First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
No doubt with an eye on Monday evening's SFA Youth Cup semi-final against St Mirren at Tannadice, Tony Docherty fielded a line-up with around half the regular youth side missing. Euan McLean was in goal as normal with regular defenders Stuart Abbot and William Easton joined by fifteen year old Keith Watson and sixteen year old Michael O'Byrne. In midfield Sean Fleming, Marco Andreoni and Matty Flynn joined Kieran McAleenan with Joe Andrew and David Goodwillie up front.
United took the lead after only two minutes when Andreoni took a cut back from Goodwillie and then rifled in a low shot from twenty five yards. The game was played from end to end in the first half but neither side created another real scoring chance until mid way through the half when a Killie attack was broken up and Watson cleared for a corner. A minute later, Easton found the head of Goodwillie with a free kick but his effort was held. On the half-hour mark, Sloan was unfortunate when his shot from twenty yards zipped wide. Watson then headed on target for United but he keeper held it. With three minutes of the half remaining Cox was left unmarked in the box but when the ball came in he headed wide.
After the interval Andrew was replaced by Nicky McDonald and later in the half Robbie Feenie replaced Goodwillie and finally fourteen year old Graeme Collins came on for Easton five minutes from the end.
Four minutes into the second half, Watson was again just off target with a header but as the game went on the stronger Killie side began to take control and with an hour gone Adams found room in the box but his deflected shot went over. However, from the corner, the same player was all on his own and headed strongly into the centre of the goal. Five minutes later Flynn had chance after some good build-up play but he fired wide and then McDonald set up McAleenan but he skewed his effort wide. Killie still looked the more likely and in seventy-four minutes they went 2-1 ahead when Loy slammed a loose ball into the net. Substitute Coyne then headed wide and he also put a great ball across goal but Adams just failed to connect. With time running out United tried for the equaliser but the last chance fell to Watson from a Fleming free kick but the defender was just too far away to connect with a header.
After the match Tony Docherty reflected on a disappointing result but he was pleased with the overall performance from what was a very young United side. "We had only a few of our regular line-up playing today and we gave some of the younger lads a chance.
United took the lead after only two minutes when Andreoni took a cut back from Goodwillie and then rifled in a low shot from twenty five yards. The game was played from end to end in the first half but neither side created another real scoring chance until mid way through the half when a Killie attack was broken up and Watson cleared for a corner. A minute later, Easton found the head of Goodwillie with a free kick but his effort was held. On the half-hour mark, Sloan was unfortunate when his shot from twenty yards zipped wide. Watson then headed on target for United but he keeper held it. With three minutes of the half remaining Cox was left unmarked in the box but when the ball came in he headed wide.
After the interval Andrew was replaced by Nicky McDonald and later in the half Robbie Feenie replaced Goodwillie and finally fourteen year old Graeme Collins came on for Easton five minutes from the end.
Four minutes into the second half, Watson was again just off target with a header but as the game went on the stronger Killie side began to take control and with an hour gone Adams found room in the box but his deflected shot went over. However, from the corner, the same player was all on his own and headed strongly into the centre of the goal. Five minutes later Flynn had chance after some good build-up play but he fired wide and then McDonald set up McAleenan but he skewed his effort wide. Killie still looked the more likely and in seventy-four minutes they went 2-1 ahead when Loy slammed a loose ball into the net. Substitute Coyne then headed wide and he also put a great ball across goal but Adams just failed to connect. With time running out United tried for the equaliser but the last chance fell to Watson from a Fleming free kick but the defender was just too far away to connect with a header.
After the match Tony Docherty reflected on a disappointing result but he was pleased with the overall performance from what was a very young United side. "We had only a few of our regular line-up playing today and we gave some of the younger lads a chance.
