UNITED-UNDER 18’S LOSE AT ALMONDVALE

Playing two matches in just three days proved too much for the Young Tangerines when they went down 2-4 to Livingston at Almonvale Field Turf this afternoon. Having defeated Kilmarnock 3-1 on Wednesday at North End Park, United, like the first team on Tuesday, went behind after only two minutes. Two further goals in the 20th and 30th minutes by the West Lothian side before half time put the match beyond the tired looking visitors although the United almost pulled themselves back into the match with two second half goals. United missed a 40th minute penalty. Stephen McGowan was the culprit however the exciting young talent had made his Under 21 debut in the match against Rangers on Monday as well as playing in the Killie game on Wednesday so perhaps he could be forgiven for his spot-kick miss. United cut the deficit to one goal when MCGOWAN redeemed himself for the penalty miss scoring the Young Tangerine’s first and then STEPHEN O’DONNELL (pictured above) netted a second for the visitors with just over ten minutes remaining. As United went in search of the equaliser, Livingston killed off the match as a contest with a fourth in the 88th minute. Coach Maurice Malpas felt a lot had been asked of his team this week. “The boys were tired playing two matches in three days although we had some schoolboys in the side such as Michael Lau, Stephen Craig and Stephen Bell, all three doing very well.” The Under 18’s remain in the top half of the league table with their next scheduled match, a local derby away to Dundee on Saturday 8th December at Downfield Park, the kick-off time yet to be confirmed. United: Fionda, Allum (Craig, 70), Callaghan, Holmes, Anderson, Shine, O'Donnell, Lau (Bell, 65), McGowan, McKenzie (Burns, 30), Ogunmade.