YOUNG TERRORS TRIUMPH AWAY AT KILMARNOCK

Ryan Moon's first match in charge of the Under-18s was one to remember as the Young Terrors emerged 3-1 victors at Rugby Park this afternoon, thanks to goals from Jacob Comerford, Rory MacLeod and Stuart Heenan.

The new gaffer made five changes to the side that opened the CAS 18s Elite League against Rangers three weeks ago, withdrawing Ruairidh Adams, Sam Lovie, Samuel Harding, Rory MacLeod and Fin Malcolm to introduce Jamie McCabe, Aaron Donald, Lewis O’Donnell, Miller Thomson and Dominik Naglik to the starting XI.

United started in a 4-3-3 shape, with two central midfielders, usually O’Donnell and Craig Moore, dropping into the wide areas to aid build-up play as both full-backs pushed on. When this happened, the wingers made inverted runs to open space in the channels for the advancing Donald and Layton Bisland.

After 15 minutes, sightings of goal were few and far between for both sides, although there was no doubt United had dominated proceedings so far. Bisland frequently advanced into the Killie half, linking up well with Moore, but his crosses failed to find a tangerine shirt in the middle.

As well as going direct with balls into the mixer, United were happy to try intricate passes into feet around the hosts’ 18-yard box but found themselves crowded out on numerous occasions.

However, losing possession high up the park didn’t prove troublesome for Moon’s side, with a high press employed to win the ball back extremely quickly and recycle round the defence to start another wave of attack.

The first chance of the game fell to Naglik from 12-yards after being picked out by one of Bisland’s crosses from the right, the ball just not dropping quickly enough for the striker to divert his header on target.

United’s high line was caught out by a Leslie through ball on the 30th minute, the midfielder picking out Kirkpatrick’s central run as he raced beyond Comerford. The 17-year-old managed to catch Kirkpatrick and put him under sufficient pressure to force the striker to drag his effort wide of McCabe’s post.

Kerr Smith was a standout in the first half, assured in possession and able to mop up any passes towards Killie’s front line, also firing multiple cross-field passes towards Bryan Mwangi to get United up the park.

On the stroke of half-time, the visitors forced their first corner, Bisland again at the heart of it. The right-back whipped a deep cross towards Naglik who took up a central position in the box, the head of Spencer glancing the ball away from the number nine at the last second who looked certain to score had he made contact.

In the second half, United began to turn the screw and carve out some clear-cut opportunities. Four minutes after the interval a mazy run from O’Donnell was ended by Leslie just outside the area as he scythed the midfielder to the floor. O’Donnell dusted himself down to take the free kick, the hosts’ wall standing strong to block his drilled effort.

Merely 60 seconds later, Naglik had the ball in the net after a collision between Mwangi and Killie stopper O’Connor, presenting the young striker with an open goal. The referee looked happy to award the goal, however, the linesman’s raised flag alerted him to what he perceived to be a foul and the score remained level.

United continued to press for an opener and, finally, were rewarded for their efforts as the hour mark approached. Spencer fouled Bisland next to the corner flag, giving MacLeod the opportunity to deliver into the area. 

The substitute’s looping free-kick towards the back-post was met by the head of Comerford after the keeper had taken a fresh-air swipe at the cross, leaving the ball to bounce past the covering defender on the line to give the Young Terrors a merited advantage.

Just two minutes after opening their account, Moon’s men doubled their lead. Bilsland found himself in a familiar position on the right to flash a teasing, low cross into the area and MacLeod sprinted in front of his marker across the near post, flicking the ball into the far corner, to spark jubilant scenes amongst the United players and staff.

Chances were flowing now for the away side, Bilsland and Heenan with some nice interplay to make space as the defender drifted in from the right to fire a deflected shot over the bar. 

Mwangi was the next man in tangerine to go close, running across Conway’s blindside at the back stick to connect with Bisland’s cross on the volley from point-blank range. Killie keeper O’Connor somehow produced a miraculous save with his feet to divert the ball over his crossbar as the United number seven stood in disbelief.

United wrapped up the victory in style with three minutes remaining. Heenan cut in from the right and fired an unstoppable left-footed drive into the top corner from 30-yards to secure three goals and three points for Ryan Moon in his inaugural match in the dugout.

There was still time for Kilmarnock to grab a consolation. A rare lapse in concentration from Smith allowed Miller to go one-on-one with McCabe, his effort hitting the post and falling into the path of McAuley who slammed into the postage stamp from 16-yards.

This proved to be the last action at Rugby Park, United running out deserved 3-1 victors to keep their 100% record in the CAS 18s Elite League.

"It was great to come on and change the game for the team get three points," said MacLeod. "There's not much more you can ask for as a substitute. It was definitely a deserved three points. I felt that we played them off the park. It was frustrating to see the boys level at half time but I was happy to go on and change the game.

"I've really enjoyed making the step up to U18s. I played a few games at the end of last season, but it's great now being able to play more regularly. I like getting the chance to play against more physical opposition, it's better than the 16s."

Next up for the Young Terrors is a home match against Celtic at the High-Performance Centre at St Andrew's University on August 27.

Starting XI: Jamie McCabe; Layton Bisland, Kerr Smith, Jacob Comerford, Aaron Donald; Craig Moore, Lewis O'Donnell, Miller Thomson (sub Trialist); Stuart Heenan; Bryan Mwangi, Dominik Naglik (sub Rory MacLeod)

Unused subs: Ruaridh Adams, Keir Bertie, Nairn Lowe, Rhys Walker