Reserves v Dundee United
Tuesday, 21st Jan 2020SPFL Reserve League: Osman Sow (27) 1-0: Osman Sow (33) 2-0: Gregor Jordan (85) 2-1: Archie Meekison (87) 3-1:
DUNDEE UNITED 3 DUNFERMLINE 1
Greg Shields took a young reserve team to Dundee on Tuesday afternoon for the Reserve League game against United on the Astro at Whitton Park. All the Pars players were born this century while six of the opposition were children of the 90s.
The teams changed ends so Louis Appéré kicked off for United into the low January sun and it was the home side who forced a corner within 90 seconds and a shot over the crossbar from Declan Glass.
First Dunfermline effort came from Lucas Berry who had pushed into the right side of the opposition box and exchanged passes with Matty Bowman before blasting a 13th minute shot wide left.
Play was halted in 18th minute when Josh Robertson and Ross Graham clashed heads when trying to reach a corner delivered from the left and when play resumed Osman Sow got a shot away but the ball went wide right.
The Fifers were doing well to contain the United threat but were undone in 27 minutes when Glass got to the left byeline to centre an inviting ball that SOW headed in rom close in. 1-0
United immediately pressed hard for a second and Craig Burt has to turn an Adam King effort away for a corner. The corner was cleared out but Burt then had to punch out another King effort and before Lewis Nelson fired a shot behind.
A second United goal came six minutes after the first and it required a simple shot from 16 yards out into the bottom right from SOW. 2-0
Dunfermline had a shot off target when Coulson burst through on the left but he was high with his attempt. At the other end Graham bent his shot wide right and four minutes from the break Lewis Sawers cross picked out Trialist in front of goal but his header cleared the bar.
In time added on at the end of the first half the Pars survived a driving run by Chris Mochrie that was punctuated by a powerful low shot that was only just wide right.
Half time: Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 0
Full backs Kieran Freeman and Sam Wardrop has changed sides for the second half and the former was most uncomfortable as he failed to take an early chance plated up for him on the right side of the Fifers’ box.
United made several substitutions and Dunfermline one, Kieran Mitchell replaced Lucas Berry in 65 minutes. The keepers were having a much quieter half but Craig Burt was also subbed to make way for Ben Swinton eight minutes later. Sixteen year old Aaron Arnott was also introduced with Lewis Sawers going off.
Swinton was happy to see Mochrie’s 76th minute shot kept out by his crossbar and counterpart Mehmet had an easy take from Trialist after initial good build up by Mitchell and Robertson.
Having lacked goals for 40 minutes of the second half, two came along on the final five minutes. The Pars were to score after United failed to clear from a Bowman free kick swung over from the right. Robertson powered a shot that was deflected for JORDAN to convert at the far post. 2-1
Any hope of a Dunfermline comeback were quashed within two minutes of their 85th minute goal. Home sub Archie MEEKISON turned and swept a shot from 25 yards out that dipped into the Pars net. 3-1
The second 45 had been an improved performance from the young Dunfermline side but there was no disputing United were stronger throughout.
- - Listen to the post match thoughts of Greg Shields
DUNDEE UNITED: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Wardrop, Ross Graham (c), Lewis Neilson, Kieran Freeman: Chris Mochrie, Adam King, Declan Glass (Kai Fotheringham 63), Adrian Sporle (Archie Meekison 63): Osman Sow (Darren Watson 57), Louis Appéré (Jake Davidson HT).
SUBS NOT USED: Adam Hutchison, Nathan Cooney, Fraser Currid (GK).
SCORERS: Sow (27,33), Meekison (87)
YELLOW CARD: King (43)
DUNFERMLINE: Craig Burt (Ben Swinton 73): Matty Bowman, Gregor Jordan, Miller Fenton, Lennon Watson: Lucas Berry (Kieran Mitchell 65), Josh Robertson, Paul Brown (c), Lewis Sawers (Aaron Arnott 73), Trialist, Quinn Coulson,
SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Jordan (85)
YELLOW CARD: (Brown 52)
REFEREE: Chris Fordyce
WEATHER: Sunny 8C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve Cup (home) v Morton, Tuesday 28th January 2020, 2.00pm kick off at New Central Park
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