hitting the crossbar.
A minute later Robyn Smith probably could have done better as she couldn’t get a proper connection on a Nyla Murphy through ball and screwed her effort wide.
Fiona McNicoll was in fine form in the first half when she denied Emma Brownlie and Aimee Anderson midway through the half.
Nine minutes before the break United could have gone ahead themselves; Georgie Robb’s corner caused problems and after Jade McLaren’s header was punched up by Parker-Smith, Eve Donald saw her shot hit the crossbar.
HALF-TIME DUNDEE UNITED WOMEN 0 HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN WOMEN 0
When the two sides met at Oriam in early September Hearts scored two early second half goals in quick succession and it was an identical scenario at Gussie Park.
In the 51st minute Ciara Grant curled a free kick into the top corner to break the deadlock with Jenna Penman sending a low effort past McNicoll just three minutes later.
Despite the two goal deficit United kept fighting and came close with twenty minutes remaining; Cassie Cowper heading over from a McLaren cross.
Danni McGinley was next to try her luck with a 25 yard strike that went narrowly wide as the clock ticked down.
Hearts almost found themselves three ahead when a shot in a ruck of players headed towards goal only for Rebecca Foote to clear off the line.
The final ten minutes saw United build up pressure on the visitors’ goal, sub Ciara Bonner firing wide before Jodie Malcolm was denied by Parker-Smith.
The keeper was called into action again when Claire Delworth’s cross looked to be met by Neve Guthrie only to have the ball pinched off her head.
FULL-TIME DUNDEE UNITED WOMEN 0 HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN WOMEN 2
The result means that Dundee United exit both cup competitions at the first round of asking this season, with a big second half of the season ahead starting with Glasgow City this coming Sunday.
McNicoll, Donald (Bonner 69), McLaren, McGinley, Murphy (Guthrie 61), Smith, Robb, Foote, Fraser (Malcolm 61), Cowper, Delworth
Subs not used: Arthur, Harkin, McQueen
