DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United forced their way through to the quarter finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup after a tough match at Victoria Park. David Goodwillie's penalty on the hour mark looked to have them through before an 86th minute equaliser from Iain Vigurs gave County hope. However, United made the best of extra time and it was County defender Scott Boyd who put through his own net to allow United to progress.
The first 45 minutes were very open but it was United that fashioned the best real goalscoring chances, despite good early pressure from County. Indeed, the home side were first to threaten through Vigurs when his low shot from 10 yards was well-held by Dusan Pernis.
Just three minutes later, United put together a good move which saw David Robertson square to captain Jon Daly whose shot was well blocked by Michael McGovern. David Goodwillie managed to get on the rebound but his header was held by the former United man in the County goal.
The home side continued to create half chances as they had the better of the possession and in 21 minutes, captain Richard Brittain found himself in acres of space on the edge of the United box but he could only shoot high and wide. Five minutes later, Gary Wood hit a solid strike at the United goal but it was straight into the hands of Pernis. The pressure continued as Scott Severin saw yellow for a high challenge on Gary Miller before the resultant teasing free kick bounced just in front of Pernis but there was no one in the box to take advantage of it.
United then created two excellent chances in as many minutes. First, Daly knocked the ball down to David Robertson who played a lovely slide-rule pass into the feet of David Goodwillie whose left-foot shot rattled off the crossbar and bounced just the wrong side of the goal-line. County escaped again just a minute later when a Goodwillie cross was met by the diving header of Daly but the ball flew just wide of McGovern's left-hand post.
There was still time for County to create something before half-time though and their best chance came after 40 minutes when a Miller cross allowed Mark Corcoran to ghost in at the back post but he could only head wide as Pernis rushed out of his goal.
The second half began in a fine mist of rain that quickly became heavier as the players had to contest with an increasingly slick pitch. County's Scott Morrison was the first to try to exploit this as he was booked for diving after trying to knock the ball past Morgaro Gomis.
As the rain fell steadily on Victoria Park, United were to take the lead on the hour mark. David Goodwillie did well to outmuscle Miller and control the ball on the goal-line before turning inside where he was upended by Paul Lawson in the box and referee Craig Thomson immediately pointed to the spot. The 21-year-old United striker then dispatched the ball into the net but Thomson immediately ordered a re-take as players from both sides encroached on the ball. At the second time of asking, Goodwillie fired the ball home via McGovern's hand into the side of the net to give United the crucial first goal.
Andis Shala replaced Jon Daly with 11 minutes to go as Peter Houston attempted to calm things down and hang on to a hard-fought lead as the game continued to flow end to end. Chances continued to be few and far between until four minutes from time when a slick move from County saw Morrison play in Wood whose flick-on was straight into the path of Vigurs and he made no mistake with his low left-foot shot past Dusan Pernis to level the scores.
Having been within moments of the quarter finals, United attempted to regroup in the closing minutes of the match and County 'keeper McGovern had to be alert in the final few seconds as he palmed a Dixon corner off the line as the referee's whistle signalled 30 minutes of extra time.
The conditions continued to test both sides in the extra period and first Paul Dixon and then David Goodwillie found themselves in the referee's book for niggling fouls. However, it was the latter who was again involved as United regained the lead. Returning a lovely one-two, Goodwillie flicked a nice ball out wide to Scott Robertson who fired a dangerous ball into the box and on to the luckless knee of Scott Boyd who turned the ball into his own net, past the despairing McGovern.
United could have wrapped up the tie with four minutes to go when substitute Danny Cadamarteri first saw his shot blocked by McCormack before the rebound was saved by the excellent McGovern.
Man of the match: David Robertson worked his heart out on a night when guts and determination were going to win the game.
Home: McGovern, Miller, Morrison (Gregersen 113), Boyd, McCormack, Scott (Smith 78), Brittain, Lawson, Corcoran (Di Giacomo 105), Vigurs, Wood
Subs not used: Malin, Kettlewell
United: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Dods, Severin, D Robertson, S Robertson, Buaben, Gomis (Cadamarteri 105), Daly (Shala 79), Goodwillie (Russell 113)
Subs not used: Banks, Watson
Referee: Craig Thomson
Attendance: 2,269
The first 45 minutes were very open but it was United that fashioned the best real goalscoring chances, despite good early pressure from County. Indeed, the home side were first to threaten through Vigurs when his low shot from 10 yards was well-held by Dusan Pernis.
Just three minutes later, United put together a good move which saw David Robertson square to captain Jon Daly whose shot was well blocked by Michael McGovern. David Goodwillie managed to get on the rebound but his header was held by the former United man in the County goal.
The home side continued to create half chances as they had the better of the possession and in 21 minutes, captain Richard Brittain found himself in acres of space on the edge of the United box but he could only shoot high and wide. Five minutes later, Gary Wood hit a solid strike at the United goal but it was straight into the hands of Pernis. The pressure continued as Scott Severin saw yellow for a high challenge on Gary Miller before the resultant teasing free kick bounced just in front of Pernis but there was no one in the box to take advantage of it.
United then created two excellent chances in as many minutes. First, Daly knocked the ball down to David Robertson who played a lovely slide-rule pass into the feet of David Goodwillie whose left-foot shot rattled off the crossbar and bounced just the wrong side of the goal-line. County escaped again just a minute later when a Goodwillie cross was met by the diving header of Daly but the ball flew just wide of McGovern's left-hand post.
There was still time for County to create something before half-time though and their best chance came after 40 minutes when a Miller cross allowed Mark Corcoran to ghost in at the back post but he could only head wide as Pernis rushed out of his goal.
The second half began in a fine mist of rain that quickly became heavier as the players had to contest with an increasingly slick pitch. County's Scott Morrison was the first to try to exploit this as he was booked for diving after trying to knock the ball past Morgaro Gomis.
As the rain fell steadily on Victoria Park, United were to take the lead on the hour mark. David Goodwillie did well to outmuscle Miller and control the ball on the goal-line before turning inside where he was upended by Paul Lawson in the box and referee Craig Thomson immediately pointed to the spot. The 21-year-old United striker then dispatched the ball into the net but Thomson immediately ordered a re-take as players from both sides encroached on the ball. At the second time of asking, Goodwillie fired the ball home via McGovern's hand into the side of the net to give United the crucial first goal.
Andis Shala replaced Jon Daly with 11 minutes to go as Peter Houston attempted to calm things down and hang on to a hard-fought lead as the game continued to flow end to end. Chances continued to be few and far between until four minutes from time when a slick move from County saw Morrison play in Wood whose flick-on was straight into the path of Vigurs and he made no mistake with his low left-foot shot past Dusan Pernis to level the scores.
Having been within moments of the quarter finals, United attempted to regroup in the closing minutes of the match and County 'keeper McGovern had to be alert in the final few seconds as he palmed a Dixon corner off the line as the referee's whistle signalled 30 minutes of extra time.
The conditions continued to test both sides in the extra period and first Paul Dixon and then David Goodwillie found themselves in the referee's book for niggling fouls. However, it was the latter who was again involved as United regained the lead. Returning a lovely one-two, Goodwillie flicked a nice ball out wide to Scott Robertson who fired a dangerous ball into the box and on to the luckless knee of Scott Boyd who turned the ball into his own net, past the despairing McGovern.
United could have wrapped up the tie with four minutes to go when substitute Danny Cadamarteri first saw his shot blocked by McCormack before the rebound was saved by the excellent McGovern.
Man of the match: David Robertson worked his heart out on a night when guts and determination were going to win the game.
Home: McGovern, Miller, Morrison (Gregersen 113), Boyd, McCormack, Scott (Smith 78), Brittain, Lawson, Corcoran (Di Giacomo 105), Vigurs, Wood
Subs not used: Malin, Kettlewell
United: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Dods, Severin, D Robertson, S Robertson, Buaben, Gomis (Cadamarteri 105), Daly (Shala 79), Goodwillie (Russell 113)
Subs not used: Banks, Watson
Referee: Craig Thomson
Attendance: 2,269
