DUFC

HEAVY DEFEAT FOR UNDER-19s

18th November 2003

Following the postponement of the fixture against Celtic scheduled for Barrowfield Training Ground on Saturday last, the Dundee United Youth side travelled to fulfill the fixture, which was rearranged at short notice today. Several of the young players suffered the effects of a flu-like infection over the weekend and it showed in a tired performance, particularly in the second half.

Although very much holding their own in the first half, the young Tangerines went in two goals down at half time. The opening goal came when Gardyne pounced on a loose ball before striding into the box and firing home. Aaron Conway was then unlucky to shoot wide after he was set up by William Easton (pictured). The match was fairly evenly balanced until right on half time when Quinn put Celtic two up from 25 yards with a well-struck shot.

With just over five minutes of the second half gone, Celtic put the game beyond the visitors with a free-kick from Mulgrew curling in off the post and past McCann. Celtic missed two good chances to extend the lead before Quinn netted the fourth with a chipped shot over the advancing McCann with fifteen minutes left. A lacklustre second half saw United concede a fifth near the end as O'Brien beat three men before prodding the ball home.

Tony Docherty was obviously disappointed with the outcome and whilst not wishing to look for excuses, he did feel that the illness some of the boys had suffered contributed to a poor performance.

McCann, Callaghan (Abbot, 86), Hunter, Anderson, Craig; Jarvis, Molloy, Smith, Easton; Conway, Bell (Gardiner 65).
Subs Not Used : Welsh, Lau, Kenneth