First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
For this Under-19 fixture against Aberdeen, United fielded a team in 3-5-2 formation with McCann in goal and a back three of Abbot, Anderson and Molloy. Jarvis and Callaghan filled the wing back roles on left and right respectively with Robertson, Hunter and Bell in midfield. Up front, Conway partnered Andrew.
In the first half United had the greater share of chances but it was Aberdeen who lead 2-1 at the turn. The young Tangerines played some good passing football but were unable to convert a number of early opportunities with one net bound shot cleared off the line on ten minutes. Conway and Bell both fired over the top and a tempting cut-back from Andrew went abegging. For the visitors Foster had an attempt hooked away by Abbot and Tarditi had a shot blocked. However the same player made no mistake when he lashed the ball home from eight yards to give his side the lead five minutes from the break and then three minutes later Stewart capitalised on a defensive error to double the lead. United pressed forward immediately and Robertson pulled one back, netting at the far post from close in.
Half Time
Dundee United 1 Aberdeen 2
Two minutes into the second half the home side grabbed a deserved equaliser when Conway beat his man after a run down the left and his pass inside was perfect for Bell to shoot past Kelly in the Aberdeen goal. Callaghan then saw his effort go just over the bar and Robertson was unlucky to pull an attempt wide as United piled on the pressure. Conway was next to be denied when his powerful drive was blocked. Robertson then suffered the same fate and Andrew shot weakly when he was put through by Abbot from the rebound. Robertson then found space for a shot on the turn but the keeper held well and after Bell also had a shot blocked, Jarvis was first to the rebound and fired narrowly wide. It was all United as Bell burst through to shoot and the keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Andrew to put the young Tangerines ahead with 25 minutes of the second half gone. Three minutes later United increased their lead and the goal belonged to Jarvis. He unleashed a ferocious shot that the keeper could only parry and it spun into the net and although Molloy followed it in, Jarvis must get the credit.
The home side were in complete command and Bell fired straight at the keeper after a clever one-two with Andrew, and Robertson and Conway both had goal attempts stopped by Kelly who was by far the busier keeper as the game drew to a close. The young Dons were however still dangerous and McCann had to be alert twice near the end but he could do nothing as the unmarked Higgins found space at the back post to stroke the ball home from a corner just before the final whistle.
Full Time
Dundee United 4 Aberdeen 3
Ian McCall attends most Under-19 matches and immediately after the final whistle today he said "Very much against the run of play, we were two down just before the interval but the lads did well to pull one back before half time. In the second half we completely dominated and could have scored more than three. We lost a bad goal with thirty seconds left but overall it was a great result and a great performance by the team. The boys all showed great character to come back from the loss of those first half goals."
Tony Docherty echoed these sentiments and went on to add, "I was delighted with the performance today. I knew this game would offer us a big challenge as Aberdeen are a very good side, one of the top sides in this league in my opinion. So I challenged the boys to show how good they are and they rose to that. We dominated for much of the game, especially in the second half and although I was unhappy to lose a couple of the goals the way we did, I was again pleased to see the number of scoring opportunities we created and this time we took a few of the chances we created. It was great to see that the work we have put in these last few weeks is beginning to have an effect and from my point of view as a coach what is most pleasing is not just the result but also the performance. We passed the ball well and competed for everything against strong opposition and in the end got the three points which we deserved."
United : McCann, Callaghan, Jarvis (Craig 88), Abbot, Anderson, Molloy, Robertson (Smith 88), Hunter, Andrew, Bell, Conway.
Subs Not Used : Band, McDonald, Lau.
Aberdeen : Kelly, Donald, Fraser (McInnes 51), Collier, Considine, Higgins, Bagshaw (McAllister 60), Buckley, Tarditi, Stewart, Foster (McDonald 28).
Subs Not Used : McKenzie, Lombardi.
In the first half United had the greater share of chances but it was Aberdeen who lead 2-1 at the turn. The young Tangerines played some good passing football but were unable to convert a number of early opportunities with one net bound shot cleared off the line on ten minutes. Conway and Bell both fired over the top and a tempting cut-back from Andrew went abegging. For the visitors Foster had an attempt hooked away by Abbot and Tarditi had a shot blocked. However the same player made no mistake when he lashed the ball home from eight yards to give his side the lead five minutes from the break and then three minutes later Stewart capitalised on a defensive error to double the lead. United pressed forward immediately and Robertson pulled one back, netting at the far post from close in.
Half Time
Dundee United 1 Aberdeen 2
Two minutes into the second half the home side grabbed a deserved equaliser when Conway beat his man after a run down the left and his pass inside was perfect for Bell to shoot past Kelly in the Aberdeen goal. Callaghan then saw his effort go just over the bar and Robertson was unlucky to pull an attempt wide as United piled on the pressure. Conway was next to be denied when his powerful drive was blocked. Robertson then suffered the same fate and Andrew shot weakly when he was put through by Abbot from the rebound. Robertson then found space for a shot on the turn but the keeper held well and after Bell also had a shot blocked, Jarvis was first to the rebound and fired narrowly wide. It was all United as Bell burst through to shoot and the keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Andrew to put the young Tangerines ahead with 25 minutes of the second half gone. Three minutes later United increased their lead and the goal belonged to Jarvis. He unleashed a ferocious shot that the keeper could only parry and it spun into the net and although Molloy followed it in, Jarvis must get the credit.
The home side were in complete command and Bell fired straight at the keeper after a clever one-two with Andrew, and Robertson and Conway both had goal attempts stopped by Kelly who was by far the busier keeper as the game drew to a close. The young Dons were however still dangerous and McCann had to be alert twice near the end but he could do nothing as the unmarked Higgins found space at the back post to stroke the ball home from a corner just before the final whistle.
Full Time
Dundee United 4 Aberdeen 3
Ian McCall attends most Under-19 matches and immediately after the final whistle today he said "Very much against the run of play, we were two down just before the interval but the lads did well to pull one back before half time. In the second half we completely dominated and could have scored more than three. We lost a bad goal with thirty seconds left but overall it was a great result and a great performance by the team. The boys all showed great character to come back from the loss of those first half goals."
Tony Docherty echoed these sentiments and went on to add, "I was delighted with the performance today. I knew this game would offer us a big challenge as Aberdeen are a very good side, one of the top sides in this league in my opinion. So I challenged the boys to show how good they are and they rose to that. We dominated for much of the game, especially in the second half and although I was unhappy to lose a couple of the goals the way we did, I was again pleased to see the number of scoring opportunities we created and this time we took a few of the chances we created. It was great to see that the work we have put in these last few weeks is beginning to have an effect and from my point of view as a coach what is most pleasing is not just the result but also the performance. We passed the ball well and competed for everything against strong opposition and in the end got the three points which we deserved."
United : McCann, Callaghan, Jarvis (Craig 88), Abbot, Anderson, Molloy, Robertson (Smith 88), Hunter, Andrew, Bell, Conway.
Subs Not Used : Band, McDonald, Lau.
Aberdeen : Kelly, Donald, Fraser (McInnes 51), Collier, Considine, Higgins, Bagshaw (McAllister 60), Buckley, Tarditi, Stewart, Foster (McDonald 28).
Subs Not Used : McKenzie, Lombardi.
