Dev Squad: Dundee United 1 Partick Thistle 2

The Young Terrors were defeated by their Firhill counterparts in an entertaining first league fixture at Gayfield tonight. By Peter Rundo Thistle made the early running, but it was United who threatened first, Justin Johnson making a good run but blazing his shot wide of the near post after 17 minutes. Three minutes later, only a combination of a Partick defender and goalkeeper Conor Cullen kept out both efforts from Graham Taylor after meeting Ali Coote’s cut-back. Midway through the half, only Brad Smith’s goal-line clearance prevented Jags’ trialist striker’s header from putting them ahead. At the other end, a Matty Smith shot was parried past the near post. But with three minutes from the end of the first period, the Tangerines took the lead after 42 minutes. Good work by Graham Taylor on the right saw him play the ball into Brad Smith who swept the ball home from just outside the box. Even in the short time left, the visitors had two chances to level before the break. United keeper Luis Zwick brilliantly blocked an Andy McCarthy effort and from the resultant corner, their trialist firing narrowly over. And shortly after the restart the German keeper was again the United hero when he beat away a Mark Lamont drive. However, on 62 minutes, he was beaten, Declan McDaid drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. And it was McDaid who put the Firhill side in front with 14 minutes left, his angled shot slipping through the hands of the United keeper at his near post. United ought to have salvaged a point two minutes later, but substitute Jordan Garden headed Ritchie’s cross over from six yards out. Dundee United: Zwick, Ballantyne, Ritchie, Telfer, Reekie, Allardice, Johnson (Garden 55), B Smith, M Smith (Murrell 77), Coote (Appere 46), Taylor. Substitutes not used; Long, Davie, Hornby, McMeekin.