First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED EXIT SPFL TRUST TROPHY

17th November 2023

FALKIRK 4 (4' 71' Morrision, 65' Lang, 69' Yeats)
DUNDEE UNITED 2 (27' Cudjoe, 33' Watt)
7.40PM FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2023
THE FALKIRK STADIUM
SPFL TRUST TROPHY

Attendance: 2,891

United's unbeaten run comes to an end as Falkirk progress to the semi-final. 

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin made four changes to the side that left it late at East End Park last weekend. 

Jordan Tillson and Louis Moult featured on the bench whilst Declan Gallagher missed out altogether. Kai Fotheringham - who scored at this venue last time out - is currently representing Scotland U21s.

Ross Graham, Chris Mochrie, Declan Glass and Mathew Cudjoe were all afforded starts. 

There were first matchday squad appearances for Alan Domeracki and Adam Carnwath who helped make up the nine graduates involved this evening. 

AN EARLY BLOW

It was an opening five minutes to forget for United as the hosts' fast and energetic start paid dividends. 

A number of early crosses spelt danger and Leon McCann's deep cross was turned home by Callumn Morrison at the back post. 

There was another early chance for The Bairns as Calvin Miller headed over Morrison's cross from inside six yards as United avoided another scare. 

BACK ON TERMS

There was an air of fortune surrounding our equaliser as Cudjoe restored parity on 27 minutes.

United broke in numbers with Watt finding the winger high in the Falkirk half with only McCann for company. Doing well to hold the ball up, he cut inside before curling what seemed a harmless strike at goal. However, Sam Long made a meal of his effort and eventually dropped the ball over the line to level the tie. 

 
TURNING IT AROUND

It took just five minutes before United gained control with Watt adding a goal to his earlier assist. 

Clever play from tonight's Captain opened up space following a throw-in and holding off his man, Watt spun inside the box before curling an effort in off the underside of the bar. 

PENDULUM SWINGS

Our earliest second-half sighting came on 56 minutes when Graham got on the end of Glass' free kick but could only nod the ball wide at the back post. 

Moments after, the hosts flurried forward in numbers and a clever spin from Aidan Nesbitt opened up space in behind the United defence. He cut the ball back to the edge of the area to find the on-rushing Finn Yeats' and thankfully his drilled effort fizzed past the post. 

However, three goals in five minutes had the hosts well in command. 

The equaliser came as Morrison's freekick from the edge of the area crashed off the bar - landing at the feat of Yeats to slide the ball home. 

No more than four minutes later, Tom Lang put the hosts in front. A clever throw found Calvin Miller who had slipped behind the defence and he forced Walton into action with a toe-poke towards goal. However, the Englishman could only parry the ball back into the penalty area where Yeats pounced to notch his first goal of the season. 

The hosts added daylight just a minute later as Kevin Holt's back pass found Morrison lurking and he rounded Walton to slot home his second of the evening.

TASTING DEFEAT

A five-minute downfall had the game won for the hosts, with chances falling few and far between in the final 20 minutes. 

There was a positive twist in the tale as Carnwath came on to make his United debut at 17 years old.

post-match thoughts
 
TEAMLINES
FALKIRK

Starting XI: Long, Lang, McCann, Henderson, Donaldson (c), Morrison, Spencer, Nesbitt, Yeats, MacIver, Miller

Subs: Hogarth, Allan, Agyeman, Lawal, Mackie, Knox, McCrone, Carmichael, Howe

DUNDEE UNITED

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Graham, Grimshaw, Sibbald, Middleton, Glass, Mochrie, Cudjoe, Watt (c), McMann

Subs: Adams, Denham, Moult, Tillson, Freeman, Duffy, Domeracki, Carnwath, Stirton

NEXT UP

Attention turns to the Scottish Cup as we travel to Dumfries next weekend.

Ticket information will be made available from the home club early next week.  

 

Images: Richard Wiseman

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