YOUNG TERRORS END LEAGUE CAMPAIGN IN DEFEAT

The Young Terrors ended their CAS Under-18 Elite league with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Hamilton Accies at the Regional Performance Centre at Caird Park.

A late goal from Layton Bisland wasn't enough to salvage at least a point for United after Hamilton went two goals in front with just five minutes remaining on the clock.

It was a positive start for United, with Darren Watson's pace proving a nightmare for the Hamilton right-back. In the 14th minute, the young striker linked up well with Ryan on the edge of the box before seeing his shot turned round the post by the keeper. The resulting corner was almost flicked into the back corner by Adam Hutchinson, but the keeper snatched it out the air with a firm grasp.

While Watson continued to be United's main threat, it was Hamilton who had the ball in the back of the net first. In the 35th minute, a free-kick was floated to the back post and nodded towards goal. Unnecessarily, however, a Hamilton shirt struck the ball on its way in and was flagged for offside.

Having had a quiet opening 45 minutes, goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams was called upon to produce a big save inside the first 60 seconds of the restart after the Hamilton striker got in behind United's defence.

In the 54th minute, Watson picked up possession on the halfway line and charged forward down the left flank. After a neat one-two with Bryan on the edge of the box and floated a cross into the middle of the box which was almost turned home by the Hamilton defender, but the keeper spared his blushed as he caught it out the air.

After the game fell into a bit of a lull United got back on the front foot in search of a winner in the 75th minute. Lennon Walker, who came off the bench at halftime, nicked the ball off the defender on the edge of the box and took aim for the bottom far corner, but the keeper held on to the ball well with a diving save.

Less than 60 seconds later, a goalmouth scramble saved Hamilton from going a goal down. Miller Thomson capitalised on a slip from the defender to get to the by-line from which he found Watson at the back post. The young striker nodded the ball down into the six-yard box, but neither Walker nor Bisland were able to get that final touch which would have got the ball over the line.

Not long after that, Thomson laid the ball off for Bisland after being getting on the end of Watson's cutback into the box. The young full-back, however, was unable to fire his shot through a sea of red socks as the Hamilton defence cleared the danger.

Those stops in front of goal would prove key for Hamilton who would find themselves in front with nine minutes remaining. A free-kick into United's box looked dealt with by Adams who looked to grab the ball out the air. But he was contested by the Hamilton striker looking to get his head on it, with the red and white shirt winning out and knocking the ball home. United's protests that a foul should've been awarded in their favour fell of deaf ears as the referee awarded the visitors the opening goal.

Three minutes later Hamilton would double their advantage, and this time there would be no doubt about it. Adams did well to deal with the initial shot from the striker who had broke in behind the defence, but the midfielder was the first to react to the rebound and he nodded the ball past the despairing United stopper.

United gave themselves hope of a late comeback when they got their goal in the 89th minute. A short free-kick was played to Hutchinson who fired through a crowd of red and tangerine socks, with Bisland knocking it home from an onside position but the Young Terrors couldn't salvage another chance as the referee blew for full-time.

While the result was not how the Young Terrors wanted to end the season, the big positive from the night was the debuts given to Alan Domeracki and Keir Bertie. Domeracki, just 14-years-old, did not look out of place in midfield while Bertie first player from Our Academy at Baldragon to play for Under-18s

Team: Ruairidh Adams, Layton Bisland, Jacob Comerford, Adam Hutchinson (C), Flynn Duffy, Rhys Caves, Trialist (sub Keir Bertie 75), Lewis O’Donnell (sub Alan Domeracki 45), Trialist (sub Lennon Walker 45), Darren Watson, Fin Malcolm (sub Miller Thomson 45)

Subs not used: Dominik Naglik, Sam Lovie and Shaun Brown