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LOYALTY PERIOD EXTENDED
29th April 2024
IT WAS THE STORY OF DUNDEE UNITED’S SEASON AS WASTED CHANCES SAW THEM OUT TO THE SWORD BY SPARTANS ON SUNDAY.
Katherine Smart’s 75th minute header was the only goal of the game at Ainslie Park with the hosts extending the gap between themselves and United in the SWPL.
Graeme Hart made two changes to his squad; new signing Leigha Dobbins and Jade McLaren coming in while Jo Fraser and Tash Bruce dropped to the bench.
The first chance of the game came after just two minutes when Louise Mason flashed a warning shot across the face of Fiona McNicoll’s goal.
Shortly after United got to grips with the game and had opportunities of their own when Danni McGinley found McLaren in the box but she could only volley wide.
Midfielder Georgie Robb was next to try her luck with a strike that failed to find the target while McNicoll saved with ease from a poor Mason effort.
Robb was involved again in the 14th minute when her corner found Tammy Harkin but her header was held by Rachel Harrison.
Sixty seconds later United were on the attack again and it was top scorer McGinley who weaved her way past three defenders to find herself in the box; another defender managed to get a foot in at a vital time to deflect her shot out for a corner.
From the resulting corner Harkin pinged the ball past the post and after this the game turned into a midfield battle with both sides struggling to break the defences down.
Ten minutes before the break Robb fired wide after connecting with a Rachel Todd cross.
United looked to be on the ascendency heading to half time; Harkin sent an audacious 35 yard strike just over the bar with Harrison stranded.
The last action of the half saw Cassie Cowper struggle to keep her strike down.
HALF-TIME SPARTANS WOMEN 0 DUNDEE UNITED WOMEN 0
Rosie McQuillan blazed over the bar for the hosts early in the half but it was United that looked more likely to find an opener as they kept pressure on the Edinburgh outfit.
They could and probably should have opened the scoring in the 67th minute when McGinley’s cross found McLaren on the line and the midfielder somehow managed to spin the ball up and over the bar.
Robb had another effort four minutes later that flew over the bar and United were to rue their missed chances with fifteen minutes to go.
A corner from Alana Marshall was sent into the danger zone for Katherine Smart to power a header past McNicoll to open the scoring.
Despite going behind, United kept fighting with McLaren heading over the bar from a McGinley set piece.
Shortly after some great build up play led to subs Neve Guthrie and Jo Fraser combining however the latter was unfortunate not to see her shot hit the target.
McGinley sent a free kick wide in the final action of the match that meant all three points stayed in Edinburgh.
FULL-TIME SPARTANS WOMEN 1 DUNDEE UNITED WOMEN 0
The performance from the side wasn’t reflected in the final result but they can take positives to build on ahead of Wednesday evening's home fixture with Hearts at Gussie Park, kick-off is at 7.30pm
McNicoll, Donald, Dobbins, McLaren, McGinley, Robb (Fraser 72), Todd, Foote (Bruce 72), Cowper, Harkin (Guthrie 80)
Subs not used: Murphy, Trialist, McQueen
Highlights from the game can be watched on DUTV
