By Gareth Scott
Two seconds half goals from Patrick N'Koyi, his first goals for the Club, were enough to send cup holders United into the second round of the Irn Bru Cup. The visitors were impressive in the first half but United dominated the second half and in the end ran out comfortable winners.
Ray McKinnon fielded a team of youth and experience for the Irn Bru Cup 1st round tie against Cowdenbeath. Keatings, N'Koyi, Flood and Fraser were all given some valuable game time and there was a debut for new signing Paul Quinn. Youngsters Graham Taylor, Logan Chalmers and Harvey Dailly also started, with Dailly also making his debut. Following his release from United last week, Brad Smith lined up for the visitors.
First Half
United made a bright start and early on Keatings set up Taylor but his low cross was cleared by Rumsby. The visitors then nearly had the lead when a shot from Connelly came back off the inside of the post and the ball was cleared for a corner. Fraser then set up Keatings who was unlucky to see his shot deflected just wide of the target. With 20 minutes on the clock, Cowdenbeath had another good chance when Buchanan latched on to a pass and forced Mehmet into an excellent save low to his left. Ten minutes later United won a free kick that was taken quickly by Fraser to Keatings whose shot was well saved and then the ball deflected back into the box and the visitor's keeper McGovern did very well to tip the ball over. The visitors then broke forward and a powerful shot from Connelly flew over the top. Shortly after Alasdair Smith picked up the ball on the edge of the United area but he pulled his shot wide of the target.
Second Half
United had a great chance at the start of the second period. Taylor won a free kick at the edge of the area and the ball was swung in by Fraser to the head of N'Koyi but his effort was saved low to his left by McGovern. Two minutes later United went close again when a pass from Allardice was well left by N'Koyi and Keatings raced in on goal but was thwarted by the advancing McGovern.
Most of the play was now in the visitors half and Graham Taylor was next to go close when he volleyed just wide of the target. With an hour on the clock, the deadlock was finally broken. Fraser made a great run into the box and squared the ball into the path of N'Koyi, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net from six yards out. Six minutes later the hosts doubled their lead and again it was N'Koyi, who netted his second goal in Tangerine. Keatings sent in a beautiful left footed cross and he found the head of the Dutchman that beat the visitors' goalkeeper and nestled in the bottom corner. United were now looking dominant and very nearly went three ahead on the 70-minute mark. Taylor collected the ball on the right and he teed up Keatings who curled a shot off the face of the crossbar. Towards the end, both sides made a flurry of substitutions but it was United who looked the more likely to extend their lead with half chances falling to Fraser and then Louis Appere.
Summing Up
Ray McKinnon will be happy with the second half performance from his side and will be pleased to see a number of his squad get 90 minutes under their belts. The score line could have been more but it was heartening to see summer signing Patrick N'Koyi net twice in his first full match for the Club. For that reason alone he was United's top man on the night.
Team:
Mehmet, Quinn, N'Koyi, Fraser, Flood, Allardice, Keatings, Briels (Thomas 80), Taylor (Appere 75), Dailly, Chalmers (Reekie 68)
Subs: Donaldson, Murdoch, Durnan, Robson
