Dev League: Dundee United 4 St Mirren 1

The young Tangerines emphatically defeated their St Mirren counterparts at Tannadice tonight. The hosts took the lead after 14 minutes when Graham Taylor played the ball out to Jordan Garden whose shot was parried by Reece Willison with Matty Smith on hand to net the loose ball. Five minutes later, Saints threatened for the first time, but keeper Brett Long saved well from Kalvin Orsi. Only the crossbar prevented Logan Davie doubling the lead midway through the half. At the other end, Long again denied Saints when by parrying away a Lewis McTear shot after 33 minutes. Seven minutes after the restart, the Tangerines doubled their lead when Garden got on the end of Jordan Hornby’s curling free-kick to head home from close range. And three minutes later, Garden was on target again. Aaron Murrell’s perfectly weighted pass found Gavin Ritchie who drove the ball across goal and the United striker claimed his second with a near post flick into the far corner. The goals kept coming with Murrell stooping to nod in a Matty Smith cross just after the hour mark. With 19 minutes left, there was another but this time for Saints. The home defence failed to clear the lines, allowing Andy McDonald to fire home from close in. Dundee United: Long, Ritchie, Reekie, Allardice, Hornby, Taylor, Ballantyne, Davie (McMeekin 60), M Smith (Appere 70), Murrell, Garden. Subs not used: J Donaldson, Allan.