First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
At a cold North End Park this afternoon, United's Youth side were edged out by Hearts by the odd goal in three in a keenly fought contest.
Both sides opened well and the match was evenly balanced in the opening half hour with first Kennedy of Hearts breaking loose before Gardiner stepped in to block his cross and then Easton latched on to a loose ball from a corner kick but curled his effort wide. Doherty had a low shot but fired wide and Gay looped a header well off target as the match settled into an end to end battle.
United stepped up a gear after twenty minutes and McDonald hit the post on twenty four minutes. Five minutes later a great run and cross by McAleenan deserved a better finish but Callaghan had his effort blocked. A goal was not far away and a minute later Cameron forced the ball into the Hearts box for McAleenan to turn and shoot low beyond the keeper. The lead was short lived however as Tierney got his head to a corner kick from the right to bullet home. Hearts tried to press their advantage in the latter stages Robertson headed over from a Callaghan cross and McAleenan launched a long ball forward but Andrew was just too far away to benefit.
After the break United picked up where they left off and Abbot saw his effort deflected after a good surging run. Thomson for Hearts broke free through the middle but his shot went wide before United had the chance to go ahead from the spot on fifty-six minutes when Andrew was bundled over. Robertson took the spot kick well but McDonald in the Hearts goal was up to the task and saved low. Within minutes the visitors were ahead from another break but when Pelosi slotted home he looked suspiciously offside.
After that United tried hard to recover but were frustrated by a strong Hearts defence and chances were from long range. Kenneth tried his luck but he was off target and Goodwillie had a drive saved. Hearts were still dangerous and might have grabbed a third if Gardiner had not been alert to the danger.
United: McLean, Abbot, Easton (Fleming 46), Cameron, Kenneth, Gardiner, Callaghan, Robertson, Andrew (Goodwillie 60), McDonald (Cream 75), McAleenan.
Both sides opened well and the match was evenly balanced in the opening half hour with first Kennedy of Hearts breaking loose before Gardiner stepped in to block his cross and then Easton latched on to a loose ball from a corner kick but curled his effort wide. Doherty had a low shot but fired wide and Gay looped a header well off target as the match settled into an end to end battle.
United stepped up a gear after twenty minutes and McDonald hit the post on twenty four minutes. Five minutes later a great run and cross by McAleenan deserved a better finish but Callaghan had his effort blocked. A goal was not far away and a minute later Cameron forced the ball into the Hearts box for McAleenan to turn and shoot low beyond the keeper. The lead was short lived however as Tierney got his head to a corner kick from the right to bullet home. Hearts tried to press their advantage in the latter stages Robertson headed over from a Callaghan cross and McAleenan launched a long ball forward but Andrew was just too far away to benefit.
After the break United picked up where they left off and Abbot saw his effort deflected after a good surging run. Thomson for Hearts broke free through the middle but his shot went wide before United had the chance to go ahead from the spot on fifty-six minutes when Andrew was bundled over. Robertson took the spot kick well but McDonald in the Hearts goal was up to the task and saved low. Within minutes the visitors were ahead from another break but when Pelosi slotted home he looked suspiciously offside.
After that United tried hard to recover but were frustrated by a strong Hearts defence and chances were from long range. Kenneth tried his luck but he was off target and Goodwillie had a drive saved. Hearts were still dangerous and might have grabbed a third if Gardiner had not been alert to the danger.
United: McLean, Abbot, Easton (Fleming 46), Cameron, Kenneth, Gardiner, Callaghan, Robertson, Andrew (Goodwillie 60), McDonald (Cream 75), McAleenan.
