First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United may have lost their first 90 minutes in the build up to the new season, but boss Craig Levein was more than happy with the effort of the players.
Indeed, the toil and sweat of the ten days since the players re-started training were in part responsible for the narrow defeat by the Irish Eircom Premier league side.
Going in at the break and leading thanks to a Noel Hunt goal, you would have thought that United were the side halfway through their league campaign, whilst the hosts looked like the team that were just starting to get into gear for a new season.
However, in an altogether much livelier second half by UCD, aided and abetted by a harsh penalty award, they came from behind as the lads in tangerine ran out of steam.
The one surprise in the United side was call up of Sean Fleming at left-back for his first ever inclusion in the top team. Sean Dillon, Darren Dods and Garry Kenneth made up the rest of the back four.
In midfield, Willo Flood and Morgaro Gomis were on the flanks with Greg Cameron and David Robertson in the central roles.
Of the close season signings, Warren Feeney was the only one in the starting line-up and he partnered Hoel Hunt up front.
In a lively start to the match both side scorned good chances in the opening four minutes.
First David Robertson had a shot blocked by keeper Matt Greg with his feet, whilst a minute later Lukas Zaluska did likewise from the Irish side's dangerman John O'Neill.
With United getting on top there was a an injury scare when Garry Kenneth pulled up with an ankle injury, but carried on after treatment.
Ten minutes from the interval, David Robertson was denied by the outstretched leg of a defender as his shot was diverted over the bar following a goalmouth scramble.
However, a goal was only temporarily delayed and it was an all-Irish affair.
From the resultant corner, Noel Hunt surged in front of his marker to power home fellow countryman Willo Flood's corner.
Duggan had a couple of long-range efforts one of which Zaluksa had to tip round the post, but it was United who had dominated the half.
Whilst United were unchanged for the second half, UCD made two changes as the host made a lively start to the second half.
Just before the hour mark, there was another change in the home line-up with Craig Levein also making his first substitutions, bringing on Prince Buaben and Andis Shala for Greg Cameron and Warren Feeney respectively.
Within a minute, however, UCD were level with a pretty fortuitous penalty award.
Pacey flankman Shane Fitzgerald's cross appeared to strike Garry Kenneth with no malicious intent by the United defender, but the ref harshly pointed to the spot and skipper Alan McNally duly despatched the spot kick in the opposite direction to Lukas Zaluska.
Thereafter, both sides indulged in a host of substitutions which inevitably led to a lack of fluency about the play.
But with fourteen minutes left, Sean Harding, one of the many substitutes, slung over an inswinging free-kick resulting in Brian King's glancing header for the home lot's winner.
Try as they might, United just couldn't get back on level terms; whilst the mind was willing, the legs were drained.
Team: Zaluska, Dillon, Fleming, Kenneth (Grainger 74), Dods, Cameron (Buaben 46), Flood, Gomis, D Robertson, Hunt, Feeney (Shala 46).
Subs not used: McGovern, Wilkie, K Smith, Andreoni, Pope.
Indeed, the toil and sweat of the ten days since the players re-started training were in part responsible for the narrow defeat by the Irish Eircom Premier league side.
Going in at the break and leading thanks to a Noel Hunt goal, you would have thought that United were the side halfway through their league campaign, whilst the hosts looked like the team that were just starting to get into gear for a new season.
However, in an altogether much livelier second half by UCD, aided and abetted by a harsh penalty award, they came from behind as the lads in tangerine ran out of steam.
The one surprise in the United side was call up of Sean Fleming at left-back for his first ever inclusion in the top team. Sean Dillon, Darren Dods and Garry Kenneth made up the rest of the back four.
In midfield, Willo Flood and Morgaro Gomis were on the flanks with Greg Cameron and David Robertson in the central roles.
Of the close season signings, Warren Feeney was the only one in the starting line-up and he partnered Hoel Hunt up front.
In a lively start to the match both side scorned good chances in the opening four minutes.
First David Robertson had a shot blocked by keeper Matt Greg with his feet, whilst a minute later Lukas Zaluska did likewise from the Irish side's dangerman John O'Neill.
With United getting on top there was a an injury scare when Garry Kenneth pulled up with an ankle injury, but carried on after treatment.
Ten minutes from the interval, David Robertson was denied by the outstretched leg of a defender as his shot was diverted over the bar following a goalmouth scramble.
However, a goal was only temporarily delayed and it was an all-Irish affair.
From the resultant corner, Noel Hunt surged in front of his marker to power home fellow countryman Willo Flood's corner.
Duggan had a couple of long-range efforts one of which Zaluksa had to tip round the post, but it was United who had dominated the half.
Whilst United were unchanged for the second half, UCD made two changes as the host made a lively start to the second half.
Just before the hour mark, there was another change in the home line-up with Craig Levein also making his first substitutions, bringing on Prince Buaben and Andis Shala for Greg Cameron and Warren Feeney respectively.
Within a minute, however, UCD were level with a pretty fortuitous penalty award.
Pacey flankman Shane Fitzgerald's cross appeared to strike Garry Kenneth with no malicious intent by the United defender, but the ref harshly pointed to the spot and skipper Alan McNally duly despatched the spot kick in the opposite direction to Lukas Zaluska.
Thereafter, both sides indulged in a host of substitutions which inevitably led to a lack of fluency about the play.
But with fourteen minutes left, Sean Harding, one of the many substitutes, slung over an inswinging free-kick resulting in Brian King's glancing header for the home lot's winner.
Try as they might, United just couldn't get back on level terms; whilst the mind was willing, the legs were drained.
Team: Zaluska, Dillon, Fleming, Kenneth (Grainger 74), Dods, Cameron (Buaben 46), Flood, Gomis, D Robertson, Hunt, Feeney (Shala 46).
Subs not used: McGovern, Wilkie, K Smith, Andreoni, Pope.
