We were pegged back twice in a frantic opening day encounter. 

Falkirk 2 (Tait 50', Ross 73')

Dundee United 2 (Watters 40', Dolcek 71')

2pm Sunday 3 August 2025

The Falkirk Stadium

William Hill Premiership

Attendance: 7,624 (737 away)

Team Talk
 
With a number of bodies in the medical room and Will Ferry suspended, Jim Goodwin opted for a 4-3-3 this afternoon as we took on Falkirk in our opening Premiership fixture of 2025/26. 

Max Watters was in from the start alongside Isaac Pappoe in the two changes from our UEFA Conference League triumph in Luxembourg. 

Barring Dave Richards, our entire bench was made up of DUFC Academy graduates. 

Early Momentum with the Hosts
 
With a packed out crowd behind them on flag day, it was John McGlynn's side who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. 

A series of early attacks had us under the kosh, with some crucial blocks required to deny the Bairns a clear shot on goal. Panutche Camará made several key interceptions as we looked to weather the storm and gain a foothold.

The best chance of the opening period fell to Calvin Miller, who nodded wide from close range after Iurie Iovu’s flick-on found him unmarked in front of goal.

Two chances fell to Max Watters as we approached the half-hour mark.

First, he met Camará’s cross in the box but couldn’t generate enough power on his header to trouble the goalkeeper. Moments later, he found space at an angle but fired into the side netting.

Third Time's a Charm
 
Our number 36 eventually had his goal five minutes from the interval. 

It was excellent work from Craig Sibbald who bundled his way into the box and worked a cross which eventually sat up kindly for Watters, who was sharp to react and fired home on the volley!

Level Once More

Zac Sapsford was involved in the first flashpoint of the second half, appearing to be pushed to the ground—only to be shown a yellow card for simulation.

Just five minutes after the restart, the hosts drew level. A through ball split our defence, the ball was fired across the face of goal, and pulled back to Dylan Tait, who lashed it home from inside the area.

A Frantic Few Minutes
 
Both sides struck inside two minutes as we entered the final 20 minutes. 

We retook the lead as Camarà opened up space with a slide rule pass for Dol?ek, who with work to do, jinked inside the box before nutmegging Lewis Neilson and curling beyond Scott Bain. 

However, we weren't ahead for long as from the kick-off the ball flashed across the face for Ethan Ross who stuck goalwards and a deflection off of Iovu took it beyond Yevhenii Kucherenko. 

Both sides were in search of the winner but there were no goals as we ticked over into five additional minutes. 

Teamlines

Falkirk

Starting XI: Bain, Adams, McCann, Henderson, Graham, Spencer, Neilson, Tait, Ross, Miller, Arfield

Subs: Hogarth, Maciver, Agyeman, Allan, Oliver, Nesbitt, Cartwright, Walker, McCafferty
 
Dundee United

Starting XI: Kucherenko, Esselink, Iovu, Ševelj, Camarà, Sapsford, Sibbald, Dolcek, Keresztes, Watters, Pappoe

Subs: Richards, Fotheringham, Thomson, O’Donnell, Stirton, Cleall-Harding, Constable, Beattie, Welsh
 
Post-Match Thoughts

Next Up

We're back on the continent as we travel to face SK Rapid Wien on Thursday evening. 

CLICK HERE for full ticket details!

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