POINT A PIECE FOR YOUNG TERRORS AGAINST HEARTS

The Young Terrors registered the first clean sheet of the CAS Under 18 Elite League season with a 0-0 against Heart of Midlothian at the High-Performance Centre at St Andrews University.

Both sides had goals chalked off for offside during the match, while the goalkeepers also pulled off some important saves to ensure their team took at least a point.

United came flying out the traps and could've been a goal to the good within just two minutes. Shaun Brown picked the ball up inside his own half and released Darren Watson down the wing with a stunning pass, but the striker saw his shot rise just inches above the bar after cutting on to his right foot.

Four minutes later, Lennon Walker picked out Finlay Malcolm at the second attempt following a corner but the young striker's close-range shot was denied by a quick reaction save.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, Watson looked to meet a long ball forward but the Hearts keeper came charging off his line to punch it away. He only got the ball as far as Layton Bisland who shot after getting the ball under control, but he pulled it over the bar.

Hearts had their chances during the first half. First, an ambitious shot from distance was tipped over the bar by Ruaridh Adams. The young United keeper was called on again shortly after when a Hearts shirt drifted in at the back post, but he wasn't troubled by the tight angle shot.

The Young Terrors were shocked to not be awarded a goal minutes before the interval. From a corner, captain Adam Hutchinson couldn't get the final touch to take the ball over the line but United were able to get the ball back into the box.

It came off a maroon shirt and headed towards goal, but the keeper was able to scramble the ball off the line and despite the cries from Tangerine shirts, the referee deemed it 'no goal'.

Into the second half and Watson continued to threaten with his pace down the left-wing, but he couldn't pick out a United shirt as his low ball flashed across the face of goal.

Adams looked beat after a great curling shot from the Hearts midfielder seemed destined for the top corner, but the young keeper produced an even better save to push it wide.

Lewis O'Donnell thought he'd netted his second goal of the week in the 64th minute when he knocked home Hutchinson's shot at the back post, but the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Hearts would also be denied by the flag twice in the space of five minutes. The first came after the rebound from the ball hitting the post, the second after a good through ball sliced through the United defence.

With eight minutes remaining, Bisland thought he'd got the winner after megging the defender and breaking on to the edge of the box, but his low shot skimmed inches wide of the near post.

"Great to get a clean sheet but gutted not to get a goal," said Jacob Comerford. "First half we think the ball is over the line, then in the second there's a few balls flash across the goal line and on another day someone is there for the tap in. Disappointing because we felt like we needed a win but by keeping a clean sheet you don't lose.

"We wanted to make an impression after the great performance on Tuesday and we started the game strongly but I don't think we capitalised on that."

For Comerford, who had missed the last three games through a muscle injury, a first clean sheet of the season on his return was a massive positive.

"I struggled a bit in the second half with my fitness," joked the young defender. "But it was just great to get back and game time will be the best way to build that fitness back up. We'll be playing Tuesdays and Fridays right up until the end of May so it will be a hectic schedule for the final few weeks.

"I had a strain in my left quad, but I played through it against Hibernian which made it worse. I felt I had quite a good preseason so to get injured in the first game killed that momentum. There's a lot of games coming up though to put in good performances before the end of the season.

"Ruraidh is only new in the door and this is the first season Adam and I are playing together but I think we've already got a good relationship. Especially in preseason, we were keeping a lot of clean sheets. As defenders, we pride ourselves on those because you know you've had a good game if you manage to shut the opposition out."

Next up for the Young Terrors is a home match against Celtic at the HPC at St Andrews University on Tuesday 4th May.

Team: Ruaridh Adams; Layton Bisland, Adam Hutchinson (C), Jacob Comerford, Flynn Duffy; Rhys Caves, Lewis O'Donnell, Shaun Brown (sub Trialist), Lennon Walker (sub Rory MacLeod); Darren Watson and Fin Malcolm

Sub not used: Miller Thomson, Stuart Heenan, Trialist, Dominik Naglik and Sam Lovie